The ARC located at University & Dry Creek opened ~Dec 8,2022. I shopped for two hours on Friday the 9th; found what I thought were some great deals! The staff were polite and nice- they made a big deal over my dog (all positive!).
When I checked out, the staff member was busy chatting about their dogs, etc.
when she told me the total I was quite surprised as I was selecting items from racks that had "50% off" signage. Not all clothing racks or isles had these signs, so I mistakenly read the WORDS on the signs... "50% off"
Turns out that there was a picture of what looked like a yellow bandaid on the bottom half of signs, that was there to indicate "yellow tags". I man unfamiliar with the ARC stores sale methods, so did not know what the little yellow bandaid pictures meant.
So, almost everything I purchased was NOT 50% off.
I stated my surprise, the clerk said yes it was only yellow tagged items that were on sale that day, BUT on Saturday "everything is 50% off!"
I said OH! Well so I could come back tomorrow and do a price adjustment for these items - and she said yes. (I'm paraphrasing)
THEN I ran my card to pay the bill of $220!!!
SHE WAS WRONG. I came back on Saturday with the three huge bags of merchandise, and as a clerk is trying to figure out how to return it all, then let me rebuy it, a "night manager, Scottie" came over and said no it couldn't be done.
I politely explained what had happened the prior day. "Scottie" said they were sorry that the clerk gave me incorrect information, but it was store policy and they could not return it all and resell it to me at 50% off.
Ok (keep in mind that ARC NEVER refunds cash/or back to your credit card- all store refunds are in store credit only).
Ok... so then I say great, I'll return everything and just repurchase it when it goes back to floor (still politely and calmly). Scottie gave me a nasty little smile and said "No, all returns have to go to the back and be re-tagged before they're put out again". (Recall that all the merchandise I was returning was untouched after purchase- all tags intact). Ok so I said hmmm isn't there a way to solve this?
And Scottie, with another nasty little self righteous smile, said "no... HON...this is how it works here".
Wow. HON?!?! I'm 51. I'm standing there with my 15 yo kiddo. I don't know "Scottie".
I took immediate offense to the manner in which Scottie said this to me, and I said (quietly- no scene making), "excuse me? I'm not your Hon. you'll address me with the respect and dignity that is due any customer in any store. You don't know me, and I'm frankly probably old enough to be your mother. Do not address me as Hon. And you don't know my pronouns!"
(Keep in mind I now realize that "hon" is a non gender specific term, but it was the MANNER in which Scottie said it that was meant to "put me in my place").
and of course it melted down from there. The manager "Scottie" moved to the next register and spent the next ten minutes making snide comments to other customers about how they wished "everyone" was in a good mood etc etc- obvious comments directed towards me. (this was all verified by my kiddo who stood next to me quietly observing).
Point is- they (Scottie) was rude, disrespectful, and frankly bitchy about the entire situation. I was polite but direct when the tide turned with their comment and attitude shift. I called them out on it.
Point is, I'll NOT go back to this location to use the now $220 in store credit I have, except to check if the awesome OVERPRICED coats I found have been "re-tagged" and put back out on the sales floor.
So, I agree with most other comments online about Colorado ARC. The management is not generally nice. The prices are ridiculously high when you recall that ALL THEIR MERCHANDISE IS GIVEN TO THEM FOR FREE!!!! I'll not be shopping here again once I've used my "in store credit" - and for dang sure I'll only shop on SATURDAYS! read more