I am extremely disappointed with the Belk Shreveport location. After three consecutive negative experiences, I can no longer chalk this up to someone simply having a bad day.
I have spent thousands of dollars with Belk over the past few months while building a professional wardrobe for a new position. In fact, I have increasingly ordered online specifically because the service at this location has been so unpleasant.
During a recent in-store pickup, I followed the instructions in the Belk app. I indicated that I was on my way, was directed to the shoe department, arrived there, and notified the store through the app that I was there. I waited approximately 10 minutes with no assistance.
Another pickup customer eventually arrived, waited briefly, and then walked over to the cosmetics/perfume counter. An employee came over to assist her, looked at me, and asked what I was there for. When I said I was waiting for a pickup, her response was, "Well, good thing I came over here, because how long would you have stood over here? Can't you see no one is here?"
I was standing exactly where BELK'S APP instructed me to stand after notifying BELK'S APP that I had arrived. Being spoken to as though I was foolish for following the store's own pickup instructions was astonishing.
Then came my experience with an $80 dress I purchased on September 12.
I asked an employee at the customer service desk for a fitting room and she simply pointed me toward it. When I got there, every fitting room was occupied and there was a line. I walked back to the same employee, explained that they were all full with a line, and asked whether there were any additional fitting rooms available.
Her response: "Nope, that's it honey, wait your turn."
Rather than continue waiting, I purchased the dress and took it home to try on. While trying it on, the rope-style merchandise tag came loose because the small plastic connector holding the tag together UNSNAPPED. I did not cut the tag off, tear it off, or intentionally remove it.
I returned to Belk on September 16--FOUR DAYS after purchasing the dress--with the dress, the tag, and my proof of purchase. The store refused to accept the return because the tag was no longer attached.
That is what makes this experience so frustrating. I made a reasonable attempt to try the dress on before purchasing it. The fitting rooms were full with a line, I specifically asked whether another fitting room was available, and I was rudely told to "wait my turn." I purchased the dress instead, and then the plastic connector on the tag unsnapped while I was trying it on at home. Four days later, Belk refused the return.
At this point, the $80 is almost beside the point. It is the consistent lack of basic customer service.
I have continued spending money with Belk because I like the merchandise and brands they carry. But when a customer has spent thousands of dollars with a retailer in a matter of months and has reached the point of actively avoiding the physical store because of repeated rude interactions, there is a serious customer-service problem.
Losing that customer over an $80 dress purchased four days ago because a plastic tag connector unsnapped is quite a decision.
Belk Shreveport needs to do better. read more
