Let me just start by saying, I used to manage a customer service call center. I know what goes on, and I GET IT. But my goodness, my recent experience was nothing short of a straight up scam and I have no clue how Coach, a once respected company, can operate this way. Here are the facts and timeline of my experience:
July 29th - I placed my order online for two items.
August 10th - My order arrived.
August 11th - I decided to return one item as it was much larger than it looked online and had a huge belt buckle on it which was not in the photo at all (the size of a seat belt buckle). When I reached out to Coach, Amanda replied, "I am very sorry that your bag arrived damaged", wait, what? It didn't arrive damaged, but ok. So Amanda sent me an email with a shipping label except the shipping label wasn't attached. I let her know this. This was just the beginning of a long, very mind numbing experience.
Fed up at this point, I decide I'll return it in person at the Coach Outlet store, which is a 45 minute drive away from me.
I get to the Coach Outlet store, after a 45 minute drive, and it is CLOSED FOR TWO DAYS with a note on the door saying they would be back after two days. This sucked.
August 13th - I finally received the shipping label, but the link doesn't work.
August 14th - I had a planned trip and didn't return until August 28th. Worried about the return deadline, I called Coach. This time, the person was really helpful. They sent me a QR code for UPS to scan and told me NOT TO WORRY - because the order just needs to be shipped within 30 days, but they allow wiggle room so it doesn't need to arrive to them in 30 days. I thought that that made sense, since I have no control over shipping times, both after I place my order and after I send my return. Neither of those things should be the customer's fault. Most reputable companies have this policy. So, okay, cool.
August 29th - I ship my item to Coach. Note, this is within my 30-day return window.
September 6th - I get an email from Coach that they have received my return.
September 21th - With no refund in sight, I reached out via chat asking what the status was. Joedy replied, "Your return was received on 9/6 and will be processed within 24-48 business hours." To which I asked, 24-48 hours from today (9/21) or was it supposed to be 24-48 hours from 9/6? Because that passed a long time ago.
September 28th - Still no return, I once again asked what the status was. Keshara replied, "A credit to your original method of payment has been processed as of 9/15/2022, in the amount of $175.00. Please allow 3-5 business days for this transaction to appear on your account. I do see you used Paypal as a method which means it does take additional days to process."
See the issues here already? I've already been quoted multiple dates. Why didn't Joedy say my refund was processed when I reached out on the 21st? That was after the 15th. I asked about that and someone named Ameina replied that Coach has been having issues with PayPal, and since I paid with Paypal, I should reach out to them.
October 2nd - I reached out to PayPal. PayPal states that there are NO ISSUES ON THEIR END with Coach, and provides me a transaction ID to give to Coach for the refund. I then promptly sent Coach a screenshot of my chat with PayPal. It's been over a month now since I shipped my item with no refund.
Jodi from Coach tells me, "We have escalated this to the correct department and you should receive confirmation of refund in the next 24-48 hours".
October 3rd - I wake up to an email from Coach stating that I have sent myself an E GIFT CARD for the price of my returned item, $175.
I'm speechless at this point. After a month of back and forth, being told different information, a store being closed, I am sent an e gift card? Nope. Not Cool Coach, that was not what I was told repeatedly, as I highlighted in bold above.
I sent another email. Got Keshara again who said, "Unfortunately, the item was returned after a 30-day return policy timeframe, and can only be issued a merchandise credit in the amount of the item or an exchange."
This was NEVER mentioned before. I was told it was okay to ship within 30 days, I even tried to return in person and the store was closed for two days straight, and was told I'd be getting a refund, to my PayPal, which according to Keshara was "processed on 9/15/22". How can a refund be processed then I get an e-gift card? That's sketchy!
So I called customer service and I am so sorry to say this, but the person I spoke with either didn't care, was distracted, or couldn't understand the situation. They were nice but... slow. However, they told me they could see my email correspondence with the previous representatives and they say they will escalate me to a supervisor, Hazel.
After waiting, no joke, an HOUR AND 15 MINUTES on hold, I hear "Hi this is Hazel who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?" then the phone disconnects. read more