I used to shop at this store occasionally, as they used to carry a particular product difficult to find in other stores in the area; however, I hadn't really needed anything from there since the pandemic, and I knew them to be what I consider "overpriced." I always enjoyed looking at their different kinds of make-up, though; so, recently, I strolled in to see if they carried a particular brand (which they didn't), and to just browse. Most of the employees were fussing over a couple of women who were apparently spending a lot of money. I know this, because one woman was gushing that she was going to surpass the $250 point. One man did ask me if I needed help. I couldn't find prices on anything! When I asked him about this, he said, "Oh! We don't mark prices. I can just tell you the prices." Well, that was awkward, because that meant that I would have to ask him the prices of every item that might possibly interest me. I asked about a few. There were a couple or products that I really liked, but, as I predicted, they were very expensive. In fact, virtually everything in the store was overpriced (in my opinion). I did find a product that Anthropologie carries that I liked, but I decided to wait and get it at Anthropologie (because I had a gift card there). Honestly, I just wanted to get out of the store, because I was dressed very casually, and I felt that the man was "looking down his nose" at me. Alas, when I went to Anthropologie a few days later, they didn't have the lotion in the small tube; so, I sucked it up and went back to this store. I knew how much the lotion was ($20); so, I got it off the shelf and got in line to pay the lady cashier. The male cashier went over and stood behind a counter. The woman cashier was trying to help a male customer figure something out. After I stood there a few minutes, she finally acknowledged me and said she would be with me in a few minutes. Finally, she decided it was going to take her a while to help the other customer; so, she asked the man to come check me out. As he was ringing me up, I asked if, in the event that I got this product home and didn't like it, I could return it. It has been my experience that most stores selling higher-end products (e.g., Sephora, Ulta, Macy's, Dillard's) have a customer-friendly return policy. I suspect this store does, too, but he wasn't going to tell me that. He looked at me and hesitantly said, "Well. There's a sample back there." I assume he was referencing the tester, and I would guess he knew that I'd already tried the tester. I replied that I knew that, but that sometimes, once a person gets scents home and wears them, said person realizes that the product really doesn't smell as good as it did in the store. I had not plans to return it, but was just making sure that I could if needful. At this point, the lady cashier, who had been very preoccupied, said in a manner that was not at all warm and fuzzy, "They're exactly the same." By that time, I had put up with enough. I simply said, "Well, I think I'll just wait." He said, "That's fine." I walked out and don't even think they bid me farewell. I didn't really care. They never made me feel welcome in this store on either of my two visits. In fact, as I mentioned, I was dressed casually, and I felt that the man in particular thought I shouldn't have even been in their store. I went back to Anthropologie and purchased a bigger lotion with my gift card. It was on sale, and I got it for about $3 more than what I'd have paid for the small tube at Cos Bar. I felt like God just took care of me. The people at this store acted snooty and seemed to be trying to make me feel inferior. That didn't work. I think it was Eleanor Roosevelt who said that no one can make you feel inferior without your consent, and I have enough self confidence to know that two sales clerks in an overpriced store are no more important in God's eyes than I am. He loves us all equally. To say, "Oh, we don't mark the prices" indicates to me that they prefer customers who will buy regardless of price and that they enjoy making those who are not wealthy ask prices. They also had samples of several products out, and I asked if those were samples. They answered affirmatively, but didn't encourage me to try any. I got some anyway, and I really like one product. If I end up buying it, though, it won't be from from Cos Bar- not after these two experiences. They need to be kind and acknowledge that of course a customer can return a product if she changes her mind about it after getting it home. They need to learn to treat all customers equally -regardless of how the customers happen to be dressed on that particular day. (I mean, I didn't look unpresentable or anything- leggings and tee on one visit and shorts and a tee on the other.) In short, they need to know that the customer is doing them a favor by shopping there. As long as those two employees are working there, I doubt that I will ever go back in that store. read more
