I have been a long-time customer (24 years) of Fashion Foundations. I had an experience at the store today which changed my mind about bra stores as being "presumed safe spaces" for women. I have a difficult time finding bathing suits because of my uncommom size; thus, I went to Fashion Foundations yesterday morning to look for a bathing suit. At that time, I also tried on a beautiful bra (a Fantasie Lingerie, sheer, blush bra with embroidered flowers) in 2 sizes. I told the saleswoman that the larger rib size of the two bra was best, and I would purchase it along with a bathing suit I chose. I brought the bra and bathing suit to the front counter. I ended up taking both the bra and bathing suit. At home, later in the afternoon, I decided to take my new purchasing from the bag to put them away in my dresser. At this time, I noticed I had accidentally purchased the smaller rib bra (which was not the best fit). As it had only been a few hours, I called the store to see if I could bring it right back in to exchange it. The saleswoman said no, I would have to talk to the owner, Karen. I asked when Karen would be in (9:30 the next morning). The next morning, I arrived at the store at 9:35 AM and asked to speak to Karen. I explained the situation to Karen. Karen said no that their policy is "all bra sales final" because people do all sorts of "weird things" to bras once they leave the store. I assured her that the bra had remained in the bag the entire (less than 24h) since its purchase and that she was free to examine it. She said no, all sales final, but if I put the bra on, and let her see it on me, and I could prove it was the wrong size, she would consider exchanging it. I told her that to ask me to strip in the change room and put on a bra for her to view felt like a personal violation. She said she wouldn't have to look; she could just put her hand in and "touch me" to see if it fit. I told her I didn't feel comfortable and that I would need my husband with me to consider her proposition to "touch" me to see if it was too small for me. She seemed uncomfortable with this, yet I asked my husband to come into the store (he was waiting in the car). Then, reluctantly, I tried on the bra, and Karen put her hand through the curtain and felt under the back of the bra and declared she thought it fit so, no deal. I told her I was spilling out the of the cups on this bra. She said that I would need to turn around and show her my front in the bra or no deal. I declined as I felt extremely uncomfortable by her instance that she had to "see" and "touch" me in the bra in order to consider the bra size exchange, as this was in direct contrast to her insistence that it was her policy to refuse to exchange bras because some people "do all sorts of weird things" to the bras once they purchase them. As I declined to turn around show her my breasts in the sheer bra, she said, "Then it's a final sale. No exchange," through the curtain. She had disappeared into the back of the store by the time I exited the change room. read more
