Because I'm a curvy girl whose measurements usually start with a hefty amount of denial, I'm usually picky about the fashion boutiques I visit. So when H&M opened in Gateway Mall late last year, I gave it the knee-jerk response I usually give new clothes shops: take one look at the display of beautiful clothes, then run for the nearest restaurant.
It wasn't until this weekend that I discovered that not only do they accommodate my fashion aesthetic, but they also carry items that fit me perfectly. I can actually stop visiting the maternity and tent sections of other department stores!
Unlike with other stores that only allow you to try 2-3 items at a time, H&M allows customers to try up to 6 items. If you're shopping alone, you don't need to leave your stall and line up again just to try a second or third batch of outfits.
The store watcher was lenient at the time of my visit, and let me fit 8. But then, their system tracks how many clothes you take into your cubicle, so it's convenient for both the establishment and the customer.
One of the items I bought was slightly damaged -- it had a small tear at the seam that I can easily repair. Since it was priced at 50% off, it was the only remaining one in stock, and fit me beautifully, I still decided to get it. The checkout clerk checked the item, reiterated that it was damaged, and proceeded to ask other staff for a replacement. I informed him that it was indeed the last one in stock, so he noted it down on the receipt that I was purchasing a damaged item. Then he told me that I could still have it replaced within 30 days if I change my mind.
Caveat emptor: When an establishment places a damaged item on sale, it's under the reasoning that someone is still willing to buy it. So if you choose to buy a damaged item, the automatic mindset is, you bought it, deal with it.
But even when this store sold a damaged item and I chose to buy it, the sales clerk still gave me an option to change my decision a) right before I made the final purchase, and b) right after the final purchase. It's those extra steps that look out for both the store's and the customer's welfare that I found impressive.
H&M also carries an assortment of home products like pillows, pillowcases, towels, home decor, and minor furnishings. Their choice of music is indie and slightly hipster, but played at a comfortable volume that isn't intrusive to the entire shopping experience. And this, combined with the other points I mentioned earlier, is why I'll be shopping again here. read more