I've been going through an extremely frustrating painstaking experience with Josten's over the last two weeks regarding the masters cap and gown package I ordered. There has been no empathy or courtesy whatsoever. All they can say is "there's nothing we can do". I disagree. They won't accept even a tiny fraction of responsibility for the situation I'm in.
The week I ended up purchasing my masters cap and gown package, there was only ONE package on their site, called "Fine Quality Regalia" for $416 after tax and shipping. There was no indication AT ALL that they offer a cheaper student version package. When I received my order in the mail, there was no zipper pull and tassel charm with my university's logo, which my school had said it would be included.
When I finally got through to someone at Josten's (don't get me started with their phone issues), I was informed there was a student package and I had purchased the higher-end one that faculty members tend to buy and is completely non-returnable. I pulled up their site on this day and now it did finally show the $82 student package, the description, and that it was currently unavailable for online order and to call in to order. This is what should've displayed on their site the day I ordered, but it did not. If it did, it would've saved me from buying an overpriced wizard's outfit I'll never wear again.
After a total of 13 calls over the last two weeks, and FIVE hours of my life I'll never get back, they won't send me any kind of partial credit, won't accept an exchange, won't send the cheaper gown and tassel I need (with the university logo), not EVEN A DAMN $9 tassel with my school logo - nothing. I now have this extremely overpriced gown and my school logo is NOWHERE on it. For my graduation portraits in a few weeks, I won't have any representation of the university I'm graduating from at all. Not even after spending 80% MORE than what I should've, again, because their website failed to display very important information. I had even tried calling a few times before I ordered and couldn't get through. They don't care that I have screenshots, browser history and phone records proving my point.
I have to mention, I was also placed on hold for over an hour by two different reps, two different times. The last time I spoke with them, I asked to be transferred to a manager and got disconnected after holding for 25 minutes. I was calm and respectful at all times (trust me, I worked in a call center for years before and would never verbally abuse anyone over the phone like some people do).
I'm just astonished at their lack of empathy or care. This is the last thing someone should be dealing with during the final weeks of school, wrapping up a stressful thesis project, and spending what I did on top of student loans, and on top of all that, during COVID-19 times. For a company who provides products to people at what should be a joyous memorable time of their lives, I truly feel they took advantage of students and their families with no remorse. They just want the money and don't believe in doing the right thing, and provide poor service while at it. read more