As a woman with a small business, I like to support other women who do the same. I was recommended by a friend to shop at this local small clothing store. My friend has shopped there before and told me to ask for the owner and let her know she recommend her. Networking amongst women at its finest. I entered the store on Sunday asking for the owner and told her how I came to visit her store and told her what I was looking for specifically. She then shared with me how the store was set up and I began to look thru the clothes. As I was looking, she kept pulling out options from the areas I had not looked at yet. It made it hard to focus where I was. But I let that slide and agreed to try on articles I probably would not have given a second thought to, keeping an open mind. I tried on about 10 items and decided to purchase 1. I was at the counter and FIRST asked what the return policy was. She said 30 days with tags on. That was all she said. Ok fair. Brought it home, tried it on, showed my daughter and she hated it on me. About 2 yrs ago I lost 25 lbs. and she said why are you hiding all that hard work under that tent. She was not wrong. Today is Tuesday morning and I went back to return it. It was not a cheap piece of clothing. (for me) ($95) I explained my reason and she proceeded to tell me it was store credit only. REALLY?! I reminded her what she told me and she said "Well, it's on the sign over there and on your receipt." "As a small business we only have few sizes of everything and boutiques don't do that" The sign was a handwritten 5x7 on the counter, off to the side with a million other things. AND, if I read it on the receipt, that means I already purchased it! WTF! Remember, I asked before I purchased. I was not directed to the sign or told otherwise. (AND, it's only been 2 days, not even!) THEN, she and her associate tried to sell, sell sell me anything and everything else in the store. If I wanted anything else, I would have bought it on Sunday. I have shopped MANY boutiques that do not have that policy and if they did, they were very up front. I normally will not purchase at a shop if they only give a store credit the second after you walk out the door. Now I have a $95 store credit that I will NEVER use. Besides not liking the policy, attitude or lack of customer service, the clothes are just not my style. Buyer beware. There are MANY other boutiques in the area. I highly recommend shopping at those instead. read more
