I bought a $50 gift card for my 88 year old mother. When my mom went to use the card, it said invalid. I went to the Talbots Upper Montclair store where I purchased the gift card and brought all receipts, the card and my credit card statement. The store manager, Regina, was very neutral toward me. Meanwhile on the phone with customer service in front of me and laughing with the employee on the other end. They said they have to "look into it" which can take 2 weeks. So they happily took $50 from me and could see that the card had been unused, but could not issue a refund to a customer who has shopped at Talbots for many years. Not to mention how awful it was that I gave my 88 year old mom a gift card which she was unable to use. The store manager behaved as if I had inconvenienced her and it was their mistake. Buyer beware!! read more

Even though it was not completely the staff's fault I still had an awful experience today at Talbots Montclair, and feel that they could have stepped in. An elderly woman have told me in a very rude manner to move out of the area near the fitting rooms when I was giving my wife a pair of trousers to try. Each fitting room has a door and people can have their privacy in them, so I do not regard the area outside the fitting rooms as a "lady's room" That woman walked around bare feet in the store prancing around for her much younger male companion who was in the store with his dog. She of course did not buy anything :) if the staff should not get involved in issues between customers I think that at least people should not be allowed to walk barefoot in the store and bring in their dogs. It is not a pet store and we are not on the beach. I am sad to say that we will not frequent this establishment again. read more

I need a dress for a wedding, and I'm a size 18. I saw online that Talbots had a few decent looking options for me in their plus sizes. This Upper Montclair store is just a few miles from my house, so I figured I'd check it out. The store's Google+ page says "...We have a great selection of petite and plus size women's clothing." Sounds like a slam dunk, right? Well, I got slammed all right! When I got to the store, I immediately saw a large Petites section in the back. I looked around the front and sides and saw nothing but the regular sizes. I was one of only two customers in the shop. The other was being helped, and there was a store employee folding a pair of pants at the checkout counter. She continued to fold that one pair of pants the entire time I was in the store. After looking through six or seven racks, checking to see if there were plus sizes (there weren't) I walked over to the checkout counter. The woman there did her best to avoid even looking at me. I said "Your Google+ page said you stocked plus sizes in this store...?" She tilted her eyes toward me, laughed, shook her head, and incredulously said "Not at this store!" I sh*t you not. This is actually how this woman spoke to me. She continued folding the pants and staring out the window. I started to walk away, and she called out "there are other Talbots near--" and I cut her off to tell her I wasn't shopping in her store. Now, I'm used to being relegated to a top floor / back of store / separate dressing room / complete lack of selection / online only / higher price because I dare to be a sturdy and bosomy size 18. And while it annoys me that stores don't generally stock my size, I do appreciate that they are welcome to stock whatever the heck they choose to. But to have a salesperson be THAT dismissive to my face when I'm trying to give a store my money...that's a new one for me. read more

I needed a khaki skirt that covered both sides of my knees. Bad. Like I've-been-searching-for-a-month bad. I found a skirt that fit the bill on Talbots.com but, I admit, their clothes can be pricey. I figured that I'd poke around some thrift stores to see if I could snag something on the cheaper end of things and file away the Talbots skirt as backup. No luck on the thrift front, but (dun dun dun!!!) they'd stopped selling the skirt online. So I went to my local Talbots in Manhattan Beach. They had the skirt in my size, but in the wrong color. One of the guys who worked there, Fabian, promptly went to the cash register and searched for other stores that could have it in stock. He found one possibility--Upper Montclair, NJ--and printed out their contact information for me. I called a few days later and they had the skirt in stock. The woman on the phone took my credit card information over the phone and said it would be delivered in a little over a week. I asked if I could get a copy of my receipt via email. She said that Talbots didn't do that, but she offered to text me a copy on her phone. So I gave her my cell number and she texted me a picture of the receipt. I absolutely love how both these employees from stores across the country went out of their way and worked together to get me one skirt, which ended up being on clearance since it was the last one. Like I said earlier, Talbots is a little pricey for me and isn't a place I'd ordinarily shop, but based on my experience with the employees, I'd definitely shop there again. :) read more

I went to Talbots on 12/18 to purchase a last minute gift. I asked the sales associate to wrap it as a gift. The woman said there policy is not wrap gifts the week before Christmas. Who needs a gift wrapped the week before Christmas?!? Are you kidding me? Talbots is a expensive store, I shop there because the gift wrap is a nice feature of Talbots. Now you are taking this away. What is the incentive for me to shop there? There were 3 customers in the store...They weren't busy.. I am sure Talbots was effected by the recession, but if you want customers to come back , it might be helpful to keep some of the features that distinguishes you from the competition. Very disappointed. read more

Similar experience as Kristen S.. Employee apathetic and stand offish. Won't be returning for any reason. read more

I shopped there today and was very pleased at the friendliness of the employees and the excellent service I received. I had read some of the negative reviews here and was expecting the worst, but my experience was great! I generally find that their clothes are a good fit for me in terms of style and price, but I do try to wait for sales. read more

I spent a few hundred dollars at this location and later In the week some of the items were reduced. I called the Montclair store to ask for a credit on the difference and they said they were busy and would call me back. After waiting 3 hours for a call, I called them back and they told me to come into the store as they were so busy or they would call me back. I called customer service and reported June and the manager on duty and the efficient lady on the phone promptly refunded my credit on my Talbots's charge card. I have been a Talbots's shopper for years as they sell quality clothes and on sale, they are reasonable. Unfortunately the help in this store is not up to par. read more

I had a really bad experience on Aug 08 while shopping in Talbot in Montclair. It used to be a friendly store (Emily and Mary are very nice) but not anymore. The staff has changed and there a couple of new people who are incredibly rude. It is unacceptable for this prestigious store especially in the time of pandemic when people finally get out from their isolation and coming to the stores to have some fun. I spent quite a while in the store picking up different items and trying them on and staying in line a couple of times. A Hispanic older woman with black hair (did not get her name so I have to identify her this way) had never answered any of my questions about the items saying ask someone else. She would not even try to help. She also was very annoyed when I was on her way and never say a polite word which we usually say when our paths cross. She had such an angry look so that I thought she would push me. I picked up the last item to buy but a customer brought a few bags of return and I was told that it would take a while to process it. I was told by store manager, Nelida - another rude person, to go somewhere in the meantime and they would keep my item on hold. When I came back there was a long line and when I asked as curtesy to process my sale faster, they told me go and stay in line. The woman with black hair was especially rude, she raised her voice and almost yelled at me. The rest of my Saturday was ruined. I will not come in this store location again under any circumstances even though it is very close to where I live. I have seen quite a few negative reviews posted in the past, so I am refreshing the negative outlook on this store by providing my review. read more

I am not a huge Talbots fan. While the quality of their clothing is good, I generally find the style to be a little stuffy. However, lately I have been pleasantly surprised. I found a dress for my daughter, who needed something for a funeral, on their clearance rack that was not only perfect but extremely reasonable (read cheap!). The sales people were helpful, offering opinions when asked and bringing in several alternatives for my daughter. More recently, I was in at christmas time. I chose a sweater for myself which was on a great sale. I then spent a ridiculous amount of time choosing socks for my kids. Again, the sales staff was sweet, offering assistance and advice without hovering. I wanted a pair of shoes for my daughter and the store did not have her size so they called around and found them for me. read more

Several years living in the states and I just discovered Talbots today. While I absolutely loved most of the clothes, I will never shop at this location. Ever. Today's long story of my experience with upper montclair talbots: I was cheated by the shiny day and our super heating system underdressing myself and the daughter for this windy day. Been dropped off by daddy in upper montclair we were going to walk after the music class down to edgemont park for a picnic with friends and then further to downtown home. (I am explaining the long walk ahead of me on purpose- to show how disparate I was at the moment). While I Stood in Starbucks line thinking to get hot chocolate and tea I see the clothing store through the window. Eureka! I can use a spare sweater in the future and the clothes in the window looks great. Daughter can get an extra layer from the change clothes I have in backpack on me. I walk in and the place looks really cute. There is an olderly lady looking though the clothes and couple of young ones. I understood they are employees only because they were not wearing coats on that cold day and the older lady was! They didn't smile at me, didn't greet me or anything. Ok, I am browsing through the stuff thinking what item I can use now under my thin raincoat and trying to keep a toddler in a stroller. Notice unpleasant looks from the sales persons. Decide to grab the cheapest thing cause daughter is not patient. Love a polka dot blue shirt on a sales rack and ask where the changing room is. The sales person just pointed a finger at it in the manner my mom used to point to something I messed up( not a smile, not a word). I tried 2 sizes on, picked up the one I needed (of course the larger one((( and at the entrance to the changing room my sitting-in-a-stroller daughter was almost ran over by the sales person. Not "I am sorry/excuse me" from her. I paused to check on a child if she is ok. That sales person followed me from there carrying the shirt I left in the changing room and murmuring something. I asked "pardon? " . Her reply in a rudest manner: "whats the problem?" " I am not sure. You are saying something". "I am talking to myself" and all 3 of them laughed. I paid and put it on in Starbucks bathroom before I picked up my drink. I truly believe the very first review of this place and don't think that the lady exaggerated anything because their employees do behave like this. They make customer unwelcome. I am not sure what exactly it takes to get gracious service the company claims among their policy. Maybe i didnt look right for the staff (too young? dressed plain?)The quality of the clothes at talbots is superb and I like the colors, so I definetly will be checking their website. Hey, in the end I got discounted (under $40) shirt that is adorable and looks to last long. read more