I've always been a big fan of Torrid - since way back in 2007 when I first heard of them. I was…read moresuper excited when I moved here to find that there was one so close to where I was living and immediately headed to the store.
I chose to go in the middle of a week day, knowing that there would probably be a few other shoppers, but that it wouldn't be terribly busy, and I would have a chance to look around at the new products, try clothes on, and chat with the employees (who, at other stores, have always been super nice and friendly). There were 3 employees - 2 managers and a third lady who was putting out clothing she was bringing from the back. She was very nice - greeted me (the other two had not) and was very excited to help me find anything that I was looking for. As I started to tell her what I had in mind, one of the 2 managers came up and told her to go back "where you belong" before taking over with me. She then proceeded to "help" me find things, but did not actually listen to what I was looking for - showing me items that she thought would be "perfect" but were nothing like my style. This is NOT how I have been treated at other Torrids. I decided to just look around for a little bit, hoping that when the third employee came back out, I would get a chance to engage with her some more (I liked the way she was dressed and she seemed to really care what I had to say). The manager went back behind the counter where the 2 managers laughed, played on their phones, talked about the clothes they were going to purchase, discussed sex and other inappropriate things, and made fun of another customer when she left. When the third lady came out again, I asked her for help, and again the manager came back up to us, saying to me, "I thought I told you to let me know when you were ready." The third lady quickly walked away and I asked the manager if I could go into a dressing room and try on the armful of clothes that I had. After she was done talking to some guy that came in with food for her (a good 8-10 minutes), she finally let me into a dressing room. While I was back there, the two managers came in and started trying on clothes in their own rooms - while the third employee was in the back still, leaving no one on the sales floor. They were loud, aggressive, and unruly... and I left before I even finished trying on the clothes.
While doing some purchasing on the website, I decided to give them a second chance and had my items shipped to the store. I had a coupon that I wanted to use when I got there and chose to go on a Friday evening with a friend. I had to deal with one of the managers again, and 2 more employees - one in the dressing room and one on the register. There was a long line and the manager spent the whole time talking to some of the ladies in line about how she was getting her own store and would be moving soon. She didn't greet anyone, offer assistance, or let these ladies get a word in. When a lady asked for help, she sent her to the dressing room to get the employee back there because she was busy. She did not make an effort to get on a register. Several customers put their items down and left the store without making a purchase, and the manager went on to make fun of them to other customers. I ended up leaving without my packages because there was no one available to help me - the other two extremely busy with customers.
I went back a few days later and, as I walked into the store, realized that I would have to deal with both managers again. Once again, I had to wait until they were done playing on their phones to get any assistance. When the other one went to the back, I complained to the store manager about my experiences and she laughed in my face. She told me that, as a customer, I have no idea what her job entails and just because she's standing behind the counter doesn't mean she's playing around. (She was. They were showing each other pictures and laughing, which was clearly shown through the mirrors behind the counter.) She complained that she doesn't get an office to do the work in so she has to stand behind the counter and she has a lot to do and doesn't have time to deal with "needy customers." I was appalled... and shocked into silence. Again, this is NOT the behavior I have come to know from Torrid. I took my packages and left. And I have not set foot in the store since.
A couple of days ago, I met a lady in the food court of the mall that this store is located in. I loved the outfit that she was wearing and asked her where she got it. Torrid. Turns out she's a manager there. I was talking to her about my experiences and asked about the third lady who was so nice. Her response? "Oh her? I got that b**** fired" and then she laughed.
I will be going to Gettysburg or Lancaster from now on. Or just paying for the shipping to my house. Better yet - I may just decide to not shop with Torrid at all in the future because of this.