Hello,
I have been at Value Village in Chain Lake dr, Halifax NS on February 3rd, 2017. I have had an ok experience but it turned sour by the next day when I went to Value Village on Pleasant St. in order to make an exchange since two of my purchased items were damaged. NORMALLY, in any stores, weather anyone purchases an item on sale or not, if it is defective, the store policy is to replace the item unless there is none left. Then you get a credit or money back depending on store policy.
Sadly, Thursday very early morning of February 2nd, my brother and his wife have lost their house and all they own to a ravaging fire in NB. I am thankful they are alive, safe and sound. I wanted to help them by purchasing clothing at Value Village Chain Lake dr. I explained the situation and requested help with getting 50% off my purchase. I was offered 30% off... I wasn't overly impressed since they do have 50% off days and it would have been very much appreciated to be accommodated but in the end, I was thankful. The 3 employees who listened and helped were nice and did their job. The manager who offered 30% probably thought it was better then nothing. I mean how was that person suppose to know if I was not trying to pull a scam or something; I can understand. I was glad for the 30% and still am thankful.
After I found a considerable large amount of clothing for my brother and his wife; I decided to treat myself and check the dishes because I collect pretty plates and colored glass items. I found two beautiful clear round dishes at $4.99 and I was excited. I paid for my large purchase and got the 30% off. I got home and proceeded to wash all the clothes and the two round dishes I had gotten. I cut myself as I was unwrapping one of the dish and then realized they were both badly chipped all around the edges. I decided to return to Value Village but instead of driving all the way to Halifax, I went to the one in Dartmouth on Pleasant Street, NS. I had the receipt and the two dishes were still in the original bag with newspaper wrap and the $4.99 price stickers on them. At the Dartmouth location, before seeing anyone, I had gone to check their display of dishes and I was very lucky to have found one dish exactly the same as the one I had purchased in Halifax, it wasn't damaged. Then I found a matching little plate at $4.99. I thought it would make the exchange easier and fare...... Was I ever wrong.... I get to the counter and explained (without all the details from the previous day and the reason for my shopping) that the two dishes I have purchased the day before in Halifax were damaged and that I would like to exchange them for the two other dishes I found to replace them. The lady at the cash register then tells me that I owe them money and that I have to pay the 30% off that was offered to me the day prior unless I have another card or points to cover the difference?!!! I said it didn't make sense and that I shouldn't have to pay extra; that I only wanted to exchange the two defective dishes for two other dishes that are not defective. She said it was only $3.45 difference but that isn't the point! I was quickly losing my patience because I am so fed up with Value Village's unjustified reasons for many of their price hikes and the many horror stories I keep hearing about. She made the manager on duty come and told her the situation and the manager, even though I said the two dishes were defective and I only wanted an exchange said I had to pay and that it was their return store policy? There were people waiting to pay so even though I was very upset, I didn't want to waste their time. I paid and left infuriated and upset yet again at another negative experience with shopping there.
I used to shop weekly at Value Village and now, I go maybe once a month, if that, just to see if I can find something at a decent price. I will be a long while before I return and I will certainly look into different second hand stores to go to. I used to purchase clothing to help people but now winter coats and certain clothing items have gone up so much in prices that I can't do it anymore. Their prices make no sense and even though it is a business, their products are all donated! Often, I find better deals at a store for new items on sale! Why are clothing items' prices based on brand names? It's second hand! Why aren't dresses all the same price or jeans or sweaters? Why do I often find two exact same items with two very different prices? Why are all the scarfs damaged with the price tag trough the material? Why are the belts damaged with a price tag trough the belt when there are already holes in them? Anyways, exasperated as a customer with the way things are going at those stores and I can only imagine what the employees have to put up with when people are only trying to stretch their dollar with the high cost of everything else.
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