Deceptive day at the big chain fabric store
#1
OK, my BFF and I decided to have a girl's day out, so we went to Hot Springs and visited the local big chain fabric store. (You've heard of it and it's NOT JoAnn's.) Heard they were having a sale. So......
We go in, and sure enough, there are sale signs everywhere. There was a small section that caught our eye: "Batiks 50% off." Yay! We each selected several bolts, and browsed the quilting notions at the same time. Sale signs everywhere. Sounds great so far, right?
Wrong! We got to the cutting table and giddily announced to the clerk how happy we were to find batiks at half price. Then she told us that ALL of the batiks we had selected off of the small section marked batiks were not batiks, and not on sale. Unbelievable. I made a couple of remarks about bait and switch and my friend and I both declined to purchase any fabric.
Also, the quilt notions marked 'sale' were not on sale, either. The manager and I had quite a discussion about it, and she told me that it was company policy to use double sided sale signs. I told her that if I were in the produce section of the grocery store and saw a sign that said 49cents a pound on oranges, that I would never think that the sign actually referred to the pears on the other side of the display. She didn't have much to say about that.
I think I'll buy my fabric online from now on.
We go in, and sure enough, there are sale signs everywhere. There was a small section that caught our eye: "Batiks 50% off." Yay! We each selected several bolts, and browsed the quilting notions at the same time. Sale signs everywhere. Sounds great so far, right?
Wrong! We got to the cutting table and giddily announced to the clerk how happy we were to find batiks at half price. Then she told us that ALL of the batiks we had selected off of the small section marked batiks were not batiks, and not on sale. Unbelievable. I made a couple of remarks about bait and switch and my friend and I both declined to purchase any fabric.
Also, the quilt notions marked 'sale' were not on sale, either. The manager and I had quite a discussion about it, and she told me that it was company policy to use double sided sale signs. I told her that if I were in the produce section of the grocery store and saw a sign that said 49cents a pound on oranges, that I would never think that the sign actually referred to the pears on the other side of the display. She didn't have much to say about that.
I think I'll buy my fabric online from now on.
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: West Coast
Posts: 9,267
bad practices. I hope you saved your money.
ps: I love your kitty.
ps: I love your kitty.
#3
Bummer. Maybe your refusal to purchase will make them think twice about false advertisement. Did you call their home office?
#4
Originally Posted by OneMoreQuilt
Bummer. Maybe your refusal to purchase will make them think twice about false advertisement. Did you call their home office?
Also, I've learned that many times policies look great on paper but don't really go over well with customers and they need to know that too otherwise they'll never change anything.
#6
I don't blame you one little bit! I would've done the same thing and then went over to the manager to tell them how wrong it was. I don't like when companies do this kind of thing. It's so very wrong!
#7
Have a good idea which store that was. They never have signs correctly and yes, I too had the same experience with the batiks. There was also another time that a certain fabric line was advertised as 50% off and yet when taking the fabric to get cut they said it was only a certain few that was on sale. They have one heck of a time with getting their signs correct and placing no signs often on fabric that is not on sale. I have asked them nicely to please place signs where they belong and to honor the fabric at price that the ad says it to be. Doesn't make for nice happy shopping.
#8
Yep, believe I know what store you are referring to also. They are notorious for sending out sales ads with multiple sale dates included and you have to be very careful to check which sale is for which date. Then the signs in the store are never applicable to where they are placed or so it seems. And in our local _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 's, the store personnel are not helpful at all, in fact, downright surly most of the time. I try not to be too upset with them though because if the company practices such sneaky tactics with the sales, think what they must treat their employees like!!!
#9
Power Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Idaho
Posts: 11,375
It isn't too hard to figure out which store you are discussing. I will say that if the sign says Batiks and does not specify a certain one on the sign, my store would give you the sale price. The sale signs are almost always placed in the right place, and if someone forgets to remove one they will give the sale price. I know that it is the responsibility of one person to place all of the signs here, usually on a Thursday night. That is a big job, but our store does a very good job. If this person is not a good employee I can see where you would have problems.
Our store also has good customer service. They are very helpful unless they are extremely busy, which is understandable as far as I am concerned.
Our store also has good customer service. They are very helpful unless they are extremely busy, which is understandable as far as I am concerned.
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MS
Posts: 2,624
Oh, yes, those multiple sales dates in the flyer drive me nuts. I look thru it and end up needed 1 item from every different day AND nothing carries over to Senior Day. I've had to even tell the cashier that certain items were on sale as evidenced by their signs. She asked me "if I was sure". That particular item actually "spelled out the name of the notion" and I told her I would go get the sign!! LOL It was actually visible from the checkout counter!! Most of the sales staff have been there forever so they should know the store well!! I do wish they would get away from carrying so many "home goods" and carry a wider selection of fabric and notions. I can go elsewhere to buy a wrought iron table!!
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