I bought a pink/purple herringbone car coat at Old Navy a week ago. It had a couple snags in the sleeve/body, but I bought it anyway as they could be easily fixed. They gave me a damage discount (20%) and made an 'X' on the under-tag. When I got it home and tried it on for my SO, he pointed out a rip under the arm that is virtually unfixable b/c of the herringbone knit. I tried to take it back to ON, but the girl said that even if the arm fell off it they can't return anything that was sold w/a damage discount. WTF? Technically, I could have taken the coat in w/out the receipt claiming that I never got a damage discount and they would have had to take it back! What should I do? The cashier looked the coat over when I bought it and didn't catch the rip either - I wouldn't have bought it had I known! Should I attempt to get the pen out of the tag and take it back sans receipt?
-- Edited by LMonet at 14:50, 2005-01-11
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Did they tell you that you wouldn't be able to take it back?
How about going in and talking to the floor manager? This is just rediculous, you shouldn't have to resort to tricking them into taking the jacket back.
i think i would try to call first and talk to a manager, so then they know what to do when you get there. they are part of gap, inc., so their return policy should be a little better than that--you probably just had a person who didn't know what to do besides just repeat the policy verbatim (or didn't have the authority to do anything different).
I would try to remove the pen and try to return it to another Old Navy store. You won't run into the woman who told you you can't return it and they will more likely believe you that you never got a damage discount.
I worked at ON for a very, very long time (!) and unfortunately if you tell them that you purchased the coat as a damaged discount they won't return regardless of the damage. Honestly, you best bet, if your willing to accept store credit is to remove the tag and take it in without the receipt. Otherwise, unless you find a VERY sympathetic manager who is willing to break policy you might be out of luck. Sorry!! Good luck though!
Ask to speak to a manager, or district manager. Tell them you'll settle for a store credit or just find different items in the store that would come to the same total price of the coat, chances are you'll even end up spending more money while you are there.
I can see cutting the price tag off, but if there is an X on a label it will be obvious whether you try to remove the X or cut the tag out.
Thanks for the advice, ladies! I'm going to try to remove the ink stain from the tag and take it back - I would be totally fine with store credit. The girl that I spoke with at ON said that their computers will not let them return something that was damage discounted - so they can give me full price back for the coat since they won't give me back my $28 with the receipt!
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To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment ~ {Ralph Waldo Emerson}
Yes, talk to the manager, then ask for the District Manager's Number, or even the Regional Mgr. This advice is only to be used by someone when they are wronged, and this is you. Go as high as you can go, be firm, not irrational and you should get answers... but please to anyone else that is reading this only do this when you are seriously wronged. I worked in retail for 10 years...
Working at Express we do the same thing, x out the tag (w/permanent marker though) so we know it's a damaged item and sold as is. Honestly, I would just go in there and ask to speak to a manager and be honest and tell them what happened. Technically they shouldn't even have sold you the coat if it was unsalvageable.
I would not try to take the ink mark off. First of all, you shouldn't have to in order to get store credit because what happened is understandable. Second of all, if it's still noticeable in any way, they're more likely to not do a single thing for you because they'll assume you're trying to take advantage, which you're not, but you'd be surprised at how many people do.
I've seen managers concede to many less honorable requests so I have faith they will be able to help you. Tell them you're a loyal customer too. Good luck!
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At the store that I work at, we offer a damage discount, however we always explain that if a customer takes the discount, the item is a final sale (non-returnable). So if the the sales person explained it was a final sale when she gave you a discount, unfortunately, you are out of luck, but if she did not say it was a final sale, you have some leeway (sp?) in returning it. I would kindly ask a manager or even the district manager if the latter was the case. Good luck.