Wednesday, July 02, 2003

All Sales Are Final

A phrase that makes me think someone is trying to pull one over on me. Why would you need to have such a policy if the product stood on its own merit? Ahh, the formal wear industry; Seems if you only intend to wear a pricey item once you could simply return it the next day. I understand why venders in this and similar industries might need such a policy. The management at David's Bridal, however, seem to be a bit recrementitious with this strategem.

My fiancee purchased her dress and all the fixings at said establishment. She then decided not to wear the veil ($140). When she attempted to return the posh cheese cloth they proclaimed to her that "all sales are final". Mind you now, she hadn't even picked up the dress. It was obvious that she hadn't worn the shade. It also became obvious that they were protecting sales revenue. No problem, she asked for a store credit: "We don't give store credits." I'm not sure that I understand this: I'll give you your unused product back for you to sell again, you give me a store credit that I may or may not use in the future, and everyone walks away happy.

Finally, "an exception" was made for my fiancee. She could exchange the item as long as she exchanged it for the veil's value (or should I say cost) or more. When she came up roughly $4.00 short the clerk told her to pick something else out. Something else in a store where It seems nothing costs less than $10.00.

This is where I lose it. Someone changes their mind and not only can they not get their money back but they are forced to buy more? Isn't this coercion? Another example of an honest policy getting twisted by a feeble worker who can't think to see what the policy was meant to accomplish. Or? Is that what they want us to believe? Perhaps it is management's scheme to boost revenue in an industry where you tend not to have repeat customers.

I think a letter to management may be in order. To be continued...