Adventures in retail
If you are a mom (or a dad) on a budget, I am almost certain you have been through the wonderful experience of picking clothes for the kids based on their sale price. And if you have ever shopped at Kohl’s than you know everything is always on sale, the question is what-is-what because nothing ever seems to be on the right table. This is precisely how my adventure began on Tuesday. I found a stack of jeans for my two year old that were supposed to be 2 for $12. But I also found the same jeans on another rack which read 60% off. (both citing the specific brand so neither appeared to be on the wrong rack) I wanted to know which one was accurate so I took them to the customer service counter. Here I was told that they were buy one get one free (making neither of the other prices right). At this time I was also strongly urged to apply for a Kohl’s charge account to receive 15% off my purchase. Since I was buying a lot of clothes for the kids I thought this would be a pretty good savings, why not?
Skip to the check out where I have now rushed to because my two year old smells rotten and the diaper bag is in the car. I now have, amongst other items, my buy one get one free jeans, and my 15% off coupon in hand. My nine year old is now dancing around in circles with the two year old who reeks, and the three month old has insisted she be carried. The conversation goes as follows:
Cashier: Um, you can’t use this coupon unless you put it on your Kohl’s charge.
Me: Oh, the manager signed the back saying that wasn’t neccesary.
Cashier: Well she can’t do that.
(people are now shifting in line behind me because the kids are hooting, the runt smells, and I am bouncing the baby)
Cashier: (yelling out to a passing manager) Can she use this discount without putting it on her Kohl’s card?
Manager: Whatever
Cashier: (obviously perturbed) Ok, so long as the manager said so.
I finally get home after a full experience with diaper changes and fits about getting into car seats only to find that I was charged $18 each for the pants and the cashier never applied the 15% discount.
Jessica The Rock Chick responds:
Posted: August 30th, 2007 at 11:21 am →
Been there with the stinky kids, crying babies and toddlers running amok. I miss those days!!!
Kohl’s always does things like that. I really like the merchandise they offer, but trying to check out there accurately is always a disaster. They are really pushy with their charge card, too. I’ve heard that employees have to open up so many charge accounts there or they could be fired. I don’t know if that’s true or not.
Maybe they should put a little more effort into correctly pricing their merchandise and then they’d have more happy shoppers :)
Jessica
I hope you’re kidding when you say you miss those days, lol. Even when I am wanting to strangle my teens one day I am certain it won’t leave me longing for this stage…ha ha ha I often wish they were all 4-5 yrs old. That was the perfect age with my son.
Damien Riley responds:
Posted: August 30th, 2007 at 11:58 am →
I have problems with service at different places and I always just say to myself . . . “Hey, I am done with them, they have to live with themselves.” THis is my second time hearing of the Kohl’s event. I already knew it sucked. I’ve never been, probably never will. Good rant.
Nicole responds:
Posted: August 30th, 2007 at 5:18 pm →
Gotta love Kohls! I love their stuff and their prices (when they are acurate), but that store is always a mess and it’s hard to find things. I also love it when I go on one of the sale days and while I’m halfway through the store, they start changing the prices–UGH! Contact their customer service–I know Angie did and the manager personally called her back. Just a though–as if you don’t have 50 million other things that you need to be doing!
I actually did call them and explained the issue. Then I went back in on Wednesday to get it fixed only to find that the manager was the sister of a very close friend from high school. SO now I felt dumb and lost my nerve to insist how right I was. Only after I brought her one of the sign’s off the table did she say “well, I guess I can give you the price anyways”, I wanted to scream. I mean there were at least 10 pairs of these pants on a shelf that read 2 for $12 citing the same brand. There were also at least 7-8 pairs of the same one with the same details on a rack that read 60% off, AND the price check at the counter came back as buy one get one free. I still can’t believe I was the one getting the attitude here.