
Jasmine of Woodbridge, NJ on Jan. 2, 2012
Satisfaction Rating: 1/5
I just had the worst experience I have ever had in any store in my life. I purchased a serum from Dior on 12/19/2011. I used the serum for two weeks, and it started giving me a rash on the side of my face. I tried to return the product to Macy's Menlo Park on 12/31/2011.When I got to the counter, an associate named Aida assisted me. She took the product and receipt from me and turned around to the register. She then started yelling, "Beverly, where's Beverly?" Another associate came over and said, "She's not here. She went to the office. What's wrong?" Aida answered, "She wants to return this, and I need her to do it." Then she began to open the box to examine the bottle. So I asked, "Is there a problem? Am I not allowed to return this?" She said, "The bottle is empty." I said, "It is not empty," and I took it back from her and squirted 6 pumps on my hand.
Then, I said, "I bought it on 12/19, and I have used it twice a day since then. So it can't be empty; however, even if it were empty, I purchased it less than two weeks ago, so I should be able to return it." Then, I got frustrated and said, "Look, just return it and give me my money back. It's not like you can refuse to return it." Aida then got in my face and said, "Excuse me, you don't speak to me that way. Who do you think you are talking to?" I said, "You need to back up and get your finger out of my face. I am speaking to you this way because you are refusing to return a product that I purchased 10 days ago as if it was 6 months ago! I don't understand what the problem is. And by the way, I will be reporting you!" Then Aida said, "Go right ahead. As a matter of fact, I will walk you upstairs." I said, "Okay, let's go." Then Aida said, and I quote, "Actually, haha--they are closed. Too bad for you."
At this point we are arguing and customers are standing around watching. I asked for a manager, but Aida said her manager is not there. I said, "Fine, I will call the corporate office." Aida said, "You can call whomever you want to call." I kept asking Aida what Macy's return policy is, but she refused to answer. A couple of other employees came over to see what was going on, and I asked them, "What is Macy's return policy," but they all ignored me and listened to Aida telling them I want to return the serum but the bottom seems empty. The other employee that had come over when Aida was yelling for Beverly interjected, "If an item is less than half full, then we have to damage it out, and it's a loss for us."
Then I said, "You know what, never mind. Give it back. I will go to another counter." I then went to Elizabeth **, and an Indian woman returned it for me with no problem. I can't remember her name. I asked her for Aida's manager's name and she told me, "Sharon **, and she will be in tomorrow." When I got home, I was furious, so I decided to call the corporate office at Macy's Menlo Park. I called and spoke to someone in HR. I explained what happened, and she said she will notify the manager, and have her call me. I also added that Aida lied and told me that the office is closed today, or I would have come upstairs while I was there to return the product.
I also checked the Macy's website for the return policy on cosmetics, but I couldn't find a special return policy for them. So I called Macy's customer service number and the rep said, "You should be able to return cosmetics without a problem, and if you have a problem, you can take the item to another Macy's." I responded, "I understand you are trying to help me, but do you realize how ridiculous that sounds? You are basically telling a customer to inconvenience themselves and drive to another Macy's."
So the question is, does the Dior counter at Macy's Menlo Park have a separate return policy that they enforced above the standard Macy's policy? Did the counter manager, Beverly, inform her employees to call her to the counter whenever a customer returns certain items? Perhaps higher priced cosmetics? Why did I have to be publicly humiliated in an effort to return an item I purchased 10 days ago? Are Macy's employees in the habit of violating Macy's Inc. written business practices and store policies in order to achieve sales goals? I would like answers to these questions.
I would just like to say that I have never been treated so horribly by any store. Aida spoke to me as if I and my business meant nothing to her, and I was someone on the street. Since the incident, I have been in distress, experiencing shortness of breath, chest pains, shaky hands, and an inability to sleep--perhaps because I can't stop thinking about it and feel as though the issue is unresolved. I have read over Macy's "Business Practices" page and Aida violated this in every way imaginable. We were two seconds away from a physical altercation over a return, and we would have actually had a physical altercation had I pushed Aida's hand out of my face. If Macy's employees do not agree with, or refuse to enforce your return policy, they should not be working in the store.
It is time for this lady to be dealt with. Personally, I think termination is in order. The humiliation I experienced was both unnecessary and unbelievable, and now health issues are arising. I would like to know why the associate didn't just take the product, process the return, and send me on my way.