I love consignment shops. They totally vibe well with my earth-conscious lifestyle, because they fill the "reuse" niche of the earth-friendly circle...reduce, reuse, recycle!
I have shopped at several shops over the years for myself and having children, I've regularly shopped consignment for them. I mean, why pay full price for something they'll outgrow in a month, right?
Well, two places I've enjoyed patroning are The Children's Orchard and Plato's Closet. I shopped the Orchard when my boys were little and Plato's for me and the boys now that they are teenagers.
Since moving to Cincinnati, I've not found either of those shops. I did find Plato's and Once Upon A Child in Florence, but not near me. There is supposed to be one on Beechmont, but I've not gone on a search yet.
I found Hand Me Downs in Erlanger, KY and they have a good selection. I bought several onesies, a dress and a bouncy seat.
The owners were polite, but not friendly. The gentleman there helped me carry my things out, because I was holding the baby.
Well, the bouncy seat only worked for about 10 minutes after I got Kathryn in it and it really disappointed me because she loved it.
That was on Wednesday. Today I scrounged around, trying to find my receipt to return the seat, but I must have thrown it away, so I decided to take my chances on a return without it....after all I just got it on Wednesday.
Well, I dropped K off at work, then headed to the store. I put baby in the stroller, steering it with one hand, while I carried the seat with the other hand. I struggled with the door, but finally managed to get inside. I was not greeted when I entered. (I wasn't greeted on Wednesday either, as a matter of fact.)
Anyway, I waited patiently in line, as a little boy about three years old, paid for a hot wheel "all by himself." He was adorable.
I got to the counter where a girl about 18, looked at me expectantly. Again, no greeting. It was like being at the BMV. I explained my situation. I said I must have thrown out my receipt.
She replied, "We usually only do returns with a receipt." She then turned to the man who helped me put it I'm my car on Wednesday, and explained it to him.
"We don't do returns without a receipt."
I decided to check my purse, thinking maybe I did put it in there and not the trash. After finding a Target receipt, a Kroger receipt, and an atm deposit slip, I knew I didn't have it. I looked up let them know and thank them anyway (secretly hoping for an exception to the rule), and both the girl and the gentleman were gone.
Neither of them even remained to pretend they cared whether or not I found the receipt. I didn't get an "I'm sorry," or a reiteration of the policy...nothing. I was simply left standing there.
I somehow managed to get to the door, open it, a get the stroller out, but the seat got caught. The lady, who had the adorable boy, came up behind me with both hands hefting a tote of things she wasn't able to sell. She held the door for me.
No one offered to help her either. She had a baby in a carseat and a tote of stuff and wasn't offered help.
TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE
I one day plan to open a shop of my own and I will not treat my customers like they are expendable. In this economy, business owners should be kissing asses, not leaving people standing at the counter without closing a customer encounter. Without customers, a business cannot survive.
Had they apologized, or simply said the policy couldn't be changed, I'd still go back there, but after this experience, I will take my money elsewhere. I'm bummed because it was so convenient to stop there. Oh well.
I looked up other reviews. The link above has a few. Check them out, if you're in the area, stop by the shop, and make your own decision.
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