First, thank you for all of your sweet support about the way I handled Mr. and Mrs. Jokey Jerkass. My goal is to never let anything like that slide ever again. Practice makes perfect, I hope. Now on with the show.....
In the days following our referral call, I went mildly nuts at the mall. I bought some baby clothes that I should not have purchased. I bought just to buy, which is never a good thing, am I right? Anyway, once I came to my senses I decided that I needed to take most (not all) of the clothes back. So this weekend, that is what we did, we returned baby clothes to three different retail chains.
Interesting thing about these stores, they like you to buy their stuff, but they don't seem to care for you returning their stuff. Yeah, they were all hugs and kisses when I bought them. But when I approached the counter with my returns, they were chock full o'disdain.
All except for one store, Gymboree. The lady at Gymboree was sweet and understanding. She even asked me whose baby I bought the items for which gave me an opportunity to whip out my baby's picture. And when I did she gushed on and on about how beautiful our willow bean is. Hey, any chance I can get to talk about how excited I am about our my daughter, I'm going to take it. I am shameless that way.
The Baby Gap man was damn pissy. He scrutinized the outfit carefully, and gave me a disgusted once over. Then he handed me my money and turned around without saying a word. Fucker. What he doesn't know is that I gave him the snake fang hand gesture that guarantees that he will experience a case of mysterious and crippling foot odor starting on May 4th. Yeah, I'm that good at dosing the voodoo where voodoo is needed. Down to the date, baby, down to the date.
The other store, something with Children in the name, well these ladies were practically humping my leg when we walked through the doors. Until I explained that I was there to return a purchase. Then they looked at me as though I had just picked my nose and offered them a taste. They politely asked for my Visa to credit my account, but their cute smiles were gone and were replaced with pursed lips. Let's just say that I didn't whip out any baby pictures for these women.
But hellooooo, I walked out of that mall $80 richer than when I walked into it, I got to share my excitement over becoming a mother, and I administered a kick ass case of voodoo to a grumpy Gap employee. Life is damn good!
What sizes are you buying for little bean?
I was a retail manager for a while. Yeah, we hated returns BUT losing a customer over being snotty about it is inexcusable. I hate that crap. Sorry you had to deal with it.
Posted by: it's swoop! | May 01, 2005 at 11:20 PM
I never get why the sales people are upitty about returns. It doesn't affect most of them, I mean come on do The Gap employees work on commission? Don't think so. I bet you had so much fun buying all the clothes though. My daughter is sixteen months old and I still tend to go a bit nuts on the clothes shopping. Can't wait to see photos of Maya in her new outfits!
Posted by: Bente | May 01, 2005 at 11:33 PM
I went nuts at the second-hand store for Nico when we got the referral and size. It made him tangible, but I didn't have shopper's remorse.
Glad to hear that Gymboree was gracious about the return. I was just lovingly attempting to oust the stain out of one of Dana's Gymboree (courtesy of Grandma) outfits today and thought, "This stuff is pretty cute, and pretty well-made." I've never shopped there, though.
My favourite part was washing the things and putting them on the shelves and drawers. Somehow doing that laundry, folding those tiny duds, really made me feel like I was taking care of that baby somehow. It legitimized me, and the warmth of the dried clothes was comforting.
Waiting for the baby to come home is hard. Take your pleasure where you can get it!
Posted by: Mollie | May 02, 2005 at 12:07 AM
As far as those sales people"whatevher", especially Gap Crap.
Can I say that I think you were wise to return the clothes? Because right now my 11 month old is wearing Gap 3-6 month old clothing, which I never would have predicted that she would be such a peanut. You'll have a blast shopping when you get home!
Posted by: marla | May 02, 2005 at 01:06 AM
This post made me laugh my ass off. Humping your leg? Tasting your boogers? Where do you come up with this shit?
Posted by: Molly | May 02, 2005 at 09:11 AM
You are too funny. I could never bring myself to return baby clothes--I lurve them too much. I have to restrain myself from buying now, and I'm seven months from referral.
Er, Bente, MY daughter's name will be Maya, not Michele's daughter.
:)
Posted by: Karen | May 02, 2005 at 06:17 PM
Yes Karen, just realized I did that... I was tired when I wrote that, it's my only excuse.
Posted by: Bente | May 02, 2005 at 10:42 PM
VERY happy for you! (Even though I'm a stranger. :)) Your wee little daughter is a beauty. :) Congratulations!
About the difficult returns- Jeez. One would think that baby-store places would be a bit more... Uh. Cautious about being jerks about returns. Particularly returns that involve every item purchased. I think a letter to the managers preaching "sensitivity" to customers "obviously in turmoil" isn't out of line. ;) (I know you're not in turmoil, but they had no reason to be rude to you and will very likely be rude to someone who really doesn't need it at the moment.)
Posted by: sara | May 03, 2005 at 10:28 AM