Complaint Review: Abercrombie And Fitch

Correct me if I am wrong, its just an opinion....

I think that perhaps they won't fire this person or make her issue an apology to her, because it would be physical proof that it happened, and that they admitted fault?

If they did admit fault over it, and you took it to a lawyer, you could sue them and thats the last thing they want. Without forcing a written letter from her or firing her, its your word (and the girls) against theirs.

What happend was awful, but I think the girls got a good lesson on how not to treat someone. They already sound like they know how wrong the situation was. Speaking up for you shows that they understand right from wrong.

I also feel that young girls can sound smart, and say stuff like, "Your being disrespectful." I mean, my 9 year old step-daughter says stuff like that. lol

There are great stores out there that you can shop at. Personaly I love Old Navy! :)

It took me about three days of phone calls to actually get in touch with the regional manager Blake Hoyle.  He was very nice and said I needed to talk to Aaron Meek somewhere on the east coast. When Aaron eventually told me after a few days that they would not be letting her go, I told him I felt like he was then saying that I was not being truthful. He said that I would not be speaking to him if that were the case, that they believed me and she was not feeling well that night and did not want to be at work but it was still no excuse.

My main gripe with this is not merchandise. Again, I do not want free items. I am just floored that this can happen and nothing would be done about it. I realize that in our state and I am sure others, there are strict guidelines on hiring/firing people. I think I am just tied up in policies. Blake the regional manager and the managers from the Seattle and Alderwood stores were very helpful in getting me in touch with the right people.

I TRULY would be happy if she had to write me an apology personally, but apparently it is against the policy to force her to do so.

Also, as far as enhancing the story, I am assuming you are speaking of this part;  Bellevue Square security heard her say that I hit her. Along with other shoppers in the store. I wish it was false. It was so unneccesary.

Aaron did say there is a number that they can call to see why a gift card would not be working if they FEEL like it. This all could have been avoided had she had any pride in customer service.

Thanks for reading even if you don't believe me.

It Happened EXACTLY like I wrote it. Sad to me you think 12 year olds must be ignorant. I don't need pity. They were as shocked as I was.  I am angry that I was treated that way and only an apology for the gift card not working was offered.  NOTHING was done. You would be mad too if you knew that girl was still working there and no action was taken. I don't want their t shirts, I want some justification. If that was all that could be given Then I was trying to turn it into a learning lesson. If I wanted Pity, the story could have been inhanced. It was so outrageous that I have decided to take the time to write about it. Sorry for the "amature" sounds of it. 

You're correct that the girls age is 12 years old not 8 years old. I apologize for that.  It still does not sound like a typical comment from a 12 year old.

I still don't believe the details of the story as written.  I believe she went for drama to get more pity.

I'd really like to know what actually happened.

When I said I did not read her complaint I meant that I did not read the complaint she sent to A&F. I have had problems with the company before in the past as well and I know they eliminated their customer service number and handle everything by email so I assumed she sent them an email or letter, but I guess she managed to get someone on the phone. In her original post she mentioned that they refused to fire the manager or give her free shirts for the kids, but they did agree to a written apology. In her update she clarified that she only asked for the shirts and that the customer service guy brought up the other stuff on his own. They're not even giving her a real apology, just an apology about the gift card. Overall, it sounds like horrid customer service, but what do you expect from a company that did away with its customer service phone number. I still think asking for the shirts was a bad idea that might have made the customer service guy think this was just someone trying to get something for free, but that still doesn't excuse the horrible customer service. I hope the OP gets everyone she knows to call in and complain. Maybe with enough complaints they will do something. Try writing to websites like Consumerist, they can help. I don't think there is anything she can do about the false assault claims, since they were made to security and not the police.

I tend to believe everything that the OP stated.  Shotput already stated that he/she had not even read the OP original complaint but assumed that she was demanding free t-shirts and the manager fired.  I did not read that anywhere.  All I read was the OP trying to get some customer service from a manager that was acting like a complete a*s.    as to ramjet.....she never said that the comment from her daughter's friend ccame from an 8 year old.   Her daughter was celebrating her 12th birthday and there were 8 girls there in the mall.   She wanted to buy t-shirts...not get them for free.  The manager was a 25 year old jerk and this whole report has totallyl turned me off from A&F.  I will not be shopping there, ever!

This sounds like a story that has a core of truth but has been greatly enhanced. 

The various dialogs sound like something an amateur writer would create, i.e. "you should not be speaking to my friends mother this way, it is disresectful" this is an 8 year old's statement? I doubt it. 

The part about the conversation with management sounds ridiculous and I doubt it ever took place, at least not the way it's related here.

Just tell the real story without the drama and it would be a lot more believable.

I do my shopping online when I need something from A&F. I have to pay shipping, but it's worth it to no have to step foot in their stores. Their employees are usually nice, but I don't like that they have to keep the store messy to make it feel "casual" and they spray everything with their cologne and perfumes. I prefer a nice, open, clean, easy to shop layout like Gap or Express. Still, A&F clothing is pretty good quality for the price. It is much better in quality than AE or Gap. 

Thank you for sharing your story.  I'm sorry that you had a really bad experience with the store manager.  It has always been my belief that managers should be able to provide corporate phone number information to customers if they ask for it.  The sad thing is that Abercrombie is no different in their customer service skills or business practices than a discount retailer.  The only difference is that they sell overpriced merchandise that consumers seem to want, including myself.

I have never had a good experience at an Abercrombie and after my recent situation, I do not plan on setting foot in one ever again.  For the record, Abercrombie has a notorious reputation with controversy stemming from their soft corn porn catalogs back in the late 90's, to their non-minority employment, and ONLY hiring attractive looking sales people lawsuits.  As for any customer service, I would not count your chickens on that happening.  There seems to be this unwritten rule that employees should aways remain aloof, or to put it bluntly IGNORE, their customers unless you fit the Abercrombie look.

Since I was fifty pounds heavier at the time, no employee has ever set foot near me asking if I needed assistance and made me feel out of place in a store.  Recently, I lost all the weight and now am in good shape to the point that I ACTUALLY can fit into their clothes.  I went to the store to purchase some clothes since I threw away my old casual stuff and lo and behold I had employees coming up to me left and right asking if I needed help.  After dealing with this every minute and in every department I went to, it suddenly dawned on me that I was being profiled.  I'm a little surprised they would think I would be a potential shoplifter.  Maybe it was the suit I was wearing on my big designer messanger bag I was carrying (I just got off work to shop at the mall).  I ignored them and continued about my business finally settling on some clearance shirts and went to pay the cashier.

Immediately upon ringing up my transaction, the cashier interrupted the sale to announce in a loud voice over his walkie talkie to let notifty store security to watch out for a pair of gentleman who he believed might be stealing.  This instantly made me feel uncomfortable and annoyed of how unprofessionional this company is.  I shrugged it off, paid for my things, and prepared to leave.  However as soon as I made it out the door, the alarms went off with a few of the employees in tow asking to check my receipt and bag.  I showed them my purchases and apparently the cashier left a second sensor on one of my items.  (I guess Abercrombie does not trust their consumers enough that they need to security tag their merchandise twice.)  After a feeble apology, they removed it and send me on my merry way.

Though I am a bit annoyed by the company, it did not surprise me that this would occur.  This is typical Abercrombie and Fitch behavior.  It only shocks me that since big retailers, including A&F, who are suffering in this tough economy still will not improve their company policies and procedures would gamble on losing even more money by alienating consumers.  I have never experienced this at their competing retailers like Aeropostale, American Eagle, or even the Gap and their prices are even more reasonable and they sell practically the same thing!

I am going to end this rebuttal with simply letting all other consumers know exactly the type of company Abercrombie is and where their hard earned cash is going to.  An overpriced company with an inflated ego and lousy business practices!