Complaint Review: Big K - Elkin North Carolina

THAT'S A BUNCH OF CRAP!! My sister and i went into a Kmart Store to return a simple gift set that her husband was allergic to that he got for christmas, he was allergic to it. THEY WOULDN'T EVEN LET US EXCHANGE IT OR ANYTHING, SHE LITERALLY THREW IT ON THE COUNTER AND SAID.. NO RETURNS ON MERCHANDISE, PERIOD. I don't know what planet your on, but Kmart sucks and their all discriminatory. I went through my own personal trauma with them that lasted almost a year, i FINALLY got justice this past December through contacting about 5 people including the District Manager Carl something or another and it still wasn't worth it. Kmart isn't worth the paper used to print those worthless receipts. I wouldn't buy water from them if i was literally dying of thirst and as for Michael (see above rebuttal), the guy who works at the Douglasville Store... IT WAS IN YOUR STORE ON HWY.5!!!! My ripoff report is listed in this category. READ IT AND WEEP YOU KMART SUPPORTERS!! I know i wept!

I worked at three different K-Marts for a total of five years at the customer service desk. I haven't worked there for two years now, since the last store I worked for closed down, so I don't know how much the return policy has changed since then. I see your complaint was filed in 2001. I believe at that time, we were still doing refunds and exchanges with or without a receipt. (That changed before my store closed down. The policy at that time stated we wouldn't process ANY returns without receipts, so you should consider yourself lucky you were offered anything.) When we scan the item, the lowest sale price in the past 90 days would come up. We would then issue that amount on a K-mart cash card. I understand your frustration if you did pay full amount for one pair of jeans and half price for the other, but without a receipt, we can't verify that. We're not trying to call you a liar by any means, you just have to understand one of the reasons K-mart lost so much money was because of all of the dishonest people out there who would steal things and then return them, for a full CASH refund. We gave customers the benefit of the doubt, and many people took advantage of that, causing us to lose a LOT of money. So we had to come up with what we thought was a fair return policy. People like you, who I'm sure were telling the truth, would ask us to give in, "just this one time", but if we did that "just that one time", we would have to make exceptions for everybody. It's not our fault that you lost your receipt. It's not the person's fault at the service desk that K-mart has a return policy. We are just doing our job. We're not trying to rip you off, we are trying NOT to get ripped off. Next time just save your receipt and save yourself the embarrassment of looking like a fool by yelling at the service desk employee who is just doing their job.

I worked at three different K-Marts for a total of five years at the customer service desk. I haven't worked there for two years now, since the last store I worked for closed down, so I don't know how much the return policy has changed since then. I see your complaint was filed in 2001. I believe at that time, we were still doing refunds and exchanges with or without a receipt. (That changed before my store closed down. The policy at that time stated we wouldn't process ANY returns without receipts, so you should consider yourself lucky you were offered anything.) When we scan the item, the lowest sale price in the past 90 days would come up. We would then issue that amount on a K-mart cash card. I understand your frustration if you did pay full amount for one pair of jeans and half price for the other, but without a receipt, we can't verify that. We're not trying to call you a liar by any means, you just have to understand one of the reasons K-mart lost so much money was because of all of the dishonest people out there who would steal things and then return them, for a full CASH refund. We gave customers the benefit of the doubt, and many people took advantage of that, causing us to lose a LOT of money. So we had to come up with what we thought was a fair return policy. People like you, who I'm sure were telling the truth, would ask us to give in, "just this one time", but if we did that "just that one time", we would have to make exceptions for everybody. It's not our fault that you lost your receipt. It's not the person's fault at the service desk that K-mart has a return policy. We are just doing our job. We're not trying to rip you off, we are trying NOT to get ripped off. Next time just save your receipt and save yourself the embarrassment of looking like a fool by yelling at the service desk employee who is just doing their job.

I worked at three different K-Marts for a total of five years at the customer service desk. I haven't worked there for two years now, since the last store I worked for closed down, so I don't know how much the return policy has changed since then. I see your complaint was filed in 2001. I believe at that time, we were still doing refunds and exchanges with or without a receipt. (That changed before my store closed down. The policy at that time stated we wouldn't process ANY returns without receipts, so you should consider yourself lucky you were offered anything.) When we scan the item, the lowest sale price in the past 90 days would come up. We would then issue that amount on a K-mart cash card. I understand your frustration if you did pay full amount for one pair of jeans and half price for the other, but without a receipt, we can't verify that. We're not trying to call you a liar by any means, you just have to understand one of the reasons K-mart lost so much money was because of all of the dishonest people out there who would steal things and then return them, for a full CASH refund. We gave customers the benefit of the doubt, and many people took advantage of that, causing us to lose a LOT of money. So we had to come up with what we thought was a fair return policy. People like you, who I'm sure were telling the truth, would ask us to give in, "just this one time", but if we did that "just that one time", we would have to make exceptions for everybody. It's not our fault that you lost your receipt. It's not the person's fault at the service desk that K-mart has a return policy. We are just doing our job. We're not trying to rip you off, we are trying NOT to get ripped off. Next time just save your receipt and save yourself the embarrassment of looking like a fool by yelling at the service desk employee who is just doing their job.

I worked at three different K-Marts for a total of five years at the customer service desk. I haven't worked there for two years now, since the last store I worked for closed down, so I don't know how much the return policy has changed since then. I see your complaint was filed in 2001. I believe at that time, we were still doing refunds and exchanges with or without a receipt. (That changed before my store closed down. The policy at that time stated we wouldn't process ANY returns without receipts, so you should consider yourself lucky you were offered anything.) When we scan the item, the lowest sale price in the past 90 days would come up. We would then issue that amount on a K-mart cash card. I understand your frustration if you did pay full amount for one pair of jeans and half price for the other, but without a receipt, we can't verify that. We're not trying to call you a liar by any means, you just have to understand one of the reasons K-mart lost so much money was because of all of the dishonest people out there who would steal things and then return them, for a full CASH refund. We gave customers the benefit of the doubt, and many people took advantage of that, causing us to lose a LOT of money. So we had to come up with what we thought was a fair return policy. People like you, who I'm sure were telling the truth, would ask us to give in, "just this one time", but if we did that "just that one time", we would have to make exceptions for everybody. It's not our fault that you lost your receipt. It's not the person's fault at the service desk that K-mart has a return policy. We are just doing our job. We're not trying to rip you off, we are trying NOT to get ripped off. Next time just save your receipt and save yourself the embarrassment of looking like a fool by yelling at the service desk employee who is just doing their job.

Thats the most common whine I hear from the customer... sure.. I understand not everyone is a theif.. but..why should we refund your items when you dont have ANY proof of purchase? This is where COMMON SENSE comes into play.. and we say NO. It's not too hard to keep a receipt... and if its a gift? Well, gift receipts are avalible for gifts... its not our fault if they dont give it to you when they give you the gift. Bottom line is, Walmart is there, so, why waste your time complaining when Walmart is here? Walmarts policy is very similar, if not the same... as well as Targets.. so.. you can whine and complain all ya want, you just make yourself look like a 7 year old without any moral. I am happy I enforce the policy, because, there are plenty of people who will steal and return things. Bottom line with me, if you cant show me you purchased it, then, I can't refund it. Now, its not calling you a liar, its just saying, without proof, your innocent, but, at the same time, there will be no refund. Its just that simple. BE RESPONSIBLE! Keep your receipt! Its not that hard.... and I dare anyone to come and yell at me cause they weren't responsible enough to save a receipt. I just tell them I'm sorry.. but.. without the receipt.. theres nothing I can do. And when they say there gonna go to Walmart.. I say.. well..theres one right down the road.. have a good night and drive safely, and smile.. and that ticks them off. Why? I dunno... there the ones with the sour attitude.. I'm just being nice and respectful... unlike some customers who think they can stomp on me like dirt... But, the simple thing is, proof of purchase is required before I give away any refund or exchange. If I ran a company in retail, I'd be the same way... thats part of the reason why kmart went under for a while.. because they didn't enforce there policy.. and now that they are... the loyal customers who WILL keep us in business are smiling.. because they know to keep there receipt.

Kmart does not know the meaning of treating the customer right, From my experience, friends, family and co-workers, we all agree that kmart needs to go out of business. Talking with people i know, we don't see any low prices. The return policy sucks, they cheat you out of your money, only giving you half price if you come without a receit. They will not loose money and customers if they do what they can to keep a customer happy such as putting returns without a receit on cash cards, that way money stays in the store. Train staff to appreciate the customer, after all we are the reason many businesses survive. Stop treating customers as if everyone is a thief, and as if kmart is the only place to shop. Common sense- Now i understand why Walmart is taking over. Have a great day, an abused ex-customer from kmart

I couldn't come back if I wanted to. ALL Kmarts in my area were shut down....but believe me, I wouldn't ever return to that place anyway. You are (were) a sore excuse for a company.

I am a up front supervisor at our local Kmart, and, I must admit, I have no sympathy for people who get mad when we can only offer them "Lowest sale price without receipt." It's not our fault they can't keep a receipt. Why do they get mad? I don't have the slightest idea... its basically common sense to save your receipt until after the 90-day peroid, otherwise, its not our fault, but your own. But, for all those kmart associates who handle returns, dont let customers like that get to you. They just like showing off, and, I usually just walk away from them. We give out receipts for a reason, you know the policy BEFORE you leave the store... its plain and simple.. keep your receipt and you'll be fine, but, dont you dare yell at me when you aren't responsible enough to keep up with your own stuff. Thats how I feel about the situation. The basic rule for it is, if you don't like our policies, why do you keep coming back?

They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report: Their email: [email protected] Their name: Mrs. A Their relationship to the company: Consumer Suggestion Rebuttal: As a former Kmart employee, though that was many years ago, I suggest you do not turn the jeans in at the store where you bought them but, instead, take them to another local Kmart and ask to exchange them there. In the past, and I no way speak as a "current" expert, Kmarts would exchange merchandise bought from any other Kmart store. That is, take your wrong-size jeans (hopefully the tags are intact so they can tell they came from Kmart?) to a different store, leave them in the car while you go inside to check for size (or, save yourself some grief, CALL FIRST and ask for Mens Wear!), then explain you purchased them somewhere else but they can't exchange as they don't have your size. I understand your frustration, but like the last contributor, having worked in retail, what some customers do is disgusting and embarrassing. You can't imagine it....people return "new" clothes with sweat stains in the collars and cuffs, etc. Shoes with worn soles. YUCK. It would make you sick. Frankly, the trends today to be more cautious have been a long time in coming. Do what I do now: When I buy clothing, I put the receipt inside the pocket of the garment. That way, if it doesn't fit, the receipt is inside. Honestly, this is not something to get agitated about; become an educated consumer and save your energy for worrying to better use on something else that is a REAL problem. Mrs. A

They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report:

Their email: [email protected]
Their name: Returns/cashier of another establishment

Their relationship to the company: Devotee

Rebuttal:
I work in returns for another company. You can't really say they are ripping you off until you have put yourself in thier shoes. There are so many scams going on out there in the world that the retail chain is losing millions of dollars, and this is what keeps our prices on the the up scale.

Daily I have people coming in and purchasing clearnce Item and
coming back with out the recipts and getting full price for the item, which in return we just lost money. T

he clearnce Items are marked down for a reason what ever that may be but we still sell them at the regular price also. So who is to say that it wasn't clearenced or the customer damaged
it while installing the item. Its the word against another. I could say one thing and you another and we could go on all day. So to make sure you keep your reciepts. It's only for your benifit. What every the computer says it what you will recieve.

Sometime to your benifit and sometime to the companys benifit. If there is a sale nine time out of ten you will get the cheaper of the two.

Don't have a hardend heart, Think of both side of the fence and concider it a lesson learned. Noone likes to learn the hard
way but occationaly it happens.
Returns emplyoee