I’ve been really lucky in that regard as most of my pieces I had MTO or ordered specifically for me I haven’t had this issue. My bracelets go directly for adjustment once they arrive to store.
Necklace doesn't suit me - advice
- Thread starter oxfordgem
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Love that. Wonderful to have a worry free piece. Your pieces are yours only and there is no reason for VCA to show it to anyone else.
Honestly wondering if purchase history / relationship impacted your situation versus OPs..?
Exactly what I was trying to say- that the SA lied to the customer, and that’s unfair and unethical. I’m not opining as to whether the SM should or should not have allowed the return.
The manager stood behind the agreement as well. Its just odd I guess.
Right. I could not say. When I shop with my Mom they tell her the same thing. But I don’t know. No one has defined for me what they consider “try it” and no one has told me when it’s considered “worn”. I can only share what I have experienced.
Trying on is different imo. it's like in Chanel or other forums when a member said "I wore it it to dinner and decided it wasn't for me" then it goes back into stock/inventory. Watching a customer walk out the door wearing said item leaves little room for interpretation.
Oh well, not up to us anyhow!
Oh well, not up to us anyhow!
But why is wearing it out of store not acceptable to return, but a piece of jewelry sent to one's home to try on is ok to return?
That is why if one is unsure, best to order on line, where returns are permissible. Wearing out of the store IMO is Very different than trying on in one’s home if one is sent a piece. The latter is similar to trying on in the store; the former is actually usage which would render the item not new. What if from the store, someone has to stop for lunch or an errand. . . Where one draws the line may seem arbitrary, but rules often are JMO.
IMO only, I believe that the habit of some clients to wear and return a piece ( and possibky photo for social media; has caused retailers to be very reluctant to accept returns. As a business policy, I don’t blame them for being overly cautious. I also think that this policy may differ from geographic region bc the habits of the demographic may differ substantially. If one is a long standing client, whose habits, buying pattern, and good faith, are well known it’s also possible that certain rules may be bent.
Even if a long standing client may have worn an item, it’s possible that it would be better for the relationship for the store to ‘eat’ the purchase (the item could be assigned to a company employee sale or other) but that’s not the case here. And, the SA discussed this up front. There are good reasons for some rules to differ from locations. If a particular location is subject to walk in (not regular clientele) and higher volume returns of relatively smaller items, I would imagine the rules might be less likely to be bent than otherwise.
While I do not mind buying vintage pieces, I want to know up front. If I am buying from a premier brand, the assumption is that the item has been tried on , but is still new.
I do NOT try on earrings unless I am very close to certain that I will purchase. If I try on a necklace or bracelet, I prefer that the SA handle the item even if it’s to take it on and off my neck or wrist. If I want to take a pic to aid in my decision process, I ask. This is bc until purchase, I do not treat the item as mine. I only buy something that I absolutely adore enough to wear out of the store, thus removing the possibility of return. Those are my own tests for high end purchases. The fact that VCA rose gold is too warm on one’s skin tone? Surely that is something that could have been ascertained prior to wearing an item post purchase.
ETA: re returning to another VCA branch as suggested by some above. In 1989, I worked in high end retail for about a year after college as a day job while I painted full time as a professional artist. It was the unfortunate reality that some clients would shop in one store branch and return in another thinking that the SAs were unaware. For this reason, I could not imagine coursing a request for repair or return/excahnge to another store even if it’s not explicitly against the rules. It’s kind of like being considerate to wait staff if one has worked as one. JMO and YMMV.
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I think the OP learned an expensive lesson. Ask questions first — What happens if the item doesn’t look well on me? And don’t swipe your card unless you are SURE about the purchase.
If it were me at the beginning stage of collecting, the experience described by the OP (being misled by the SA bout the return/exchange options) would put me off the brand entirely.
We all make collecting mistakes. At least with VCA, you can get more of your original investment than with other brands.
I also would wear the item, you may come to love it. And if not, you can always consign it later.
I would however get another SA, and if possible go to another another store should you decide to continue to purchase VCA.
If it were me at the beginning stage of collecting, the experience described by the OP (being misled by the SA bout the return/exchange options) would put me off the brand entirely.
We all make collecting mistakes. At least with VCA, you can get more of your original investment than with other brands.
I also would wear the item, you may come to love it. And if not, you can always consign it later.
I would however get another SA, and if possible go to another another store should you decide to continue to purchase VCA.
I appreciate your thorough explanation
I have heard of people buying an item to wear to an event and then returning it which I personally find incredibly wrong and dishonest.
I feel for op not liking her new necklace, I hope it can be sold
I was going to say the same thing. What's the difference between a bunch of people trying it on in the store vs one single person wearing it briefly? As long as the piece is unscratched and undamaged in any way, it shouldn't matter.
They keep low inventory in the store, yet when people have to order something they want, they claim it's a big deal and not exchangeable, etc. This just feels like someone not wanting to give up a commission. But it's short-sighted imo because if it were me, it would turn me off of the brand altogether and at a minimum, I would never go back to that store or SA.
I don't suppose you know anyone that wants the rose gold necklace that you have and would order the yellow gold one that you want and would trade you? You'd want to do it with someone you trust as there are so many VCA fakes out there, but if possible, it might be the best way to get the most for the necklace you bought.
In all fairness, we don't know what happens when one wears their purchase out of the store. Trying it on in store, you're observed by staff, there's no question to how much wear it's getting.
Who knows if perfume had been sprayed on it, if they had a spray tan, wore it all week before deciding it's not right.... None of this factors in when trying on in store. JMO
Who knows if perfume had been sprayed on it, if they had a spray tan, wore it all week before deciding it's not right.... None of this factors in when trying on in store. JMO
This is interesting and good to know. I never thought of it from this perspective. When I shop for jewelry or watches, the SAs frequently offer to put the item on for me but I always decline. I assumed that I should be doing it myself and they were only offering in case it was difficult for me to do. Perhaps they do prefer to do it themselves in case I am a clutz with the clasp or something. From now on, I will ask their preference.
My guess is that, in theory, the SA/SM had no way of knowing how long the OP actually wore the piece after leaving. Worn out of the store is way different than briefly tried on in-store IMO...
Additionally, I do truly think it mostly comes down to the fact that the OP agreed to the terms of the sale initially. The rigidity of VCA here may have been unexpected, but not a total surprise. I'm sure there could also be missing context as does occur from time to time on the forum.