Oh gosh...if I used a bag I would never have the nerve to take it back for a refund!!! I might sell it on Ebay or Bonanza as barely used; but, can't imagine taking it back to the store!!!
Sooo irritated about this! I know my fellow Coachies will understand
- Thread starter notoriousliz
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Well said, tiggycat! I think this is how most of us feel about this topic. Whether used for a few hours one day, or for a week... its simply still used either way you look at it.
As long as she doesn't lie about the condition of the bag to the SA at Coach, and the SA takes it back there isn't a moral issue. A lot of times there is leeway in the official posted rules. After all, those rules are there to protect the store. The issue I would have is if they are turning around and selling that merchandise as new.
For instance, Kohl's has a very lenient return policy. You can literally bring back clothes that have been washed, no tags, etc., and they will take it back. If you shop at Kohl's because of that return policy and use it, there's nothing wrong with that. Kohl's is banking on the fact that you will spend more than you will return, and that the return policy gives them an edge over their competitors to get people in the store. If that policy is not profitable for them then they'll change it.
It's the same with Coach. If Coach starts losing money they'll tighten up the rules, but clearly since they've had the same policy for years it doesn't pay for them to change it. I think that if you go into the store and tell the SA the truth, and she takes it back there's nothing wrong with that. But we can't blame that returner if Coach decides to lie and pretend the bag is new when it's not.
People have been getting heated about this issue on this forum since I've been around. IMO, if you're using the bags and leaving the tags on, and then returning pretending it's unused, that's on you. If you use the bag, take it back and tell the SA you used it, and she takes it back, that's on Coach.
This I don't understand either. Unless you are a reseller why would you be 'afraid' of getting the letter? There are plenty of stores in the mall that sell nice bags.
And I will say for the record that I advocate returning used merchandise if that is the store's written (or unwritten) policy. I think I've told the story of my hippie on here enough times, but there are some newer people here so I'll recap. My wonderful puppy chewed on the zipper pull one day after I got it. I brought it in to see if Coach could repair the zipper (at my expense, of course), and the SA said absolutely not that she would have another sent to me. I was completely flabbergasted since obviously this was a problem that was my fault.
Now some people may say that I 'returned used merchandise', but by your own definition of used it really wasn't. I hadn't even used the bag yet.
Kidding. I guess it was 'used'...as a doggy chew toy. I think that Coach's return policy is quite generous, and I don't think there's anything wrong with using it honestly. It's kept me shopping at Coach when some of their defective issues would have made me drop them long ago.
IMHO, someone who smokes around a bag has made it filthy and stinky and that bag is USED (and IMHO again, useless) and shouldn't have been accepted for return.
What if she wore the bag for a week or two and realized it was not as comfortable to wear as she thought it would be? Then what? I think that's a legitimate reason for returning but I think in that case an exchange is in order not money back. I don't think it's ok to return something just because you changed your mind about spending the money and here you have used it for two weeks and carried it all over smoking. No, that's not ok if you ask me. If the bag has quality issues that's another story.
This I don't understand either. Unless you are a reseller why would you be 'afraid' of getting the letter? There are plenty of stores in the mall that sell nice bags.
And I will say for the record that I advocate returning used merchandise if that is the store's written (or unwritten) policy. I think I've told the story of my hippie on here enough times, but there are some newer people here so I'll recap. My wonderful puppy chewed on the zipper pull one day after I got it. I brought it in to see if Coach could repair the zipper (at my expense, of course), and the SA said absolutely not that she would have another sent to me. I was completely flabbergasted since obviously this was a problem that was my fault.
Now some people may say that I 'returned used merchandise', but by your own definition of used it really wasn't. I hadn't even used the bag yet.
I think that Coach's return policy is quite generous, and I don't think there's anything wrong with using it honestly. It's kept me shopping at Coach when some of their defective issues would have made me drop them long ago.
There aren't any ifs here, however. We all know what the store's (Coach's) stated policy is:
We will be glad to refund or exchange any new and unused merchandise.
Just because you have some SAs violating that policy and some customers abusing the policy and/or abusing their relationships with their SAs doesn't change the policy or make those taking advantage of it any less culpable.
I think it is only a matter of time before they do drop the hammer and tighten up their policy, which after reading some posts on this forum, would be a great thing as I don't want to pay full price for someone's indecision and whimsy.
What your SA did, Buttercup, was clearly out of courtesy and Coach probably ate the loss under the guise of good customer service, but we all know that's not always the case. There are people clearly using bags and then returning them as new. That is plain as day.
And I agree it is wrong to do that. But I don't think it's wrong to tell the truth and have them take the bag back. Like I said, if Coach starts to lose money with this policy I fully expect they'll change it. But judging from the quality of their bags in the last year or so I'd say they're probably skimping on workmanship and materials and hoping if they lay the customer service on thick that will make up for it.
I just think the anger at being sold a used bag is misplaced for some people here. It's the company's responsibility to either sell those bags as returns or destroy them. In fact, when I bought a Coach bag at the outlet with a used Chapstick in the front pocket
it didn't occur to me to be mad at the person who used the bag. I was mad that they tried to resell it as new AND they didn't even look through it before putting it on the floor!
Just wondering, what "letter" are you referring to? The "we can't fix your bag so here's 40% off" letter? If so, why would someone be afraid of that? I am not trying to be snarky btw, just wondering...
If you do a search in the COach shopping subforum regarding being banned from coach or receiving the letter, you will see what we are talking about. Besides the 40% off good letter, Coach has a couple of not so nice letters they also send out, banning customers from returning, and banning customers from ever shopping with them again.
I actually bought a bag from Macy's in another state over the phone and they sent me a nasty smoke filled grey gathered Sophia that had several return stickers on it. I asked over the phone if it was in good condition and was told it was. Yeah right! So every store can do this
Wow, I was totally unaware of this... WTH does someone do to get that kind of letter??? Yeah, I am definitely going to search about that. That is crazy. When I think of it, it is a good thing that I knew nothing of it, LoL!
True, but I was actually referring to going to Macy's in person where I see them bring me a bag w/all it's hardware still wrapped in the plastic bag.