Joined Jun 2006
L8: Grand Teacher
Forum Thread
I was just CHARGED for trying on a pair of shoes. UPDATE ON POST #431
June 22, 2007 at
12:00 PM
in
Chat
Okay so today I went into a running store to try on some shoes. I'm in the very BEGINNING of my search for new shoes and I just wanted to try on a few brands that were new to me and see if anything was going on with my foot. So I go into this store, the kid asks me if I'd ever been there before.. I said NO.. I said I was looking for shoes.. he says okay great and asks me to take walk in front of him for him to look at my stride/ gate. I do, it takes 2 minutes for him to determine that I'm mostly neutral/ slight overpronator. I try on TWO pairs of shoes. I tell him okay great, I'm going to look around, I might come back. I don't know. I don't know and I don't BS, its as simple as that. I might come back I might not for the shoes. I'm an informed shopper and I next to NEVER buy things on impulse. Then his attitude changed. He starts giving me this schpeel about how they're a high end running store and they take pride in fitting their customers with shoes and if I don't buy the shoes right then and there he was going to have to charge me $20 for the less than 10 minutes of time and two pairs of shoes I tried on. I asked him if he was freakin kidding me. The lady manager had to come over.. APPARENTLY, on the OTHER SIDE of the boxes of shoes he was stacking next to me was a sheet of laminated PAPER that said about this policy, in a not so very large font size. Okay so why did he NOT tell me about this when he asked me if I had ever been in the store? I clearly said no. Why did he let me walk in front of him and and spend the two minutes looking at my feet and not tell me this? I paid the $20 and left. And I know they talked about me when I left.. you could feel it in the air as I was paying. And I just know they were all like "Oh I hate when people do that.. " when in reality they should LOVE it.. $20 PURE PROFIT for under 10 minutes of time! They didn't tell me about this upfront and they stacked the shoes next to the piece of paper that said this. I couldn't even see it!
So I was thinking should I file a report with like BBB? I think $20 is a lot of money for merely trying on a pair of shoes and less than 10 minutes of time especially since I wasn't told about it upfront. I'm a girl and I've tried on my fair share of shoes in my lifetime and NEVER been charged for trying them on.
What do you guys think I should do? Nothing, something? I might just let it go.. but for right now I'm
Sorry I meant to click the RANT icon not chat.. I don't know how that happened.
So I was thinking should I file a report with like BBB? I think $20 is a lot of money for merely trying on a pair of shoes and less than 10 minutes of time especially since I wasn't told about it upfront. I'm a girl and I've tried on my fair share of shoes in my lifetime and NEVER been charged for trying them on.
What do you guys think I should do? Nothing, something? I might just let it go.. but for right now I'm
Sorry I meant to click the RANT icon not chat.. I don't know how that happened.
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However, according to consumer protection laws, the store has the obligation of making sure that they informed (preferably in a written invoice) the customer for services that they would be charged for. That was my point. Whether they honestly believe they told the customer or not is a moot point. By law, they have to go the extra mile (in case it does go to court) that they indeed informed the customer of potential charges for services.
Yes the policy is not usual or customary and would surprise anyone. I highly doubt anyone told of this policy in advance would come into the store unless they had more money than sense. I also doubt she was told in advance, who would shop there otherwise?
Wait, this is the state of fruits and nuts isn't it?
The taking of the $20 is to offer it back if they bought shoes there. Unacceptable
However, according to consumer protection laws, the store has the obligation of making sure that they informed (preferably in a written invoice) the customer for services that they would be charged for. That was my point.
Besides the unethical business practices of charging customers for trying on shoes, and not being upfront about the charges, it's just as unethical to then only carry certain brands, and ignore the customer's request for certain models of shoes. I hope I'm not stealing the thunder from "The Fixer"'s story.
I hope this doesn't become a story where the business is seen as a victim (from some claimed vigilante harassment), because from what I've read they're clearly not the victim. We share feelings and experiences here on this message board, and sometimes offer sympathy (and sometimes snide remarks) to others, but that doesn't mean we carry out any acts of violence toward those we side against.
Congrats OP on getting your money back!
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But, let's get real here......I'm certain (as with EVERYONE here) that the store does NOT verbally inform the customers beforehand that there will be a charge for trying on the shoes. If that was the case, EVERY customer would walk out immediately. They [the store] are purposely scamming the customers and using the surprise element to force customers to pay that ridiculous fee. They know that most will just pay it because they don't want any trouble. In the store's devious mind, they believe that a tiny sign posted on the wall is enough to free them of the obligation of informed consent. However, I assure you that it does NOT!
I can't rep you for that???
They have 2 stores open, so I think that is reason to believe they do have a customer base and this isn't some conspiracy to surprise customers into giving them money.
For being someone so about the law and truth, you sure are prematurly condemning this business over hearsay and throwing out some drastic accusations.
It wasn't even what shoe was best for me, it was what they had in stock for my "weird" foot.
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