Who says customer service isn’t alive and well in Bryan/College Station Texas?
Let me share.
As my Arkansas friend, Terri, so appropriately pointed out, I’m wearing something BLACK in almost every photo in my Facebook profile. Despite the slimming appearance, I felt some splashes of color might be in order.
Anyone who knows me understands I’m not a huge fan of shopping, nor do I enjoy parting with a buck. Therefore, I search for justification – some valid “good reason” to buy clothes for my “really great closet.”
Years ago I needed no inducement to hit the mall or my favorite shops like Stein Mart and TJ Maxx. When it was reported Imelda Marcos possessed 2500 pairs of shoes in her wardrobe arsenal, I knew I had a lot of catching up to do and merrily set about the task of rousing competition.
That kind of shopping no longer holds appeal. The exhilaration of the search, the pleasure of strutting and posing in front of the three-sided mirror, as well as the thrill of finding the can’t-live-without-it bargain exited around the time those twenty pounds I can’t seem to shed appeared. And the shoes…..I was forced to wean myself years ago when I ran out of closet space and discovered Mike didn’t share the same affinity for my hero, Imelda. Now, the new shoes I buy, only because the old ones broke or wore out, rub blisters so I put that off as long as I positively can.
My justification two-fold this time -- my new job and the annual Spring Tea I attend at Bethel Lutheran as a guest of Mrs. Kathy Zelenka, or Mrs. Barbara McCannon when Kathy decides to run off on a family adventure weekend to Tarpley. I figured I could find something colorful and “springy” for the tea that would still be professional and appropriate for Miramont (no cleavage at church/no cleavage at work – no problem!)
The mail arrived before I left on my shopping extravaganza. Behold, a Bealls circular complete with a coupon for 20% off ALL purchases was among the junk and bills, so I clipped and headed that direction. Besides, it’s the closest store to my house, so I was thrilled to get a coupon. I hoped to avoid a lengthy outing by remaining on my side of town.
The BOGO half-off shoe sale initially caught my eye. I headed to that department first, reasoning if I had to tote items around, it was much easier to lug shoe boxes than clothing on hangers. I visited with Julie, a sweet Down’s lady who plopped down beside me, exhausted from her shopping excursion with mom. She offered an honest opinion on precisely which pair of brown heels looked best. After I selected Julie’s favorites, she ended our moment-in-time encounter with a warm bear hug and toothy smile. What a delight.
I then focused on the real reason I came – color! There was a nice variety of pastel and primary clearance and sale dresses to choose from. I re-loaded stacks of hopefuls four times before deciding on three NON-black outfits from the original try-on group, no less – two dresses and a sophisticated three piece outfit. I must confess, though, there was this awesome little black “Slenderizing Skirt” (the label advertised) that had built in lycra leggings. I just couldn’t resist. It will go with EVERYTHING in that great closet of mine.
All this I performed in the record time of two hours twenty minutes, just in time to go home and prepare supper. I was quite pleased on several levels as I presented my purchases and 20% off coupon at the register.
“What’s this? I haven’t seen this coupon,” the salesclerk admitted.
“I just got it today. It came in the circular.”
“Yeah, it’s a great coupon, but I’m sorry, it’s not good until the 29th. See. It says 4/29 through 5/5.”
“You’re kidding!”
Just my luck to spend all that time and effort and my coupon’s not valid till next week.
“Ok,” I sighed. “I’ll wait. The 20% is significant enough I don’t want to buy it without.”
I was met with the blank stare of the sales clerk as if to say, “But you looked so lovely in the blue and brown suit.” Yeah, I know. I really did!
I managed the only thing I could think to say, “I realize I run the risk of it being gone when I return, but that’s the way it goes, I guess.”
Sad ending to the story……….why no! My sales clerk saved an otherwise wasted afternoon.
“I’ll solve this dilemma,” she beamed. “Let me have your name and phone number. We’ll hold these till the 29th. When can you come in?”
What an awesome solution. Since she obviously wasn’t authorized to give me the coupon discount prior to the date, she did the next best thing. I confirmed I’d return Wednesday afternoon, coupon in hand, to complete the transaction. I came for color and by golly, I should receive color for my two hour twenty minute effort. It was, at least, minimal comfort to know my choices were safe and sound until coupon D-Day.
Although I had to pull something old from my closet to wear to the Spring Tea, I was elated to discover the bit of exercising I’d been doing paid off when the only yellow, spring-like dress I own zipped effortlessly. Besides, it wasn’t that old – I’d only worn it a couple of times last spring and summer. For just a moment, I considered not buying the pretty mint and chocolate dress I intended to wear to the tea………ah, but only for a minute. It was on sale with an additional 20% off and the sales clerk with the excellent customer service skills had it on hold.
It paid off for Bealls, too. When I went back Wednesday the 29th, I couldn’t resist the temptation to look again, in case I missed something. I found three more clearance sale things-I-couldn’t-live-without.
Let me share.
As my Arkansas friend, Terri, so appropriately pointed out, I’m wearing something BLACK in almost every photo in my Facebook profile. Despite the slimming appearance, I felt some splashes of color might be in order.
Anyone who knows me understands I’m not a huge fan of shopping, nor do I enjoy parting with a buck. Therefore, I search for justification – some valid “good reason” to buy clothes for my “really great closet.”
Years ago I needed no inducement to hit the mall or my favorite shops like Stein Mart and TJ Maxx. When it was reported Imelda Marcos possessed 2500 pairs of shoes in her wardrobe arsenal, I knew I had a lot of catching up to do and merrily set about the task of rousing competition.
That kind of shopping no longer holds appeal. The exhilaration of the search, the pleasure of strutting and posing in front of the three-sided mirror, as well as the thrill of finding the can’t-live-without-it bargain exited around the time those twenty pounds I can’t seem to shed appeared. And the shoes…..I was forced to wean myself years ago when I ran out of closet space and discovered Mike didn’t share the same affinity for my hero, Imelda. Now, the new shoes I buy, only because the old ones broke or wore out, rub blisters so I put that off as long as I positively can.
My justification two-fold this time -- my new job and the annual Spring Tea I attend at Bethel Lutheran as a guest of Mrs. Kathy Zelenka, or Mrs. Barbara McCannon when Kathy decides to run off on a family adventure weekend to Tarpley. I figured I could find something colorful and “springy” for the tea that would still be professional and appropriate for Miramont (no cleavage at church/no cleavage at work – no problem!)
The mail arrived before I left on my shopping extravaganza. Behold, a Bealls circular complete with a coupon for 20% off ALL purchases was among the junk and bills, so I clipped and headed that direction. Besides, it’s the closest store to my house, so I was thrilled to get a coupon. I hoped to avoid a lengthy outing by remaining on my side of town.
The BOGO half-off shoe sale initially caught my eye. I headed to that department first, reasoning if I had to tote items around, it was much easier to lug shoe boxes than clothing on hangers. I visited with Julie, a sweet Down’s lady who plopped down beside me, exhausted from her shopping excursion with mom. She offered an honest opinion on precisely which pair of brown heels looked best. After I selected Julie’s favorites, she ended our moment-in-time encounter with a warm bear hug and toothy smile. What a delight.
I then focused on the real reason I came – color! There was a nice variety of pastel and primary clearance and sale dresses to choose from. I re-loaded stacks of hopefuls four times before deciding on three NON-black outfits from the original try-on group, no less – two dresses and a sophisticated three piece outfit. I must confess, though, there was this awesome little black “Slenderizing Skirt” (the label advertised) that had built in lycra leggings. I just couldn’t resist. It will go with EVERYTHING in that great closet of mine.
All this I performed in the record time of two hours twenty minutes, just in time to go home and prepare supper. I was quite pleased on several levels as I presented my purchases and 20% off coupon at the register.
“What’s this? I haven’t seen this coupon,” the salesclerk admitted.
“I just got it today. It came in the circular.”
“Yeah, it’s a great coupon, but I’m sorry, it’s not good until the 29th. See. It says 4/29 through 5/5.”
“You’re kidding!”
Just my luck to spend all that time and effort and my coupon’s not valid till next week.
“Ok,” I sighed. “I’ll wait. The 20% is significant enough I don’t want to buy it without.”
I was met with the blank stare of the sales clerk as if to say, “But you looked so lovely in the blue and brown suit.” Yeah, I know. I really did!
I managed the only thing I could think to say, “I realize I run the risk of it being gone when I return, but that’s the way it goes, I guess.”
Sad ending to the story……….why no! My sales clerk saved an otherwise wasted afternoon.
“I’ll solve this dilemma,” she beamed. “Let me have your name and phone number. We’ll hold these till the 29th. When can you come in?”
What an awesome solution. Since she obviously wasn’t authorized to give me the coupon discount prior to the date, she did the next best thing. I confirmed I’d return Wednesday afternoon, coupon in hand, to complete the transaction. I came for color and by golly, I should receive color for my two hour twenty minute effort. It was, at least, minimal comfort to know my choices were safe and sound until coupon D-Day.
Although I had to pull something old from my closet to wear to the Spring Tea, I was elated to discover the bit of exercising I’d been doing paid off when the only yellow, spring-like dress I own zipped effortlessly. Besides, it wasn’t that old – I’d only worn it a couple of times last spring and summer. For just a moment, I considered not buying the pretty mint and chocolate dress I intended to wear to the tea………ah, but only for a minute. It was on sale with an additional 20% off and the sales clerk with the excellent customer service skills had it on hold.
It paid off for Bealls, too. When I went back Wednesday the 29th, I couldn’t resist the temptation to look again, in case I missed something. I found three more clearance sale things-I-couldn’t-live-without.
Who says customer manipulation, I mean, customer service doesn’t pay.
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