I wish I could give this less than one star. I have to agree with the previous review. The items in Robertson Madison are overpriced and pedestrian, the store policies are illogical, and the owner is a needs serious schooling in customer service.
The items on "clearance" in this store are the retail prices from the manufacturers online, which either means the owner is blatantly marking up items and scamming her customers or she has no idea where to purchase her merchandise wholesale.
I was shopping in this store on Christmas Eve, and I asked for a specific Frye boot and was told by the owner that they didn't carry them, then I was lectured that I should go to Thomas Mann in New Haven because she couldn't carry every shoe ever made. I chose another boot from the "clearance" area and was told it was final sale. I liked them so I was willing to take the risk.
Unfortunately, the person I gave them to wasn't as excited about them and wanted to see if she could exchange them the day after Christmas. When we arrived at the store, it was open but no lights were on, and two very nice and respectful sales women helped us. Another boot of the same brand and size was selected from the "clearance" area and was $20 more that the original boot. I was more than willing to pay the difference. Both of these boots were from last season, but were priced as if they were current. When we asked is we could exchange, the sales woman said she would have to ask the owner and went upstairs. She returned apologetic and said it was against store policy. I could understand it, if I wanted a refund or store credit, but this was a like for like exchange, and we had only had the shoes one day (when there were closed).
Now, I will admit I was very upset when I told the sales women that the policy was harmful to the store and its relationship with its customers. However I did tell them that I knew it wasn't them and that I only wanted to them to tell the owner of my displeasure. I have never come across a business owner with policies so irrational that they effectively allowed a potentially repeat customer to walk out of their store unhappy for something that would not cost the business.
We had all gotten into our car and were about to pull out of the parking lot, when the owner came running out of the building. As she ran toward the car I thought she was relenting or wanted to apologize for our dissatisfaction, or at the very least wanted to speak with me directly instead of sending her sales woman to do her work for her. When I rolled down my window she accosted us, saying we had no right to be upset and implying how stupid we were for even asking to do an exchange. The way she was standing blocked us into the spot as she continued to yell into the car. I can only imagine what she would have done if the boots were the wrong size. When I told her that the exchange we had asked for would be $20 more than the original purchase and still clear her inventory, she replied by saying, "It's not about the money."
Well, if it's not about making money and clearly not about customer service, why is she in business? Next time, I will definitely be going to Thomas Mann and I encourage other shoppers to do so as well. I hope those women working there can find another, better employer because this store will not be in business long. read more