Laura G.
Yelp
"Managers" Jill or Trina, either way, doesn't matter - one of you was a witness. Elitist white women will always make others second guess or question themselves over policies their employer sets with space for selective accommodation to make them feel powerful.
I called the Bridgeport location to ask about their exchange policy after seeing that the 12th Ave. location might be closed (it's election week). I received a pair of pants as a gift and have been dreading going in to exchange them for the risk of this exact experience. No receipt. No email. I get it - I was in an unlikely situation, but to make sure I didn't waste their time and mine. When I called Bridgeport and spoke to Kacey and asked if it was possible to exchange these pants of which still had tags attached, she said yes. She told me to call 12th Ave. first because they might be open regardless of what Maps was stating. It turned out they were open and I drove over. Upon arrival, a nice associate took my pants, I explained my situation, and she seemed to understand I didn't have "proof of purchase" - which I mentioned a couple of times. She told me I could get a gift card with store credit if they did not have what I needed at the store. She guided me around, showed me potential pants that would be a good fit, and then helped me find the correct size.
This whole thing took about 30-35 minutes and when I was ready to exchange my pants, another woman took over my transaction, said they couldn't exchange them without proof of purchase, and asked if the other woman knew about it. Stutters, uncertainty.. I think she was scared to mention anything. Then, another woman stepped up (blonde hair, beige sweater) - I wanted to avoid her at all costs since my arrival. She is the type of manager that makes you feel stupid immediately if you don't fit the white rich profile. For instance, when I walked inside the store, I stood in front of the register with more than 6 feet of space. She told me where I should be standing in a condescending tone while I found myself APOLOGIZING to her for simply not knowing as I had not walked around to know. As soon as she became involved in the transaction, she repeated what the cashier had said, to which I responded with my experience from calling the Bridgeport location. She said "oh, haha, noooo, you must have not told them the right information. They must have been confused. The information must have gotten mixed up. Nope. Can't return without proof of purchase. Nope. Sorry." All in a condescending tone, all without room to explain. See the thing is, I understand some information can get displaced and mixed up.. but I called the store for a reason. There is a witness to my word. This is the exact reason I sought that information - I left and then called Bridgeport. I spoke to Kacey again and she asked for my name and wanted to call the 12th Ave store to tell them to accommodate my transaction, but I could not find it in myself to go back in there. I felt so wronged.
I trust myself. I know I asked for the right information and knew it was unlikely to get the pants exchanged, but THEY told me it COULD be done. And guess what? It WAS done. I drove to Bridgeport and they exchanged my pants. That is what prompted me to write this. These types of managers are the reason it is difficult to shop around and feel comfortable. I am not their demographic. I do not look like them. I am a Hispanic woman and my body and features do not look like their models or even their staff... but that SHOULD not matter. I am stating these components here because I KNOW what this looks and tastes like as I have seen it all my life. No one gets to tell me my experience is invalid. And if they want to pull the "Oh I didn't even know she was a person of color" or whatever, it does NOT matter. Innate racism exists and microaggressions are probably in your field of "power" through these pointless transactions in a retail world. Consider who is placed in positions of "power."
