I have to say, I have been a fan of Chico’s, women’s clothing store, for the last several years. I mean, where else can I go and wear a size 2 !! I have also liked their rewards program; that they would look you up in their system and quickly tell you what discount you’d earned. But, alas, after my recent experience last weekend, the love affair is over.
It was last Saturday morning, I was at the store in Mashpee. I found a great black top, the kind that will cover anything, if you get my {mid} drift, for $98.00. It was a little pricey, but, fear not, I thought, knowing it would be much more affordable once my discount was applied. So, I stood in great anticipation as the sales lady (a very nice woman, by the way) looked me up in the system. Indeed, their records confirmed: I was entitled to a $20.00 break. I was simply delighted. For about 11 seconds. The afore-mentioned very nice woman explained that while I was entitled to the price break, I couldn’t take it on the (stunningly sliming) black top .. because (and this is the part that got me) it was only redeemable for purchases totaling $100.00 or more and this top was only $98.00 ! Huh??? Honestly, I couldn’t believe it. The saleslady (at this point, beginning to lose a bit of that lovely, nice quality) explained that she was truly sorry, but she couldn’t help me. Her advice, “Go pick out a piece of jewelry that will boost the total to over $100.00″, so I could get the $20.00 savings. Again, I say, “HUH?”. It’s not that I don’t think Chico’s jewelry is great. I do. I actually have several pieces that you may have seen me wear on TV (though not recently), but, I did not go to Chico’s to buy jewelry last Saturday morning, nor did I want to spend another dime for something I neither wanted nor needed. What I wanted was $20.00 off my $98.00 top (which, honestly, at this point, was starting to look frayed in places). I thought I had the perfect solution: why didn’t the (now, really a little cranky) saleswoman just charge me $100.00 for the top .. THEN apply the coupon ?? I thought it made perfect sense. I was really happy to spend $2-dollars to save $18.00. No dice. My (now, completely exasperated) salesperson wouldn’t budge. “They won’t let us”, was her only explanation. So, I walked. The black top (that I actually no longer liked) didn’t. It was a matter of principle.
Okay, Mr. or Ms. Chico’s .. I get it .. your coupon program is great marketing. You offer savings after a customer reaches a certain total, then you price your clothes accordingly, making it necessary for her to buy more than she’d like. Some retailing analysts might call that genius, but, honestly, I call it wrong.
You lost a $100.00 sale Saturday. I spent it, instead, at the Gap. I didn’t know they had nice tops there. I do now.
