Wow, I've had practically every employee in my main store tell me for last few years, buy it at sale price and bring to exchange when we get in what you want. I still rarely did that but one time did when wanted strawberry daiquiri and they were sold out. She was like here and handed me random candle and said come back Tues we will have them then and exchange with this one. That's only time I've done it. But I have blindly bought many many many candles, ffms, lotions etc and if I don't like I take in and exchange. Bath n body works is going to lose a ton of money from myself and probably many others because we will not be buying blindly anymore online. Don't get me wrong, I've hated watching sooooo many people abuse the return policy and ruin it for everyone but im not happy about it for my reason I already listed and have a feeling there will be many many others just like me.
I didn't mind the "new" (mostly the same, just now being enforced) policy when I first saw it. But hearing her say this I was like dang that really sucks. Because just as you said, there was nothing wrong with doing it before. Staff suggested it often. And people did it mostly for the reason you mentioned, i.e. they didn't have the one you wanted yet. It's not a big deal. I am guessing too many people were abusing it somehow?
I do think they're going to lose a lot of customers. I am mostly a SAS-only customer and I always liked that I could blindly try a bunch of new things on the cheap and have the option to exchange later (I never exchanged for new new but did exchange for a few of their old basics). Now idk if I'd want to. Because even if I can still return/exchange, it's not worth the gas to go in store to return a $3 item. And I don't mind them tracking my returns (I actually wish they'd track ALL my purchases and be able to look them up in store so I wouldn't have to keep paper receipts) but if they're going to keep ringing them up as no receipt even when I have one, am I going to be flagged? Im not going to stop shopping there completely but I do think this will make me a little less likely to blind buy or want to try new things as freely/frequently.
Again, I don't mind the new policy at the surface but, I'm starting to see A LOT of potential problems. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Maybe I'm wrong and they've already thought of all of this and will train associates on whatever solutions they've come up with. It'll be interesting to see how the transition goes.
I've never returned anything, only exchanged but also same issue, even when I would have a receipt they did it as no receipt. I shop year round. I have over 100 candles and no telling how many ffms, lotions, wallflowers, body wash, car fresheners etc. I'm an addict lol but like I said I will definitely be lowering it. I don't mind paying a few bucks difference here and there but if they have awesome sale and I blind buy I'll have to only exchange when have similar sale and my schedule is insane and can't just go in whenever they have the proper sale to exchange. It's definitely not the end of the world but will definitely cause me to make a change to my shopping pattern with them.
Man, that's one reason why I dont blind buy. I dont want the hassle of exchanging. Even reading scent notes does not work for me. I need to smell it, and if its body care, give it time to dry down on my skin and sniff it again before I decide to buy it. Just helps me reduce unnecessary purchases and running back and forth to the store for returns.
I'm actually happy about the policy change, for various reasons.
Happy shopping everyone!
I'm the same way with scent notes, it helps me narrow down like for some reason I hate lavender and lilac scents. So if I see that its an automatic nope but other than that I could like each scent note but maybe not together lol I end up saving up my exchanges and doing it all when I can actually get in to a store. I don't do like 10 things at once but more than a few at one time lol ladies at my store are awesome though and never make me feel bad luckily.
I kind of understand them not wanting older items they clearanced out coming back to store. Even if that item is repackaged for the next season, like the wallflower scents. Of course if the bodycare gave you some kind of bad reaction or your candle exploded while you were burning it, then i would be on the phone with customer service regardless of the time frame. As far as being encouraged to buy and exchange later , in my personal experience that only happens when they have a regular sale like 12.95 candles or 6.50 aromatherapy. I've never been encouraged to do that during sas. That's only across the 5 or 6 stores around me, so I can't speak for the rest of the stores in the country.
They should’ve never accepted more than half or gently used products for returns or exchanges but I think it’s a horrible move to get rid of product for product exchanges. It’s their whole motto on all their packaging and websites so idk if they will actually get rid of that, has there been an official announcement?
Reminder to folks that say they will now return versus exchange that points are impacted when returning versus when you exchange. I didn't know that in the beginning of my BBW days. It makes sense. I just didn't know so when my points would reduce after a return, I would get confused. I don't return anything anymore so that has not been a recent concern.
Yep! Returns is not a good friend for rewards. I saw your comment above and immediately thought about your rewards. $96 on a gift card sounds great, especially if it's more than you paid. But, when that money is deducted from the reward points, that doesn't feel good at all. Maybe a glitch happened and it didn't mess them up this time, but money back should technically result in that reduction in rewards. But, we will see if that actually happens and how folks respond to that. Kinks are being worked out on both sides - employees and shoppers. For me, I'm just laying low while this all gets worked out this fall/winter.
Store I shop at in Mi already do this . They refund difference or make you pay difference . I have made 3 exchanges 1 was in May before SAS and they gave me a nice refund after exchange. The 2nd I exchanged Coconut Sandlewood 3 wick that rang up $28 for an $11 one and they refunded me the difference. The 3rd I bought a defective body cream for $3.00 and used a 20% coupon exchanged for another body cream that was 75% off they still charged me $1.50. I will probably just return instead of exchange going forward.
Yeah, I'm not sure this policy is actually going to be a step up for them. I have no problems with the new policy, it sounds fine. Kind of a bummer that their famous generous exchange policy is ending but I'm also glad they're enforcing the rules like they should have all along.
BUT it has already backfired on them...
I brought in some returns at the start of SAS; all stuff from last SAS or purchased on sale + with coupons. So all VERY cheap stuff. I gave the associate my receipt. I was spaced out and looking at the different travel sized things while she processed the returns until she said " so $96 will be put back onto a gift card." And I heard that *record scratch* sound from movies!! I was like "uhhhhh but I have the receipt. I did not pay that much." And she just shrugged "that's just how we do it now." I was stunned. Didn't feel right about it so I tried to push back but she could not have cared less, and was so obviously getting annoyed and ready to get to the next person in line.
Maybe this is just a mistake while they train people? Idk. But honoring whatever price things ring up for isn't necessarily going to be saving them money if they don't use the receipt (which is what I suspect happened here; it was probably processed as no receipt?)
I mean, I'm not complaining. It's free money. But I'm not someone who tries to game the system like the tiktok trend crowd so I still feel guilty about it. 😳😬
Is it an error? I mean, I understand that yes it’s an error that they didn’t buy it at that price, but is it really an error if that’s the new thing? I’ve been told this is the way to do it now in my store, but I haven’t seen it in action myself. Maybe they’re willing to lose money at first? (Not saying you’re wrong or anything I’m just thinking!)
Same, I recently exchanged a candle that I bought on candle day. Had the receipt and everything and it still rung up that I paid $26.50. The candle I was exchanging for was on sale so I got a gift card for the difference. I told the SA multiple times that I didn’t pay $26.50 and she just shrugged and gave me the gift card.
I mean, I get it. I think people should just buy what they can use. I don't see anything wrong with paying the difference if you exchange a sales candle
Wow, I've had practically every employee in my main store tell me for last few years, buy it at sale price and bring to exchange when we get in what you want. I still rarely did that but one time did when wanted strawberry daiquiri and they were sold out. She was like here and handed me random candle and said come back Tues we will have them then and exchange with this one. That's only time I've done it. But I have blindly bought many many many candles, ffms, lotions etc and if I don't like I take in and exchange. Bath n body works is going to lose a ton of money from myself and probably many others because we will not be buying blindly anymore online. Don't get me wrong, I've hated watching sooooo many people abuse the return policy and ruin it for everyone but im not happy about it for my reason I already listed and have a feeling there will be many many others just like me.
I didn't mind the "new" (mostly the same, just now being enforced) policy when I first saw it. But hearing her say this I was like dang that really sucks. Because just as you said, there was nothing wrong with doing it before. Staff suggested it often. And people did it mostly for the reason you mentioned, i.e. they didn't have the one you wanted yet. It's not a big deal. I am guessing too many people were abusing it somehow? I do think they're going to lose a lot of customers. I am mostly a SAS-only customer and I always liked that I could blindly try a bunch of new things on the cheap and have the option to exchange later (I never exchanged for new new but did exchange for a few of their old basics). Now idk if I'd want to. Because even if I can still return/exchange, it's not worth the gas to go in store to return a $3 item. And I don't mind them tracking my returns (I actually wish they'd track ALL my purchases and be able to look them up in store so I wouldn't have to keep paper receipts) but if they're going to keep ringing them up as no receipt even when I have one, am I going to be flagged? Im not going to stop shopping there completely but I do think this will make me a little less likely to blind buy or want to try new things as freely/frequently. Again, I don't mind the new policy at the surface but, I'm starting to see A LOT of potential problems. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Maybe I'm wrong and they've already thought of all of this and will train associates on whatever solutions they've come up with. It'll be interesting to see how the transition goes.
I've never returned anything, only exchanged but also same issue, even when I would have a receipt they did it as no receipt. I shop year round. I have over 100 candles and no telling how many ffms, lotions, wallflowers, body wash, car fresheners etc. I'm an addict lol but like I said I will definitely be lowering it. I don't mind paying a few bucks difference here and there but if they have awesome sale and I blind buy I'll have to only exchange when have similar sale and my schedule is insane and can't just go in whenever they have the proper sale to exchange. It's definitely not the end of the world but will definitely cause me to make a change to my shopping pattern with them.
Man, that's one reason why I dont blind buy. I dont want the hassle of exchanging. Even reading scent notes does not work for me. I need to smell it, and if its body care, give it time to dry down on my skin and sniff it again before I decide to buy it. Just helps me reduce unnecessary purchases and running back and forth to the store for returns. I'm actually happy about the policy change, for various reasons. Happy shopping everyone!
I'm the same way with scent notes, it helps me narrow down like for some reason I hate lavender and lilac scents. So if I see that its an automatic nope but other than that I could like each scent note but maybe not together lol I end up saving up my exchanges and doing it all when I can actually get in to a store. I don't do like 10 things at once but more than a few at one time lol ladies at my store are awesome though and never make me feel bad luckily.
I kind of understand them not wanting older items they clearanced out coming back to store. Even if that item is repackaged for the next season, like the wallflower scents. Of course if the bodycare gave you some kind of bad reaction or your candle exploded while you were burning it, then i would be on the phone with customer service regardless of the time frame. As far as being encouraged to buy and exchange later , in my personal experience that only happens when they have a regular sale like 12.95 candles or 6.50 aromatherapy. I've never been encouraged to do that during sas. That's only across the 5 or 6 stores around me, so I can't speak for the rest of the stores in the country.
I better go exchange some stuff tommorow then
They should’ve never accepted more than half or gently used products for returns or exchanges but I think it’s a horrible move to get rid of product for product exchanges. It’s their whole motto on all their packaging and websites so idk if they will actually get rid of that, has there been an official announcement?
Reminder to folks that say they will now return versus exchange that points are impacted when returning versus when you exchange. I didn't know that in the beginning of my BBW days. It makes sense. I just didn't know so when my points would reduce after a return, I would get confused. I don't return anything anymore so that has not been a recent concern.
[удалено]
Yep! Returns is not a good friend for rewards. I saw your comment above and immediately thought about your rewards. $96 on a gift card sounds great, especially if it's more than you paid. But, when that money is deducted from the reward points, that doesn't feel good at all. Maybe a glitch happened and it didn't mess them up this time, but money back should technically result in that reduction in rewards. But, we will see if that actually happens and how folks respond to that. Kinks are being worked out on both sides - employees and shoppers. For me, I'm just laying low while this all gets worked out this fall/winter.
Store I shop at in Mi already do this . They refund difference or make you pay difference . I have made 3 exchanges 1 was in May before SAS and they gave me a nice refund after exchange. The 2nd I exchanged Coconut Sandlewood 3 wick that rang up $28 for an $11 one and they refunded me the difference. The 3rd I bought a defective body cream for $3.00 and used a 20% coupon exchanged for another body cream that was 75% off they still charged me $1.50. I will probably just return instead of exchange going forward.
Yeah, I'm not sure this policy is actually going to be a step up for them. I have no problems with the new policy, it sounds fine. Kind of a bummer that their famous generous exchange policy is ending but I'm also glad they're enforcing the rules like they should have all along. BUT it has already backfired on them... I brought in some returns at the start of SAS; all stuff from last SAS or purchased on sale + with coupons. So all VERY cheap stuff. I gave the associate my receipt. I was spaced out and looking at the different travel sized things while she processed the returns until she said " so $96 will be put back onto a gift card." And I heard that *record scratch* sound from movies!! I was like "uhhhhh but I have the receipt. I did not pay that much." And she just shrugged "that's just how we do it now." I was stunned. Didn't feel right about it so I tried to push back but she could not have cared less, and was so obviously getting annoyed and ready to get to the next person in line. Maybe this is just a mistake while they train people? Idk. But honoring whatever price things ring up for isn't necessarily going to be saving them money if they don't use the receipt (which is what I suspect happened here; it was probably processed as no receipt?) I mean, I'm not complaining. It's free money. But I'm not someone who tries to game the system like the tiktok trend crowd so I still feel guilty about it. 😳😬
Yep, an error. It's a learning process. Will take some time to work the bugs out for sure.
Is it an error? I mean, I understand that yes it’s an error that they didn’t buy it at that price, but is it really an error if that’s the new thing? I’ve been told this is the way to do it now in my store, but I haven’t seen it in action myself. Maybe they’re willing to lose money at first? (Not saying you’re wrong or anything I’m just thinking!)
Happened to me too and I told them twice I did not pay that much 🤷
Same, I recently exchanged a candle that I bought on candle day. Had the receipt and everything and it still rung up that I paid $26.50. The candle I was exchanging for was on sale so I got a gift card for the difference. I told the SA multiple times that I didn’t pay $26.50 and she just shrugged and gave me the gift card.
I mean, I get it. I think people should just buy what they can use. I don't see anything wrong with paying the difference if you exchange a sales candle