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To whom it may concern,

I am writing to tell you about my horrifying and humiliating experience I had while shopping in your Bellevue Square Abercrombie and Fitch store on Friday the 13th of November 2009. It was an experience I wish I could, but will never forget.

My daughter had her 12th Birthday Party and invited 8 girls. My husband and my 27 year old niece, were also there with me to help with all the girls. On my daughter's list of fun things to do, was to go to the Mall and "FOR SURE", in her words, stop at Abercrombie and Fitch. All the girls were excited and I had told them all, for a Party gift, I would buy them a t shirt from your store. We were having the best time and the girls were thrilled the minute we walked into your store. A very nice young (blonde) girl greeted us at the door. She showed me the direction of the PJ's and T shirts and we all went over. My daughter had received an Abercrombie and Fitch gift card from her friend and decided she was going to buy herself some Pajama bottoms. As we were looking at the choices another employee (Marianna) had a pair of bottoms in her hand. I asked, "Are those an extra small?" she looked at them and said to me, "Yeah" in an annoyed way. I said, "Would you mind holding them up to my daughter to see if they will be too long?" she replied, "they are too long." I said, "Well, can you still hold them up?" thinking I could hem them or they may shrink. She comes up to my daughter holds them up quickly and says, "See? Too long", and walks away from us. I brushed that off thinking (Wow, she is in a foul mood). After finding the pair she wanted, I asked the 8 girls to go find a t shirt they would like. While they were choosing their shirts, my daughter and I went up to the checkout so she could use her Gift Card. The gal behind the counter was very nice and she attempted to ring us out with the card. There was a problem with it going through so she called over the "manager" (Marianna). When she gets to the desk she does not acknowledge me, she just goes to the computer swipes my card does a few taps on the screen and says, "This card has nothing on it." Before I could even respond with really? Or wow, can we run it again? even hmmmm, She says "Unfortunately there is nothing I can do about it and hands me my card." Her tone and demeanor were as rude as you can get. I could tell the employee next to her was uncomfortable. I said "Well that's a B.S answer. Why are you being so rude?" She said, "What's B.S about it?" I said, "Your attitude is so unprofessional and rude?" With her arm pointing in the air towards the door, she said, "If you don't like it you can leave my store!" At this point, all of my daughters friends had gathered around and my husband and niece had come closer to the desk. I said, "What is wrong with you? I want to speak with the manager." She said, "I am the Manager, I have been for like, two years, I have the right to kick you out of my store anytime I like" Shocked I said, "What are you 19? I want the name of YOUR Manager." She said "I am 25 actually, now get out of my store" I said "I am not leaving until I get the number of your superior, I will not be treated like this." She then said, "I'll call security then." I could not believe it. I said "fine, call them. I am not doing anything wrong. I am just asking for the name of your manager." She said, "I don't know it." I said, "You are the Bellevue Square manager of Abercrombie and Fitch and you don't know the name of your superior?" she said "Here!" She then gave me a fragrance card and said, "email this and make your complaint you'll see they won't do anything. Get out of the store now!" One of my daughter's friends said to her "you should not be speaking to my friends mother this way it is disrespectful" and she said, "Oh just be quiet." I then said to the other employee, "Is she crazy? This is a fragrance card it says nothing." She looked at the card and said, "I'm sorry about this." Meanwhile, other customers had gathered and one gal said to my niece "man she is just a nasty person, she was so rude to me also. It's really unacceptable." Marianna then said "I am calling security." I said, "Please do so. I am not leaving until I get your managers number." I looked over to the other gal behind the counter and she mouthed the words "I'm so sorry" realizing what was happening was so wrong. I noticed Marianna was calling security and I turned my stunned group of girls and said, "Girls, this is how you DO NOT act in a situation. This gal is making a poor decision treating customers this way." She then yelled over to me TAKE THIS OUTSIDE MY STORE" I said "gladly as soon as you give me the name of your superior." The other gal behind the counter trying to do her job asked me if I could just move to the side so she could ring others up and I did so. As I was walking towards the front of the store I turned to see if I had all of the kids and she was standing right behind me. She then said "Come on Hit me! You know you wanna hit me! I would love to show you what happens when you do!" I looked at her and said "are you crazy? I am not going to hit you, what is wrong with you?" As I said that, Jose from Bellevue Square security had arrived with two other security people. She ran up to him and said, "she's outta here! She just hit me!" I was flabbergasted. My daughter immediately came up crying and very upset and said "SHE'S LYING! My Mommy did not hit her!" I told her to calm down and said to him," I did not hit her. This is ridiculous; I am a mother with 8 little girls here." She immediately turned around to the other employee and said, "Did you see her hit me? You saw that!" And her employee said "ummm no." And she got really mad and said "Well you weren't there!"

Everyone was there. I have 10 witnesses who saw the whole thing. I was then asked to leave by Jose and did so with no trouble, he kind of laughed and said look don't worry about it just contact the store and make a complaint. I was not okay with this. I have now a crying 12 year old, Stunned, confused little girls wondering how someone can treat people this way and get away with it , a gift card I have no idea why is not working (which later found out does indeed still have $25.00 on it available), no merchandise and no Birthday Pajama's.

The tragedy of this is unbelievable. I would have been willing to pay for the items if that card truly had no balance on it, but this got so escaladed so fast for no reason there was not time for that. The Christmas t-shirts? I would have bought 8 since they were the shirts the girls picked out. I would have been spending a great deal of money had that not happened.

I have NEVER been in a physical altercation in my life. I am 38 years old with two children and the fact that she accused me of hitting her is so humiliating on so many levels. I was embarrassed in front of other customers and security and people in the mall and my daughter was so upset it ruined her 12th birthday. All the girls talked about the rest of the night, was how that girl was so mean and how did she get that job? I could not sleep at all that night I was so upset. It gave me major stress that I am not accustomed to. I am sure that this is not the face that Abercrombie and Fitch are looking for to represent them. My girls Love this store. They are at the age where this store is pretty much the greatest thing ever. I have spent thousands of dollars in your stores.

Abercrombie and Fitch is a popular retail store which I am sure prides itself on customer service. This was so unnecessary. The fact that she called security and falsely accused a mother with children of hitting her, for asking for a manager's phone number, is I am sure, not protocol for your stores. I am not sure as of now what I am going to do in regards to being falsely accused of assaulting/hitting your employee, this is a very serious accusation that I am very upset about and will look into all of my options to make sure this is handled the appropriate way. I look forward to your prompt response in this matter.

They responded with: You are lucky to even get a letter of apology. We will send you one stating we are sorry for your gift card not working at the time but not that you are wronged.

What kind of lesson is this teaching young impressionable girls?

Location: Kenmore, Washington

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Guest

It sincerely think this person might have been having a psychotic break or something... Look, customer service can suck sometimes but this response even passed up what would be considered abnormal.

Sane people just don't try to start fist fights with people over gift cards... Either she is nuts or this is what happens when a company hires people for their looks rather than their skill, intelligence, creativity, or reliability.

Guest

I had a similar experience, I made a complaint about the manager of the store. The manager called me at home with the worst apology ever.

One half of his mouth he's apologizing and the other half he saying he didn't do anything wrong.

I hung up on the guy. He did not do anything to save my business, but only made it to where I am not buy another Abercrombie and Finch or related product again.

Guest

I hate Abercrombie. Never ever shopping here again.

Even their XXL size is like a M size of any other store.

My friend tried to shop from here as he got a gift card, but the same size issue. So he gave that card to me.

I ended up taking my nephew, even his size was in the Adult range being a 10 year old! And finally when i go to check...

that gift card had zero balance!

This is the second case i know that money disappears from A&F cards!

Please do not buy or accept A&F gift cards!!

And do not shop from this rotten store!!

Guest

Weird story. Very.

Would love to hear the stores version of this. ,)

Guest

There are three sides to each story. Yours, theirs and the truth.

Somehow, I get the idea you were not so nice too. Why are you making a salesperson hold pants up to your daughter? It's A & F not Lord & Taylor. Your husband was there.

He could help.

Somehow I don't think you and your little group acted as innocently as you say you did. I don't think anyone would have a job with that attitude and frankly, I think that behavior had to be provoked.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-807700

@Anon, you're obviously an employee of Abercrombie and Fitch. In America the employees job is to provide customer service.

If the customer service requires you to hold pants up for someone's daughter that's what you do. But at Abercrombie and Fitch they must be brainwashing you to think differ.

Jenny Tyl

I will never never never work there because on of the people said they make you a higer rank because of your looks and what are you wearing why would anyone work there

Jenny Tyl

Abercombie sucks but their stuff is awesome :p I can't believe they act that why to you guys , you should never go there ever only if wanted tooo :roll

Guest

You should file a lawsuit!! This is terrible.

I've had bad experiences at Abercrombie and Hollister both and they are rude, annoying, and bossy. :( Another thing is, they may just be working there to get a modeling job. Its required to work there before you are a model there. Those places have nice clothes, but it reeks of puke perfume, its too dim and dark, and the employees are, like, 16 year old's spoiled brat princesses off the street.

Excuse my synonyms but you need to sue!! I, being a tween, would've been crying too if this had happened.

With all of my FRIENDS there!! :cry These places are terrible.

Guest

As an employee of Abercrombie for 2 years, I am very sorry about your experience, and unfortunately it is true...nothing was probably done because the CS reps don't really care that much. Unless you got punched by an employee nothing remotely will happen besides the CS reps laughing at you.

Sad but true, they have a policy that they back the managers even if they are in the wrong. On the other hand, you were a little rude as well. I assume you are older than 25, you should not be getting in a shouting match at a store, you are an adult. It's also rude to comment on her age, it's degrading.

All managers must have completed a 4 year college degree to be a manager and it's inappropriate to comment on someones age in that manner.

It's ageism, plain and simple. And even if she was 19, that wouldn't make her any less of a person.

Guest

I COMPLETELY believe this story! I have had 2 TERRIBLE experiences with Abercrombie.

The first one I brushed off, thinking it was just that person.

Then, after 7 phone calls with the 2nd experience and the WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER in their call center and losing out on money and not reciveing merchendise, I REFUSE to shop there anymore! WORST STORE EVER!!

Guest

Any ex manager or higher will gladly tell you that Abercrombie is probably the most discriminating company ever. They actually decide who gets promoted by how they look.

The "models" have no idea that the pictures they content to are actually used to decide who is best suited to be working on important days. I would love to see Dateline or some show like that get ahold of these stories.

Guest

Whatever, that manager IS a *** I can't believe that that crazy *** manager would even have a job who cares though, she is working as a *** anyway for near minimum wage....go get a REAL education, not just servicing little boys under the tables!!! You know that's why you enjoy working there!!!

Guest

lol i dont believe this story. i had an interview at this abercrombie just yesterday with the manager and she seemed perfectly nice.

they dont hire people unless they think they can interact with customers professionally and respectfully.

i definetly think you are exaggerating if not making half of it up. their staff is all really nice

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-129121

I was there last week. The manager is a complete ***.

Said I wasn't allowed to shop in the store cause a I had a tattoo on my arm lol and that if I didn't leave she say I hit her in the face. The manager at this A&F store chooses favorites

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-129121

@kim, it's obvious you're just a kid. There's 1000 more stories like this posted on the Internet about Abercrombie and Fitch.

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