Community Corner
White House Black Market - Buyer Beware!
BUYER BEWARE!
I am the mother of three, I own my own small business, PTA President of our local elementary and I do not mean to toot my own horn by saying this, but I am one of the kindest people you will meet. I work 14 hour days and still make time to volunteer. I give back to the community in every imaginable way. Now that you have my background, let me tell you what happened to me yesterday. I went to make a return at my local White House Black Market Store. After sitting at the register for quite some time I was told by a very nice manager that she was not allowed to return my items that my account was flagged, that I had returned too many items. First of all, I will 100% admit that I am a returner, however I am also a buyer. I went home and counted almost 10 pairs of WHBM shoes from this year alone, not to mention the clothing! I was shocked, embarrassed and confused. I had a receipt, I had tags on all items, I had just made the purchase a week ago. I talked to a District Manager and was told the same thing and was then contacted by a "loss prevention manager", who will go nameless at this point. The "gentleman", I could put another name in here but chose to be a lady, was hostile at best to me. He said and I quote "We don't want to do business with you." "White House Black Market and its affiliates do not want you as a client". I told him that was fine, however I wanted my money back, he said no. I felt cheated and he made me feel as if I had taken something that wasn't mine. It made no sense. I told him that if you are only allowed to return a certain amount of items that it needed to be posted on receipts, website and in stores. It is no where to be found. I am lucky, my husband who is an attorney, promptly contacted the general council of WHBM, we filed complaints with the Attorney General, the Better Business Bureau and a host of other consumer protection agencies. Upon researching on the website I am not the only one who has gone through this, so I write this for all those women who have been on the receiving end of this company. At this point it is not about the money or clothing, which might I add that as of this morning I have bagged up every piece of WHBM clothing that I own and will donate EVERYTHING. The point is that a company that prides itself on "giving compliments" and empowering women and children does nothing of the sort. The humiliation and verbal abuse that I received from White House Black Market is inexcusable.