Bait & Switch or People Who Don't Read The Fine Print

It's that time of year again. Time to hit your favorite mall, light of foot, layered clothing, with cash or card in hand. Arrive at the mall, find a space, eventually, and head on in.

Although I prefer cash, I am consistently sucked in to Macy's 'Magic'. Who isn't? You needn't answer that question.

Today while shopping at Macy's during yet another of their 'One Day Sale!' sales or their 'Black Friday One Day Sale!' sales, or 'Morning Only Sale!' sales during which you can buy already discounted, sale wrack items for an additional 15 - 20% off or $5.00 off a $25.00 purchase if you open a Macy's charge or use your Macy's charge card.

Yep. That's all you have to do. Charge your items on your Macy's card and get the discount. Simple right? Well, no, actually. You have to read the fine print.

Intimates:

"Why do you people send out these coupons if they can't be used on anything? You send me a 20% off coupon, but it doesn't apply to my pajamas. Why not?"

Sales Associate: "That's an Every Day Value item and the discount is already in the purchase price. And, it's a morning only sale on these items."

"Fine, well, I need pajamas so I'll take them, but I am not happy."

uh-huh. Don't blame you lady, but if you'd read the coupon you would have read that discount may not be applied to Every Day Value, Coach (hahahaha -- that's funny, cheap in the same sentence as expensive) certain other rules and restrictions may apply. Blah, blah, blah.

I returned the mis-sized bras just after that particular customer spent way too much on penguin adorned pajamas, in cash. See Macy's? You pi** off a customer and they are likely to pay cash, therefore cheating you out of your exorbitant interest rates.

Women's Department:

Sales Associate: I cannot apply that coupon to Karen Scott items. They don't qualify fpr the discount, but you'll still get the extra 20% off if you use your Macy's card.

"It's ridiculous that you send these coupons out to people. What's the point if every time I get one and I come in, I can't use it?"

Sales Associate: I'm sorry Mrs. So-and So (she used her charge card you see) I tried to get you the additional 15% off but the register won't accept it.

"I'm going to write a letter." stomping off.

Petite Department:

Little Old Lady (with the kindest, nicest son in tow) "How much is this shirt?"

Sales Associate: $24.99

"So I can't use my $5.00 off a $25.00 purchase?"

No. Unless you want to buy a candy bar. I have one left for one dollar. That would take you over the $25.00.

"I won't take this item. Thank you just the same." Although, if she had purchased her other shirt with the $24.99 shirt, instead of with her gift card, she could have taken the $5.00 off the sale, gotten an additional 20% off one of the items and used her gift card to pay for part of the purchase.

One lady came right out and complained that Macy's sales tactics are more like a bait and switch scam. Send you a promise of a deep discount, get you into the store and then, well, you can't use the coupon for the discount.

On one level I get what she's saying and I agree. But if she read the fine print, she would have known that the discount coupons cannot be used on very specific brand names and items. It's been that way for a long time at Macy's. But if you do read the fine print on the coupons, you know that you can get really great clothing items for very little money.

Just not Coach, Every Day Value, Jones New York, Inc, and others. Not on Saturday, Monday, One Day Sale day, Morning Only Sale day or any other day.

Macy's -- Way to Shop!

The Magic of Macy's!