American Apparel

I seriously avoid this place like the plague. And not because all they sell are pieces of over-​priced cotton (that I actually do love). It’s that traffic getting to University! On my last visit, I happened to go on «U of A move-​in day.» It took over 15 minutes to turn onto Park. So needless to say, by the time I parked and walked through a sea of college Freshmen and their parents, I was on a mission to shop as fast as possible and get outta there! Seconds upon entering I was greeted by the lovely Maria. Her friendly greeting and excellent customer service won me over instantly. I was quite floored. I wasn’t in the mood to try anything on, since the walk over there was in the middle of the heat. She understood. She had feedback about every item I grabbed and advised me to pick a different style or size because she knew the exact fit and quality of everything. I loved it! I didn’t try a single thing on and when I tried my purchases on at home, they were the perfect fit! This was a very refreshing shopping experience, and I can’t wait to go back for my next round of stretchy cotton tees and skirts.

We stopped in at American Apparel on a whim. We didn’t expect to find clothes for an over 50 demographic but we did. The store manager was most helpful– making suggestions, bringing different sizes. After an hour of shopping we walked out with two complete outfits, bra and panty sets at a price that puts the foothills boutique stores to shame.

Okay, I’m not the type to give a local chain a bad review because of national practices, but I am really peeved!
Nobody told me that American Apparel NEVER takes returns. Like, ever. You can’t ever get a refund for your items, and dream on if you plan on getting store credit for something on sale.
That is one of the dumbest store policies I’ve ever heard of. They just sell cotton casuals, why on earth wouldn’t they give refunds?
I do give credit for the kid at the counter who took my tirade with grace. I even apologized for getting mad at him and not the store. He was a good sport, but he should work somewhere else!

I’ve worked in retail and/​or customer service for a good part of my working-​age life. I know the coorporate bull and I know the mom and pop secrets too. Maybe I’m naïve, however, when I expect some gratitude for customer loyalty.
I like AA. I know they’re overpriced but when you need em’ they’re there. But what is one to do when you need them and they’re not there? This is what I’m asking myself after leaving the AA on the campus in Tucson.
If your cheaply constructed, overpriced items are faulty someone is going to pay for it. For the people willing to spend money on unnecessary items (even though they love saying they’re all about «basics») like most of AA’s hipster crowd, thank you for allowing AA to really say «thank you» to their cusomers. You gotta work with them when your merch turns up to be crap American Apparel! Okay, don’t give me my money back but give me store credit for the lame shoes that I wore once that gave me blisters for a week. AND DO NOT try and make me feel like I did something wrong when I try and return something that was sold to me in the same condition and appears «worn».
Keep your twit cashiers and your fashion faux-​pas of the future to yourself AA, bc you just lost a customer.