Mark's new return policy sucks

[CaramonLS]

Ever since I started buying from Mark's Work Warehouse, they had an extremely liberal return policy, where if something broke even without a receipt, they would take it back for store credit, no questions asked.

I've brought stuff back to Mark's twice I think in about 10 years since I started shopping there, however, today I decided to go back and return a total of 4 dress shirts, making this my single largest return to date, which over the last year (since May 2013), 3 sleeves had split and one had ripped down the middle.

Much to my surprise, it turns out their return policy changed last week, and is enforceable retroactively on all goods bought there. It is now 100 days, must have original tags on them. The supervisor I spoke with said there was absolutely nothing she could do, even though 2 shirts were bought last October.

I'm shocked they can just apply this policy to clothes retroactively. Their quality has been going down hill and prices have been steadily increasing on their goods. The only saving grace was that could could return crappy merchandise when it broke down after a couple wears.

I will not be giving another cent to these guys and I'd encourage you to do the same.

[Yeah_Baby]

I used to work at Mark's, that store bled so much money with its return policy.

[FlamesAddiction]

Is this all Mark's or do all stores have the same policy?

The reason I ask is that I recently bought something from Future Shop and tried to return it, but they told me that their policy was not to allow it under the specific circumstance. I took it to another Future Shop and they took it back no problem.

Maybe try another store....?

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Looks to be consistent with their new Overlord's return policy - Crappy Tire. It probably depends on the person behind the counter and how much push back they are being given from Corporate or their Manager.

Back in the day, I'd have guys returning carburetors they had installed (poorly) and run, reeking of gas. We'd still give them their money back, but making minimum wage at a crappy employer you tended to not resist too much as a teenager.

[jar_e]

Do people really expect the ability to be able to return items that they bought a year previously? I'm surprised they're still in business with a return policy like that. I just presumed most stores were 14 or 30 days and with tags.

[nik-]

That really does seem like an over the top return policy with likely a crazy abuse rate.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by nik-

That really does seem like an over the top return policy with likely a crazy abuse rate.

Honestly, it was a crazy return policy and I can see them switching to something more reasonable. However, to do it retroactively on items that were bought under the previous policy is garbage.

[nik-]

I haven't bought shoes at Aldo for more than 10 years because they're so so bad.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by nik-

I haven't bought shoes at Aldo for more than 10 years because they're so so bad.

Came to post this.

When I read "Aldo's" i had a blurt moment. Almost like a gag reflex.

They are still in business?

People over 20 buy shoes there?

[The Yen Man]

100 days is still quite long, I've always assumed things had to be taken back in 30 days, or tough luck. If it's over a year, I can understand why they wouldn't take it back. I mean, you had over a year to figure out if it fit or not.

Edit: Just reread the OP post again, and it's October, so 6 months, not a year. Still seems like quite a long time though.

[YYC in LAX]

Four defective shirts? How does that even happen? I would stop shopping there based on quality of merchandise, not on their return policy.

Also, just my opinion, but if I have a shirt that breaks down in two years I would probably just accept that. I don't know if it's fair to expect a shirt to have an endless lifespan.

Sucks they changed the policy on you retroactively, but I can understand it from their point of view.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Where returns are a store policy they can change it on a whim.

You MAY have an argument by saying that the return conditions become part of the sale, meaning they can't retroactively change it. I don't know the Alberta Sale of Goods Act, but it may include the return policy as a term of the sale.

Something to think about anyway.

Like a poster above said, try another store. Like any retailer a manager who knows the rules and is reasonable (if you're reasonable) often can do something for you, IF you present a reasonable solution (not saying that the OP is unreasonable just in general I mean).


The issue here is not whether someone should be able to do what the OP wants to do in general (I will admit that seems crazy to me) BUT since Mark's did allow it (hey if they want to have a crazy policy take advantage!) then the issue becomes did they retroactively changing the terms of sale?

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Do people really expect the ability to be able to return items that they bought a year previously? I'm surprised they're still in business with a return policy like that. I just presumed most stores were 14 or 30 days and with tags.

I would say this is more of a warranty issue than a return policy issue.

One of the reasons I would buy the Marks dress shirts is they stood up well, and they were one of the best for being really "never iron." However their quality has been slipping, to the point where I was going to make note to start hanging onto my receipts.

Sounds like after being confronted with the issues of quality, they went back on their satisfaction policy instead of addressing the quality.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by YYC in LAX

Four defective shirts? How does that even happen? I would stop shopping there based on quality of merchandise, not on their return policy.

The return policy was part of the reason I kept shopping there, was because at some point I figured I could return the defective shirt. I honestly thought I had a bad run of luck with the defective shirts as I had shopped there for years with minimal issues.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Do people really expect the ability to be able to return items that they bought a year previously? I'm surprised they're still in business with a return policy like that. I just presumed most stores were 14 or 30 days and with tags.

Why? Those Indonesian Sweatshops don't cost a ton of money to operate, I would be shocked if their costs were more than $5 a shirt.

Yep, as that was their policy. Mark's built their entire brand in the beginning with their "Clothes that work" motto and attention to quality and durability.

At one point, they had really high quality stuff.

[Flash Walken]

Can attest to the quality problems at Marks.

Now it's just for steel toes and socks for me after being a regular clothing consumer.

[Mazrim]

That's too bad to hear about the quality dipping. I have some dress pants from Mark's that I bought a very long time ago and they still look like the day I bought them. I can't say that about all my other clothes, even those that cost way more.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Why? Those Indonesian Sweatshops don't cost a ton of money to operate, I would be shocked if their costs were more than $5 a shirt.

Yep, as that was their policy. Mark's built their entire brand in the beginning with their "Clothes that work" motto and attention to quality and durability.

At one point, they had really high quality stuff.

They're probably subsidizing the costs of their shirts through sweatshops because of their ridiculous return policy.

But, like you said in your OP, you're not shopping there anymore which is probably the most powerful thing you can do anyways.

[Regular_John]

Brick & Mortar stores are really hurting these days, so they've gotta stop the bleeding anywhere they can really. If the return policies were costing them money, they had to make an adjustment.

Wasn't it Marks that was running those crazy $30-$40 winter coats CP was getting all excited about around Black Friday/Boxing Day? You don't make money selling a $200 for $30, so the losses have to be adding up.

[Swift]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

The return policy was part of the reason I kept shopping there, was because at some point I figured I could return the defective shirt.

Apologies if I'm reading this wrong, but are you saying that you continually bought shirts from there knowing that they would wear in a short period of time, so that you could get your money back?

If that's the case, I don't feel particularly sympathetic towards your plight.