Can I gripe about Hobby Lobby?

So Saturday, my mother, myself, aunt, grandmother and uncle went to Hobby Lobby. Immediately, I went straight for the scrapbooking stuff. I needed a new rolling bag for all of my stuff and there was an employee back there as well. So I'm looking at all the stuff and I found one for $69.99. I asked the employee if they are going to go on sale at any time soon. She told me that they were just on sale and that they probably wouldn't be back on sale again for at least a month. So I went ahead and bought it along with a few other things.

I should take this time to mention now that Hobby Lobby is a good hour and a half away.

So guess what I got in my email yesterday? An email of this weeks ads for Hobby Lobby, and guess what's on sale? Yep, you guessed it! All rolling totes are $49.99!

I am SO mad!! Now you can't tell me that the employees don't know ahead of time what will be on sale.

Grrrrrrr!

Yes, that is frustrating. But some dont have a clue, bc they dont want to have a clue. I feel your pain.

It might be worth a shot to call them and explain what happened. They may be willing to issue at least a store credit for the difference. Or just go back (even though it's far), return the tote and purchase it again on sale. The clerk probably didn't know it would be on sale again so soon. Sorry this happened to you. Good luck.

I was also going to suggest going back for an adjustment, although I understand the frustration.

The answer you probably should have gotten was, "We don't know."

That sucks. I've noticed that they recycle their ads. I usually only go when ppr and stickers are 50% off. That way I can rack up on Thickers and some letter stickers. Also the ppr pads too. Im sorry you drove such a way and paid full price for the item.

Considering how they ring things up at HL--all manually, including any discounts--I would NOT want to know ahead of time what was going to be on sale soon because it might confuse me when ringing up merchandise. They also have different sales for the same thing within their sales cycle (for example all adhesives might be 30% one week, but another week specific brands are 50%--some times all paper is on sale, sometimes it's just the paper packs, or it's not the paper packs...).

I guess I would call and ask, you never know what they might say...

We don't have a Hobby Lobby nearby, and I've never shopped at one, but most large stores have a price adjustment policy. E.g., if something goes on sale within X days of purchase, bring your receipt for a refund of the difference.

I would definitely call and find out. Probably worth $20!

Just got off the phone with them.

I would have to bring it back and they'd do the adjustment at the store.

Problem is that it's already full and the store is almost 2 hours away.

I love Hobby Lobby, I really do, but their sales drive me insane. The way they ring things up is beyond belief - no barcodes, upc's. Maybe it's how they keep their prices low and can run sales like they do all of the time.

They do have a price adjustment policy but from experience, you have to bring the item and receipt back in so they can verify it is on sale (due to lack of scanning system). Your receipt probably says Scrapbook $69.99 and they wouldn't be able to tell it was tote.

Good luck and it is frustrating.

They want you to bring back the ITEM?


I had this happen last time I went back to Michaels for a price adjustment. It was for a picture frame. They insisted that I bring back the item, return it for a refund, then re-purchase it at the sale price.

I argued that the frame was now hanging on my wall!! This was not the policy before, as I had done this (by simply bringing in the receipt). They did the adjustment "just this once, but next time you'll have to bring in the item..."

The only thing that accomplished is that I will NEVER purchase anything regular price there.

Oh you just found that out as I was typing. It is frustrating.

• SarahMack Said:

I would just roll it in full. They just need to see that it's that particular item you actually purchased.

• angie girl Said:

I was thinking this too. Do they have a time limit in which you have to do it?
It IS a hassle, since the store is so far away.

...and two hour's drive time and fuel for a two-hour round trip for $20, nope I would just chalk it up....

If she's going to be there anyway, probably worth it. To make a special trip --that's arguable.

I worked retail for a long time! WAY too long. But this I know from my experience working in hell.....

1. We don't always know everything or when things go on sale. And well, some poeple are just stupid in this world and odn't have common sense.

2. The people on the floor are just the messenger. Please don't take it out on us! We do what 'the man' our managers tell us, even if we think it's dumb.

3. While it doesn't make sense to have to bring in the item, you'd be amazed at what people try and pull off to get a few bucks.

4. Things are automated on computers, and if the computer won't let you do something, it won't let you do it. Can't get around that.

• rockmom Said:

Yep, that's what I'm going to do. I rarely get down there and I only have a week time to bring it in and there's no way in Hades that I'll have time to get down there this week, so I'm going to just chalk it up. It is frustrating though. But oh well... Que sera sera.

• SarahMack Said:

They give you ONE whole week to get a credit?!

Wow - that's a little extreme. Last I checked, I think Target was 14 days. Other places, historically, have been 30 days.

I would imagine it's because the totes will only be on sale for a week (this current week). Although I agree they should bend the rules since she called and explained it to them. Boo and hiss, HL!!!

I guess I should clarify what I typed above. It may not make sense.

I understand why she'd have one week.

The stores where I have done this, typically have a policy, "if the item goes on sale within 14 days (or 30 days) of purchase, bring the receipt back for an adjustment."

I guess you do need to come in for the adjustment during the time the item is one sale.

I guess I would wonder, for example, if these go on sale again (say in 14 days), can you get an adjustment then?

The best revenge is to blast them on every scrapbooking board you can log onto. Here, Peas, EVERYWHERE...nowadays, it sucks to have bad publicity. So shout it from the rooftops. I'll certainly never shop somewhere if someone got treated completely shity...def makes me think twice about buying from them. Sorry this happened to you.

According to their website, HL has a 60 day return policy.

So, technically, if you're near a store in the next 60 days (and the item is on sale again), you COULD return it, then purchase another at the lower, sale price.
Just saying...

Did you speak with a manager? If not, you might try calling back and speaking with a manager. If that doesn't work, then I would call corporate. I have called corporate before about the Sprindale, AR store more than once.

• VickieW Said:

I was going to suggest this as well ... I am a store manager at a men's clothing store, and I will always do my best to take care of a customer on the phone if possible. Make sure you've gone as far up the food chain as you can before giving up.

• VickieW Said:

Mind if I ask where you are? I shop the Springdale HL, too.

...

• SarahMack Said:

I know it sucks, but would you have driven back almost 2 hours the following week if th eemployee had told you about the sale???

If you WOULD have, then drive back again to get the refund , , , ,

but with the price of gas, I'm not sure 20 bucks is worth a second trip

it does suck to just miss a sale though

I am going to second what Samothrace said. I work in retail and the regular floor employees ... in fact everyone except maybe the manager and inventory people have no idea what next weeks sales are. We find out the same time everyone else does. It was really frustrating when I worked for Walgreens and I was asked questions like yours. I probably would have also said that the tote wasn't going to be on sale soon if it had indeed just been on sale the week before. Because usually it does take a while to go back on sale. Also needing to see the item makes sense because people will literally go through the garbage for receipts to 'return' items. I actually saw that happen once ... it was weird and the cops had to be called

I've got to third that. The store employees at our HL DON'T know what is on sale until the ad is in the Sunday paper. D2 was an assitant customer service manager, and SHE didn't even know the next week's ad. She would guess by the inventory that was delivered and set out on Friday and Saturday, what MIGHT be on sale the following week, but her standard answer to customers was "we don't really know".

• Bxr-Linda Said:

So you dont have to actually bring your original pack back in, you will need to PURCHASE one on sale first then head straight for the returns desk and return it using your original receipt. I used to work at Guest Service and i would see people do this allllll the time!!!

Good Luck!!
-nc