LOFT

I definitely prefer going into a store and not being overwhelmed by sales people. However, you also would not want to feel like you’re an inconvenience or invisible. I was shopping alone and it took about 20 mins for someone to even say hello. There were plenty of employees around and one even pushed across me to return unwanted clothes back to the rack. I finally had someone approach me to hold a dressing room. After that, nothing else. No one said a word. I put all my clothes back after trying them for size and will be ordering online. Don’t waste your time here, go to the Crabtree store.

I recently started shopping at Ann Taylor Loft since I’ve gotten my first professional, full time job. I really like the brand, but I recently had an experience at the Cary Town Center location that has made me rethink spending any of my entry-​level salary there. I purchased a very nice spring sweater and meticulously read the care instructions since the fabric was very soft and delicate. The directions clearly state «Machine wash cold gentle cycle. Tumble dry low.» I used the gentle cycle with only cold water and dried it by itself on low. When it came out it was about a half a size smaller than when it had gone in. Naturally, having spent $ 50 some dollars on the sweater, I brought it back to the store with the hope of exchanging it. I didn’t want my money back, I just wanted a sweater that was the proper size and I had both the receipt and the tag.
I explained what had happened to the cashier and she said they normally don’t return items that had been washed and dried. I said I understood that, but I had followed the washing instructions exactly and it had still shrunk and I wanted to exchange it for one that would fit me. This seemed fair, since it was the store’s fault that the care instructions were incorrect. She said she would check with her manager, but she didn’t think she would return the item. A few minutes later, the manger sent this poor girl back to explain that she wouldn’t allow the return. The cashier explained that the sweater was made of rayon and that you can’t dry items with rayon in them. I said that the care instructions did not mention anything about rayon. She nervously went on to say that her shirt had shrunk too and it was just something I would need to remember about rayon. All that said to me was that this store manager does not care about her customers’ OR her employees’ satisfaction with the merchandise. I asked for the sweater back, brought it to another Loft location and exchanged it for a sweater that fit me properly, which I have no intention of drying.
The situation annoyed me because of the difference in the way I was treated between the two stores. One of the managers was willing to look beyond the letter of the law and exchange an item because the washing instructions were apparently incorrect. I also think it’s perfectly ridiculous to expect your customers to remember not to wash or dry items made of a particular fabric. That’s what washing instructions are for. I won’t stop shopping at Loft because the clothes are beautiful and well made, but I will consider items I purchase more carefully and I won’t be returning to this location.

This was my favorite place to shop before I discovered White House Black Market. Now it’s my 2^nd favorite! The prices are reasonable, the quality of their clothing is always reliably good and their sizes are pretty consistent. I almost never pay full price here because they are always running some kind of sale. Sometimes it’s an additional % off everything in the store, sometimes certain items are on a special sale. They also have a great sale section at the back of the store, so I stop in frequently just to check out what has made it’s way to the sale rack.

Ann Taylor Loft is one of my favorite places to shop for my curvy body type. Ann Taylor’s Curvy Boot jeans are the best in the world. I can usually always find something in the store on which to use the 20% off coupons which they send me in the mail, and I always love checking out their «Family & Friends» sales which are usually 40−70% off. I like the other ATL locations in Raleigh, rather than going to Cary Towne Center though.