Counts’ Hallmark Shop

I have been a loyal Hallmark customer for about 20 years (got my own Hallmark card at 12 years old) and I have never had so many awful experiences at a Hallmark store. I have received attitude from the girls employed there on several occasions, but not all the time. I have walked out of there more than once without buying something. A watch my husband bought me from there died after only a few months. They have quite a bit of clothing and other items but not as much Hallmark merchandise as you would think. Today really got to me though. I walked in, grabbed the item I wanted and went to pay and I handed them a $ 5 off $ 10 coupon as well as a $ 2 reward certificate. I was told I could not use them together because the $ 5 coupon stated you «could not combine it with any other coupons or offers». I explained that I had actually worked at a Hallmark in previous years and that corporate doesn’t classify the reward certificates as a coupon they consider them basically as a gift certificate and that I could in fact use them together. They even called the manager over and she told me the same thing. I tried to explain the corporate rule again and she basically said that was incorrect. I didn’t buy anything and I called the corporate line and spoke with someone. Without explaining what happened in the store I asked if they consider the reward certificates coupons, he said no they are considered a gift certificate or almost as cash. I asked then could I combine it with a coupon, I read the terms from the coupon and he told me yes it could be combined. I called back to the sister store in Hampton and asked if they had a store policy that they wouldn’t accept a coupon with a rewards certificate and she said yes. I explained how corporate sees the certificates and she simply said that wasn’t how they were explained to them (with a fair amount of attitude thrown in). I don’t care how far I have to drive, I won’t be giving the franchise any more of my money.

I walked in there today, many cards seemed missing or in the process of being moved. Granted, at least two workers were in the process of stocking Father’s Day cards, but this was at 1pm… seems like the change-​over would be more appropriate closer to opening or closing. The most displeasing part, however, was that one of the workers was complaining on a phone call in the middle of the store, then complaining when she hung up, then criticizing the worker 2 for not doing her job right. That prompted worker 2 to say she was just trying to help and that next time she wouldn’t be so kind. To that, the first worker told worker 2 she should be on her lunch anyway. This is the kind of a conversation that belongs in a corner of the store or a back room, not one of the main card aisles – even if I am the only customer in the store. I used to love going to this card store years ago (and Hallmark stores in general), but lately I’ve had better luck with Target and Kroger.