Gap

I never thought I’d be the type to love clothes from the Gap. But alas, I’m almost 30 and my love for basics in neutral colors and student loan debt has made me much more appreciative of this large chain. Gap and American Apparel. My go-to’s.
The problem I have with this store is that there are always huge deceptive SALE signs outside and all around the store. 60% off this, 50% off everything, take an additional 30% off sale items. Then, it seems that EVERY single time I go to check out, there is a caveat, or a mistake. «Oh, you have to be a member.» «a customer must have put that there!» «the sale is only in a particular size/​color of that item and the one you’re holding got on the sale rack accidentally!» Then, no offer to correct the «mistake», just me standing there with something I’ve tried on, and want, costing much more than I anticipated on spending. This clearly is a strategy for them.
During my last visit, I got major attitude for asking for the sale price to be honored. Honestly Gap, I would buy this stuff at full price if I hadn’t been tricked into thinking otherwise! But in the moment, at the register, finding out that an item is going to cost twice as much as I had believed? Not likely. Also, since I’ve fell victim to this trickery for the past 6 or so visits, I’m pretty over shopping at this store. I’ll go to American Apparel instead. Similar, basic styles, USA made (yes!), and no trickery.

The biggest issue I have with this store is how the do return policies, last December my car got broken into and a bag filled with GAP items were stolen. A few days later I went to gap and found the exact sized shirt in the clearance rack, I knew it was the one stolen from my car because it was the only size left on the whole clearance rack when I bought it.
When I asked the clerks about where they obtain this shirt and explained my situation of how my car was broken into, they couldn’t tell me anything. When I asked if they saw anyone returning a bag filled with gap clothes (with no receipt) they said something on the lines of «They can’t disclose that information to people»
So long story short apparently you can give stolen items back to GAP without a receipt, I am never going to shop here again.

While normally I love hitting the GAP clearance racks, I was greatly disappointed by their participation in the Portland Fashion Night Out.
The Pioneer Place GAP advertised they would be serving wine and nibbles from 4:00 — 9:00 pm last night, but were out of both when we arrived at 6:00 pm.
The young sales gal we asked about the empty goodie table stated they’d replenish the food and wine momentarily and to just look around while we waited. Well, we did. Not finding anything we were looking for on the sale racks, we left and came back. Twice.
2 trays of cookies and meats/​cheeses eventually were brought out, but they were serving nothing but water. Not that I can complain about the appetizers, but we’d headed downtown and paid for parking specifically to take advantage of the treats each store advertised they’d be serving. For this particular event, the GAP fell short.

I’ve been able to score during their after Christmas sales for the last couple of years. They usually have a decent selection of the sweaters and other winter gear at about 60−70% off.

Currently under construction to expand…
I like to stroll in GAP stores just to see if I can find something cheap/​on sale to buy. I like their clothes b/​c their brand name (aside from their hoodies) don’t scream out their name when you’re wearing it.

GAP is good when there are sales; thank you sales. But there are often times I question the people that are hired there…
Employee: «So, that’ll be $ 50.»
Me: «Okay, I just noticed… Is there an additional 30% off for using FourSq to check in?»
Employee: «Let me ask my manager.» [Employee leaves and comes back w/​Manager]
Manager: «Just use that code.» [Manager walks away]
Employee: «With the discount, it’ll be $ 76. Will that be credit?»
Me: «Uhhhh, no. I’m not paying that if my original price was $ 50.»
Employee: «Well, the discount is off regular priced items.»
Me: «…I’m not going to pay regular price for an item that’s already on sale.»
Employee: «Oh, um.» [Takes shirt out of bag and rescans] «That’ll be $ 50.»
Seriously here, common sense for them to either mention «this discount applies to regular priced items» instead of going on your merry way and changing the product’s sale price to regular when it’s already on sale for more than what 30% will take off. Really woman, really?!
Oh, the store is really clean and organized… The employees are friendly, but for the most part that experience I just had was a WT-​eff moment.

It’s true. As much as I speak ill of chains and character-​less cookie-​cutter businesses I’m afraid I’ll never end my relationship with the Gap. Our history is too long and sordid.
–The jeans, t-​shirt, and often flannel uniform of my childhood. Hand me some Cons and I am so ready to play foursquare with my 6^th grade crush… and be wearing the same outfit as he.
–Ooh, my sister’s corduroys. Bootcut. With a killer cotton bodysuit… badass.
–Oh? A dress? A wool jumper even, for church? Quite mature, Lauren! God, I wish I still had that dress.
–Jesus, Gap, those khaki ads with the swing dancing totally inspired my high school jazz choir teacher to make us do a «new swing» song. With dancing. At an assembly. I’ll never forgive you for that.
–When I was 19 I bought a blue sequin halter top that I wore to a club in B.C. And I got my first taste of skeevy guys in clubs who want to feel up 19-​year-​olds. Yikes. Thankyougap.
–The two days I worked there one summer in college and they gave me 4 hours a week (which is definitely enough to pay your rent) and made me take off a scarf I was wearing as a belt that was surely exhibiting too much personal style.
–So many pairs of jeans I didn’t need on my mom’s Gap card that she wouldn’t tell my dad about. Dang enabler! And we wonder why I have the habits I do
–The perfect black turtleneck.
Ew, I just timelined my life with a retail chain. Gracious, I gotta go… to a thriftstore…