Not long ago I purchased some bed sheets at Macy's and this week saw them advertised for a lot less during a "2 Day Sale." I decided I'd just return the unused, unopened sheets and re-purchase them at the sale price. It had been less than 30 days, and I had the receipt, so I figured I wasn't breaking any return policies...
I approached the counter with my return, and ad in hand described to the sales lady my intentions. She fumbles with her response and lets me know that she's not sure I would be able to purchase the sheets back unless they have the same sheets on the shelf. She leaves the counter and goes off looking for them, even though the set I want is currently sitting on the counter. When she returns I tell her that it's not a problem she didn't find any sheet sets that are identical to the set I am returning because I can just buy the set back, to which she replies, and I quote, "It's against store policy because that would be unethical."
Against store policy is a little sketchy, but unethical?! Of all the cards in her deck that's the one she wants to play? Really, unethical? Really?
Did I mention the sheet set in question is from the Martha Stewart Collection? In fact, Macy's is currently covered head to toe with the light teal Martha Stewart trademark. And Macy's is questioning my ethics? Their very own poster child is a walking talking billboard of what unethical behavior is. Am I the only one who remembers that this lady went to prison...and why?
And further more, what ethical person can sell a set of flannel twin sheets for $60.00, put them on sale for $35.99, and days later mark them down to $23.99? They're probably not even worth $10 but I thought they would be so cute to get for my little brother. How can the guy who priced those sheets even sleep at night? Oh wait, I know, on a bed of money made up in free sheet promos from the Martha Stewart Collection.
Also, they were made in Pakistan...do we really even know what kind of labor regulations are set up in that country, let alone the environmental footprint the textile industry is leaving on this planet? And
my ethics are those in question?
I guess my purchase is a bit unethical when I look at it from these perspectives, but asking to return the sheets and re-purchase them for a fraction of what I paid is not the reason. Macy's moral compass went all wacky long before I attended that 2 Day Sale.
