Anthropologie — Attraction in Reston

WARNING AGAINST REGISTRIES

About two years ago, I created a wedding registry with Anthropologie, absolutely thrilled to decorate my first home with their beautiful furnishings. It went well enough and our guests gifted us some beautiful pieces that we still love today.

One particularly generous guest gifted me the Elowen Velvet Swivel Chair I registered for - a $400 piece that was the centerpiece of my home office and studio. Recently, one of the wheel joints fell off. This happens sometimes, no big deal; it was purchased off my registry so Anthro should have all the information and I’m not asking for anything free, just wanting to purchase a replacement part. My hopes were immediately dashed.

The below screenshots show my encounter with customer service. In essence, because it was purchased over a year ago and I don’t have the order number (even though a replacement verified the purchase through my registry), they wouldn’t even entertain the idea of helping me with anything at all. What follows is my final email to customer service, as their satisfaction survey conveniently offers no opportunity to leave your thoughts in the experience.

This is absolutely ridiculous. If i had known that, after one year, Anthropologie would completely abandon my furniture purchase - not even offer any options for me to PURCHASE a replacement part! I’m not trying to get anything free! - I would never have purchased from here, God forbid made a registry. I’ve told you four times it was a gift from my registry!! And an agent even found and verified the order!!! But still - “sorry you don’t possess the order number so we can’t help you.” Abhorrent behavior.

Not only is this a bad move for the environment - a perfectly good chair, now banished to the dump after less than TWO YEARS? That’s insane!!! No wonder fashion (and yes, this is home fashion) is such a pollution industry! - this is a TERRIBLE BUSINESS MOVE. I am embarrassed to have purchased from you, and feel terrible for subjecting my wedding guests to the same fate. This gift is now wasted.

I’m honestly appalled. I tried to give you every chance to help and really didn’t want to be difficult; I’m not asking for anything ridiculous or outside of the norm. Your customer satisfaction survery email says it wants my “thoughts and feedback” but it only lets me give a star rating and one of two reasons. I have a sneaking suspicion that any rating for the reason “i didn’t get the outcome i wanted” is promptly ignored. I would give 0 stars if I could. Absolutely disgusted.

If you’re going to register here / or purchase anything - don’t get...

Does Anthrologie train their employees to be extremely hostile, unhelpful, and unfriendly? I have never felt so enraged about a shopping experience before. First of all, every time I come in the store, I am never greeted by a single employee. I don’t understand this given that every time I have come in, I am immediately seen by an employee at the cash register or someone who is working at the front. It further confuses me that every time an older Caucasian person comes into the store, an employee rushes to their side and asks if they are in need of assistance. This is not just me because I have had a couple of friends (also not white) walk into this store who have had identical experiences to mine. I understand that I may be young and a foreigner, but that does not mean I’m not going to buy something or mess up the store. Second of all, every time I have been rung up at this store, I am not asked like the customers before me if I am an Anthroperks member. Do they assume I am not? Not sure. The interaction between me and the cashier has always been distant, cold, and consists only of the question “do you want a bag?” and the total of the purchase. Nothing else. I’ve had half a mind to bring a camera in here and film the interactions between employees and certain customers versus interactions with customers like me. Needless to say, my friends and I have taken our business anywhere but here. I hope the training and customer service of the employees here improve for other people’s...

This review is directed toward a store employee, not the brand itself. I had been in twice before just to browse, but today was my first time actually making a purchase — and unfortunately, the experience was jarring.

The line situation was very confusing. I was standing behind a woman who was paying when a tall young woman with long blonde hair called out, “I can help who’s next.” I smiled and stepped forward, assuming she meant me, only to be abruptly yelled at. She rolled her eyes and snapped, “Actually, THAT lady is NEXT!” The tone and intensity were so harsh that I was completely taken aback. It felt unnecessarily aggressive, especially since I truly was next in line — the other woman she referred to was standing in a completely different area.

For context, the store really should consider using ropes or signage to make the line clearer (similar to Bath & Body Works), because as it stands, it’s confusing and sets customers up for situations like this.

Thankfully, another employee — a smaller-framed young woman — quickly and kindly offered to help me and my sister. She seemed just as surprised by her coworker’s behavior, and I really appreciated her professionalism.

Still, in my 41 years, I’ve never been yelled at by a cashier for no reason. The encounter was unsettling enough that I’m not sure I’d...