Macy's — Attraction in New York

Used to LOVE shopping at Macy's until I noticed the following things:

1. COLORISM: Macy's employs the united nations AT THE CUSTOMER FACING LEVELS. Past the lights, bells and whistles of the shop floor, you will notice the lack of diversity. The higher up corporate you go, the more blue eyes, blonde hair and fairer complexions you will see. Of course there will be the one token person of color, latina etc but Barbie and Ken definitely dominate the higher the elevator goes.

2. A CULTURE OF EXPLOITATION/ Terrible treatment of employees: You visit Macy's long enough or shop with your ears, eyes or 6th sense enough times you will start to notice the massa mentality behind the way Macy's, especially 34th street is run and laid out. There are all these little hidden corridors and alleys for "the help". Seems like the more menial the task, the darker the skintone of the employees assigned to it. Look at who is pushing the goods to be returned. Any Karen's there? Kens? Barbies? NOPE. A white employee on the basement level of 34th Street is like a Big Foot sighting.

You can hear stories of floors (10th floor perhaps?) running like sweat shops with poor air quality, no heat, no ac, no Protective Gear and a history of illness or employee death...What seems like a Health & Safety nightmare; no windows and high exposures to toxins and disgruntled managers assigning this floor to those they dislike or find otherwise ineffective at other duties as a form of punishment.

You will tune into the stories of their workers (not the higher ups) not being given passes to sit to view the infamous parade...(Do you know those "working" the parade are actually volunteers?). You will hear the plights of hours being cut after hire or as reprimand/ retaliation or victimization, PR employment drives/ hiring events when no hours are available for the new hires, and all other shady labor practices that seem to show a culture where those on the floor work the most and are paid and valued the least while they bring in the revenue that shoots up the chain for corporate trips, parties, goody bags, offices and bonuses. Do you know Macy's employees can only get company discounts if they take out a Macy's credit card? Even if they take out a prepaid card, Macy's offers them a line of credit without their approval, which is subject to monthly interest and payments like a regular card. Why not just give an employee an immediate employee discount based on their number or a dated employee card? Why all this talk about discounts on the back end that may or may not be a set % blah blah. It is so convoluted. After these people work so hard to run their stores, why do they receive the worst shopping experience?

3. FLUCTUATING PRICING: I have seen the same item on sale at Macy's at 4 different prices in a month (see pictures). They have a pricing strategy where they set really high original prices (which also fluctuate it seems) & they try to get as many people/ tourists/ elitists/ unaware shoppers etc with these prices then they have a series of "sales" e.g. friends and family, one day sales etc to move stock that can leave you in a position where you have to make multiple trips to Macy's in a week, when, for example, an item you purchased today is half the price tomorrow or there is a promotion where you earn store credit based on your total & asking for a manager at CS?? Good luck!

4. PREYING ON THE OLD: Macy's employees pressure customers to open Macy's credit cards. They capitalize on the old, young and foreigners, by pushing the narrative of saving 20% on their purchase and not equally informing customers of the high interest rates, penalties etc.associated. I have stood in line behind many people frustratingly disputing charges usually between $60- $97 that they never authorized. I think Macy's is running a scam here.

CONCLUSION: MACY'S appears to be a bad employer and a company that lacks transparency. This company seems to be riddled with shady business practices & poor HR & customer service behind the facades of their well...

History: Macy's New York has a rich history dating back to 1858 when it was founded by Rowland Hussey Macy. Macy's originally started as a small dry goods store in downtown Haverhill, Massachusetts. However, Macy's quickly outgrew its space and moved to New York City, where it opened its first store on the corner of 14th Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan.

At the time, Macy's was a small store, but it quickly gained popularity due to its wide selection of merchandise and affordable prices. In 1902, the current flagship store located at Herald Square was opened. The building, which spans an entire city block, was designed by the famous architect, Daniel Burnham, and was the first building in the world to feature a modern escalator.

Over the years, Macy's New York has expanded its footprint, acquired several other department store chains, and has become one of the largest and most recognizable retail brands in the world. The store has played a significant role in the development of New York City, and has been featured in numerous movies and TV shows, cementing its place in popular culture.

Size: Macy's New York is one of the largest department stores in the world, covering an area of 2.2 million square feet. The store has 11 floors of shopping and dining space, with over 600,000 square feet of retail space. The store's size and layout can be overwhelming, but it is well-organized and easy to navigate with clear signage and helpful staff.

Departments: Macy's New York offers a wide range of products across multiple departments, including fashion apparel for men, women, and children, accessories, shoes, beauty products, home goods, furniture, and electronics. Each department is well-curated and features a mix of high-end luxury brands and affordable everyday items.

The fashion departments at Macy's New York are particularly impressive, with a wide range of designer brands such as Chanel, Prada, and Gucci. There are also several private-label brands available, including Charter Club, Alfani, and INC International Concepts.

The home goods department at Macy's New York is also worth checking out, with a wide range of furniture, bedding, and home decor items available. The store features several exclusive brands such as Hotel Collection and Martha Stewart Collection, which offer high-quality products at affordable prices.

Events: Macy's New York is known for hosting several events throughout the year, including the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which features giant character balloons, floats, and live performances. The parade is a beloved tradition in New York City and is watched by millions of people around the world.

In addition to the Thanksgiving Day Parade, Macy's New York hosts several other events, such as fashion shows, celebrity appearances, and product launches. These events are usually free and open to the public, and are a great way to experience the store and its products.

Services: Macy's New York offers several services to its customers, including personal shopping, beauty consultations, wedding and gift registry, and furniture delivery and installation. These services are designed to make the shopping experience more convenient and enjoyable for customers.

Personal shopping is a particularly popular service, as it allows customers to work with a dedicated stylist who can help them find the perfect outfit or gift. The beauty department at Macy's New York also offers several services, including makeup and skincare consultations, and beauty treatments.

Customer Experience: The customer experience at Macy's New York is generally positive, with helpful and friendly staff members available to assist shoppers with any questions...

I recently made a visit to “The largest Macy’s in the world…” which stretches from one Manhattan avenue to another!! Let me start off by saying the lights outside of the building and the window displays were so captivating. Professional customers service from the walk in on fashion Ave (7th Ave); and throughout the cosmetics area all the way to the exit on the side of the Louis Vuitton store was spectacular and needs to be highlighted.

🌟 Every single Macy’s employee that I encountered was so friendly, attentive, and helpful. I spent the day exploring luxury accessories, beauty-cosmetic, and fragrances. Since that is on the main level where most of the luxury counters and shops are I will only leave this review based on those areas. However, I’ve visited this particular Macy’s throughout my entire life and it is LARGE!!! So make sure to wear shoes which are comfortable so that you can enjoy exploring the entire store because the sales are the holidays are worth visiting each floor.

🌟My transactions were at the YSL counters. First I stopped in the fragrance area and the YSL team was so nice. They helped me with my inquiries and then was so helpful with pointing me to the YSL cosmetics counter. At the beauty counter for the luxury brand I encountered a beautiful sales representative that I shared my love for particular cosmetic items from the brand and she too wears the same cosmetics and it sparked up a great interaction. She knew what she was talking about, the products I inquired about, was extremely helpful and attentive to any guest browsing/shopping within her cosmetic area. As soon as I stopped by her counter, immediately I felt welcomed to shop and take my time while exploring the different luxury product on display.

🛍️ Following I stopped by the Apple Store within Macy’s, then by MAC Cosmetics to see the new “Whitney Houston” display of products and the entire store was so clean and inviting. When it comes to Gucci, Louis Vuitton, La Mer, and the other top luxury brands; each display truly caught my eyes and all of the beauty departments displays had people doing the same exact thing! I cant end this review without making sure to express my observations of all sales associate, security, cosmetics representatives, floor associated, and etc.. being witnessed as remaining engaged and professional as they constantly were greeting all guest walking by, attentive to those inquiring about a variety of products, and all though it was super busy the (one day after Christmas); it was impressive! It’s like the customer service was on point! Within the areas I visited I want to give shine on the fact that not one employee within my eyesight seemed to missed a beat. In such a busy season the staff looked happy and it showed. Big smiles on their faces, laughing with guests, being so helpful. My visit was definitely 5/5 stars. Yes, I would highly recommend visiting the famous Macy’s location (and if you never been please stop in at least one time in your life!!!) It’s wheelchair assessable; kid friendly; in the center of “Herald Square” in Midtown Manhattan so you can truly spend hours just in this one retail store being captivated just by the talent from displays, lights, their choices of music playing, and the...