The Exchange Inc. — Local services in Sarasota

I used to love this store. I liked the quality of clothing and cheap prices. Until I was discriminated against by the volunteer coordinator, that is. Last year, I was homeless in Sarasota, living off a monthly disability check and living out of my car. I began going to goodwill to buy inexpensive clothing and reselling the goods to multiple consignment shops in town. I had an excellent relationship with the volunteers at women's exchange. One day, I decided to fill out a volunteer application because volunteering there would give me something to do with my days and I supported their cause. I listed wonderful references, including some very prominent and wealthy people whom I had worked for locally previously. However, my address was listed as "homeless." The volunteer coordinator glanced at my app, saw that I was homeless, and immediately turned me away. He told me that I could possibly volunteer next year. After the dismissal, I stuck around to shop. I spent a lot of time, trying on clothes and talking with customers and volunteers at the store. I noticed that the volunteer coordinator kept following me around. In my naivety, I thought I was impressing him with my people skills, but then he told a few of the volunteers not to talk to me. I finally went to the checkout desk with my selected items. As I was being rung up, the volunteer coordinator interrupted the sale so he could take care of it himself. I gave him my debit card, which had my ex-fiancées name on it. (Because I was disabled, my check was deposited into a joint account we shared but we only received one debit card with his name. My ex never touched the account because only my money was in it.) When the volunteer coordinator saw my card, he told me it was stolen and whipped out scissors to cut it up. Since this was the only way I had access to my money, I began freaking out. There was a huge scene, and everyone was looking at me. I was angry, scared and crying. He told me he was calling the police on me, even though the charges were approved by the bank. Even though others before me had no issues with using their husbands credit card. The manager of the store pulled us both into her office and while I was telling her why I was using a card that did not have my name on it, the volunteer coordinator was rude, interrupting me, and basically being an ass. She made him leave the office. She called my bank and was told that I WAS on the account, and had a right to use the card. Though immensely embarrassed, I was very relieved to have been exonerated. With sincere apologies, she let me leave. On my way out, another volunteer approached me to give me a check for over $30 for consignment merchandise that I had sold. I left, and shortly thereafter, received a call from the manager, apologizing. I still love this store, but I think it's important that the public know that the very people they serve as a charity are the people who they discriminate against. I'm no longer homeless, and am still considering a lawsuit against them. This was the only time I ever had an issue with my debit card. Thank you...

Update: After receiving a phone call from Trish, whom was professional and addressed questions in a helpful manner, I took my items in on appointment. The employees were much more friendly toward me and my family who happened to be with me that day.

However, Nancy still had a bit of a harshness. Maybe just her personality... When I asked for a receipt of what was being left with her, she said no. When I asked (still politely) if she would at least initial as to how many pieces we were leaving with her which I wrote down on a piece of paper, she said 'no, we don't do that and maybe you should just consign somewhere else.'

I have never walked out of a consignment shop after leaving my items without something that says at the very least how many items were left with the seller.

This forces the newly consigning person(s) to forfeit their account of goods left behind with people they do not know. Also, human mistakes can happen. So, if she can have me sign ~4 forms for them indicating details, why could she not sign as well and provide a copy for us to take with us, or at the very least initial off on my list?

Nancy said she provides zero drop off receipts (detailed or even with simply an initialed item count) for anyone and that consignors just have to check online later.

Is this lack of drop-off-receipt upon walking out the standard policy of the WEX organization? I am unclear after hearing different things from differing employees: If a consignor on the 65% plan shows up on the specific time/day, they may or may not wait and have back the items Nancy (or others) do not select for consignment? Does the answer to number 2 change for a 50/50 acct by appt?

When we tried checking the online account the next day, there were error messages.

I guess we will see how it goes and hopefully gain access to the online consignor info soon.

Had read enough negative reviews (sorry to say, but there are several) and heard some things word of mouth to be assertive/cautious at drop off, that I was hesitant to walk out without any form of receipt whatsoever.

Bottom line: The fact that she/they do not provide the consignor anything (but keep their own copies with my signature) surprised us.

Will see how things sell and progress...

The clothing consignment employees Dianne and Nancy have been rude, capricious, lazy, and downright unhelpful. Come to find out they are not even one of the many, many volunteers, but are PAID...

This is a very interesting place for sure and we've been there a number of times, but our last experience was horrible. My wife bought a coat and due to the place being busy we were told to take our coat and go to another register which we did. In doing that we list our place in line and when we got to the front of the line we were told oh we can't take that here the shop lifting senor needs to come off at the other register which is where we were. So back we go to the end of the line again. We finally got to pay for our purchase and the woman took all kinds of tags off, but must have left the shoplifting senor on and we left. It did not go off when we left the store by the way. We then ran errands and when we got back to the home we were visiting we saw the tag still on the coat so we called to find out if we could get it off any other way, but the telephone recording said we close at 4pm, but it wasn't 4lpm yet so why didn't they answer? The next day we were driving to see our grandkids down south but had to wait till 9am to call when they told us we had to come back 45 minutes to them do they could remove it. No we're sorry for the inconvenience and in fact nothing at all. So north we went out if our way and when we got there still no sorry for the inconvenience just where is the receipt. My wife was outside in the car waiting so we could head south and of course we were running late because we had to back track go get this thing removed and now we can't get it off. I saw a nice man that saw me the day before when we bought this boat and he stood up for me saying yes this man bought the coat. I understand they want to be careful but after causing us this inconvenience and money they could have been nicer. In business you need to remember without us their customers they would have no business so a little kindness would go a long way. Everyone makes mistakes but it's how you handle them that makes you special and the Woman's Exchange could use some lessons on how to be nice to people They caused an very large...