1 /5 I&M Assistant Barraza: Its with an unfortunate note that I have to write this review. And it is with unfortunate news that I have to highlight a specific employee: Linda (Caucasian, approx 65-75 years old, with a name tag that read Snr lead).
A company is only as good as its team. A store; only as good as its staff. On Nov 14, 2023 around 430pm (pacific time), I walked into this old navy store in Auburn with intents of exchanging a pair of pajama pants for a different size. The lady at the front desk, Linda, immediately asked if the pants I was exchanging were washed. The tag of the pants had fallen off, due to the plastic going through the fabric. It was not ripped off; it had fallen off. The tag was placed in the pocket of the pants for this reason.
I wasnt allowed the opportunity to answer for about another 2-3 minutes due to this employee still holding a conversation with another individual in the store.
After waiting for their conversation to end, I said "not worn or washed". I was simply exchanging them for a different size. A different color as well, since the green color I originally purchased didnt have the correct size we needed. Nevertheless, the exact same pajama pants. White with black color this time.
After I had already mentioned the pants were neither worn nor washed, the employee proceeded to state again "they feel like theyve been washed".
At this point, after politely waiting for this employee to finish and carry on her conversation with another individual in the store without properly acknowledging my presence in front of her, and infering I was being deceitful, I asked "are you saying Im lying?"
Which she proceeded again, "no, I just think these have been washed".
There is no difference there. These were a $12 pair of pajama pants. There is no point trying to be deceitful for something of such low value. I was simply trying to exchange for another of a larger size. Why was I exchanging for a larger size?
Because my wife is pregnant and the size small she used to wear no longer fit her at the moment. So I was exchanging for a size medium. These were purchased about 5 days before the exchange happened.
I let the employee know that there were still multiple pajama pants in stock, sitting on the shelves, the same color (but wrong size), and other colors, in which she could use to compare the fabric, the feel, the smell, whatever she pleased to do...
The pajama pants were not used, nor washed.
Along with the exchange, I made another new purchase, which I now regret doing after such event. I still brought more business to the store, even on this new day when I was simply going to exchange.
Have you ever felt guilty calling in sick to work, when youre truly sick? This is how this employee made me feel. Linda made me feel like a liar & a thieve, over a $12 piece of pajama pants, for no right reason.
Once ready to leave, I told Linda that I encouraged her to go seek the brand new pieces of pajama pants they still had on their shelves, and compare them to the ones I was exchanging. I encourage her to ask the opinions of any other staff member in that store. There was no deceit or wrongdoing intent in this exchange. Linda showed her true colors. Believing in was there to screw over the store? Because Im half her age? Because Im Hispanic?
As a minority, I take pride in where my roots came from. And Im proud of what Ive done in this country to earn the rights that I have. Ive worked hard to become an entrepreneur, with a business, with 3 college degrees, with employees, with a career in the medical field. Ive literally saved the lives of patients in front of me. Yet I still have to deal with this old Caucasian Karen acuse me of lying over a $12 pair of pants?
I regret to inform that due to Linda, my family and I will not be returning to this store. I will spread the word to other extended family and friends. This employee singlehandedly cost the store hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, all over a $12 pair of pants that could be exchanged rightfully per company policy.
