Daelynn E First off, this review is specifically for the bellis Fair Mall store, not necessarily AEO as a company.
Stopped by yesterday, which was a Friday afternoon, to see a sign on their window that said they were doing inventory from 11am to 5pm. I thought sure, no biggie, Ill come back at 5 since I had some items to exchange. Me and my husband and I went to dinner, shopped around other stores, and came back a little after 5, and the gate/door was still shut. I stood and waited for a couple more minutes, and an associate came to open the gate to let an employee in.
She very rudely said to me and another lady who had been waiting that they were going to be closed longer still with no estimated opening time. She walked away before I could ask what their new estimated opening time was. She then went to rip down the signs on the windows, head back to the register counter, glaring at us with multiple other associates standing around and talking.
What in the world?? How, I mean HOW does this make sense for a store to operate going into the weekend? And what kind of behavior for a sales associate to exhibit?? Especially when we can clearly see you and your behavior! I get that it was probably annoying that we were waiting right at the entrance for them to open, and she may have had some frustration/ feeling overwhelmed from inventory processing, but seriously? Downright bratty behavior!
There have been other instances before this day too where I have gone in to shop only to be greeted with half smirks and fake greetings by associates who then, instead of working, are standing around talking and get clearly annoyed if you interrupt them to ask for a fitting room to be opened. The store is a mess half the time, clothing on the floor, dust bunnies everywhere too.
Whoever is this store manager and even regional manager- choosing to count inventory on a Friday during the day is ridiculous, not only for your customers, but your associates were clearly struggling with it and then choosing to take it out on your customers. It doesnt make sense why you wouldnt just count when the mall is closed or close a couple hours early, not for 6 hours during the day.
I was happy that this store survived the mass mall store closures during COVID, but keep up this kind of behavior/shenanigans, and youll be closed soon, no doubt about that! Your customers are what keep you open, so maybe you shouldnt treat them as an inconvenience when they come shop at your store.
