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Motherhood Maternity / Destination Maternity

Motherhood Maternity / Destination Maternity review: Ridiculous return policy/customer service 7

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12:00 am EST
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I bought a Pre-natal Listener a few months ago from the store in Palmdale, CA. When I got home, I opened the box and found a battery in place and a missing manual. These were evidences that the item sold to me was not brand new in the box. The box was labeled "BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED " but contained one. How else would the manual be missing as well?

I went back to the store, 2 days after, and asked for an exchange. That is also in compliance to their 10 days return policy, I thought. I was told that they did not have any more of those. I asked for a refund or a store credit instead. I was told that because these items (not clothes) were just retailed by them, they cannot give me a store credit. I have to ask FIRST SOUNDS (the manufacturer) instead. They will be able to replace the item for me if First Sounds replace them. I explained to the manager that for that small amount (about $30), she could give me a store credit and they can complain to their supplier about giving them returned/not brand new in box items. I am Motherhood's customer -- I bought the item from them and therefore require to be reimbursed by them. I paid for a new item and did not get one, it is just fair to get my money back. I was even flexible enough to accept a store credit, but that too was not possible, according to the manager. I have to jump to another hoop to get my money back. Before I get a replacement from First Sounds, I would have already given birth. What a hassle.

I went home very upset and decided to keep the item and just let the situation go. Being upset over $30 is not worth it especially when you are pregnant. You would think that being a store for pregnant women, they would show more compassion.

Well, I love the products but their customer service and return policy is extremely ridiculous.

7 comments
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Brittany
Oct 22, 2007 5:34 pm EDT

I do understand your complaint about the return policy and I also understand that it seems unfair. I worked for Motherhood Maternity for 2 years, and know the reason behind such a strict return policy. A woman is only pregnant for 9 months, so if they were to accept a return 60 or 90 days later, they would be losing a lot of money because of returns... which are actually exchange only. It's really smart on the business aspect, because they are guaranteed to keep their money, and aren't losing it back to the customer. And if your item was "only 30 dollars" as you put it, why didn't you buy a new one and get a refund from First Sounds for both of them?

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Lori
Jun 01, 2008 3:53 am EDT

Motherhood Maternity's return/exchange policy being ridiculous. They know that since you are only pregnant 9 months, it isn't worth it to you to fight over a mere $30 and that it's much easier for you to give in and just take your loss. These $30 here and there add up for them. The fact that it is "only $30" is even more incentive for them to deny any attempts at refunds or exchanges because they count on most people caving in & eating their $30 loss. I'm not putting up with it. The policy makes no sense. Regardless of how long you are pregnant, if something doesn't work for you, you should be able to remedy the situation. They can still sell any exchanged/returned items, regardless of this comical 10 day return/exchange policy.
I was never informed of this policy. I bought 2 nursing bras and asked the sales clerk what the standard rule is (I was trying to buy them in advance as I didn't want to wait until after the baby was born to try & find nursing bras, therefore I didn't know what size I would be). The clerk told me to go up one number size and one cup size, which I did. She put the receipt in the bag and never mentioned the return/exchange policy to me. About a month later (only 5 months pregnant at this time, so I still haven't had a need for the nursing bras yet) I was at Victoria's Secret and was measured and found that I was already bigger than I ever imagined. Knowing I had bought the wrong size nursing bras from MM, I tried to exchange them 9 days later at a store closer to my home. The sales clerk at this store informed me of their "no exchange policy" on intimate apparel, but at this point, the information had come too late. She further informed me of the 10 day exchange policy. Strike two against me. I wish I'd known the rules before I played this game. I called the manager of the store from which I bought the items and she reiterated that the policy can't be changed. Okay, fine, but her sales clerk had several opportunities to inform me of these policies and she didn't. As the 2nd store clerk pointed out, she was supposed to have me initial the receipt where their policies are spelled out. Since the receipt remained in the bag until the time I attempted to make exchange, and I was not otherwise informed of these silly policies, I had no way of knowing these policies even existed. I never tried on the bras in the store - what would be the point? Whether they fit at that point or not wouldn't determine if they were going to fit when it was time to nurse. Sorry, I'm getting off track. I explained to the manager of the 1st store how & why I never knew of these policies until the day I tried to exchange them. She said she'd call the sales clerk that sold them to me and she'd call me back. She repeated the number to me perfectly. After several hours with no phone call from her, I called her back. She told me she transposed the numbers of my phone number, which is odd since she was able to repeat it back to me with no problem earlier. She told me to bring the items in and she would exchange them. She told me to bring them in over the weekend because she would need to be there for the exchange to happen. I asked what hours she would be there over the weekend and she proceeded to give me the store hours. I asked if she would be there that whole time because I figured she wouldn't work the whole time the store was open over the weekend and she said she would be there. I showed up Saturday night around 7:30 and the sales clerk said she left at 5pm. I informed her she told me she would be there until 9pm and the clerk stated that the manager was only scheduled to work until 9pm. I was PO'd! Gas costs $4 per gallon now! The clerk tried to call, but was forced to leave a message for the manager. I asked if the clerk could by chance do the exchange and her response was that the manager told her about me & that if I came in she was not to do the exchange - the manager would need to be there. The manager ended up calling me at my house after I'd returned home and said I should have called before I came. I reminded her of our discussion when she assured me she would be there all weekend. She told me she doesn't "live there." She further told me she wasn't going to do the exchange now. Then she hung up on me.
That place pulled scam after scam, and from reading these complaint boards, it looks like this has been going on for some time. If you are reading this - DO NOT SHOP AT MOTHERHOOD MATERNITY. It is for your own good. There are plenty of other places out there to fit your maternity needs.

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AD
Oct 30, 2008 2:29 pm EDT

I had a $20 charge on my credit card from WPI PArenting MAG, yet I never subscribed to this magazine. When I called the mag to complain, they said it was the fault of the Destination maternity. They sign you up to received 2 free months and then after that I would get charged. She said the cashier should have explained that which they didn't.

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Frank Dandridge
Williamsburg, US
Sep 07, 2009 11:16 am EDT

I have recently found, charges for MPI PARENTING to my wifes debit card.It was not authorized, i would recommed
Motherhood to anyone .I will be filing a complaint with the State Attouney and BBB

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scperdomo
Tampa, US
Nov 08, 2009 12:46 pm EST

I couldn't agree more. I understand that we are only pregnant for 9 months, but the return policy doesn't have to be 60 or 90 days, it can be 30 days, hell it can be 2 weeks. But we should be able to make returns. Every woman knows that sometimes, even though you try it on in the store, you get it home and go to wear it a couple days later and it just doesn't look like it did in the store.

Motherhood has cute clothes, and I went shopping when I started showing and bought some nursing bras, didn't try them on (didn't know I could, they were in packaging) and the clerk didn't tell me about the policy either (seems to be a pattern) she just told me to sign the receipt, I thought I was signing for my card. When I got home and tried on the bras, they didn't fit. The cups were too big and the band around the bottom was too tight. When I tried explaining this to them, they kept saying, well you can grow into them. How can I grow into something that is too tight? The band wasn't adjustable like a regular bra and the cups were too big, so what, do they think as my boobs got bigger, my rib cage would shrink?! They refused to give me a refund, but did let me exchange. I said thanks, but told them I would never shop there again. God Bless Old Navy and Gap Maternity!

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willials
Sumner, US
Jan 24, 2010 10:41 pm EST

This Motherhood Maternity store is absolute crap. They wouldn't allow my wife to return $45 jeans the next day after she bought them with the tags still on?! I will never shop at this store again and I can see them going out of business quickly with the way they treat customers. How can they compete with any other store when all the others allow returns and they don't? It doesn't make sense.

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e woods
Philadelphia, US
Sep 09, 2010 2:33 pm EDT

Return Policy Update: Motherhood Maternity Stores have a NEW return policy! Try it, Love it, or Return it for a full refund (within 30 days) Policy. Visit motherhood.com for more details and to find a store near you.

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