Value Village / Savers
reviews and complaints

Fennel ave. Hamilton ont.

I purchased a used 35 mm film camera today, this camera is electronic and had no way to checks to see if it was functional at the testing area for electronics.

I took the camera home, installed required batteries, the camera didn’t turn on. I then inserted different batteries to double check, the camera didn’t turn on. Ok, not an issue until I attempted to return the camera and was informed that it was not eligible for a refund or a store credit. I attempted to argue my case but met with resistance from the store employee I was dealing with. More than frustrated I left the unworking camera on the counter and left realizing that this store was ok selling faulty product.

Lesson learned, I’ve often donated this particular store, my charity ended today.

The Value Village at Steeles and Dufferin
This is the only Value Village store that has increased the price of cds to $2.99 and Vinyl albums to $3.99.
All other stores sell the CDs at $1.99 and the vinyl albums at $2.99
Why has this store increased the price of the items mentioned?
It's very frustrating to drive all the way to this store and find just about everything is priced higher than anywhere else.
Could you please look into this situation, as I'm no longer willing to visit this store.
I spend hundreds of dollars at your stores and I'm not very happy about this situation.

Was waiting for over 20 minutes after a cashier asked Management for a price check, multiple times. However these managers were just talking amongst themselves ignoring both myself and the cashier. The cashier apologized but the Manager was absolutely rude for no reason. Snapping aggressively at the cashier "What?!" Is this the way Management speak to their employees. "Why you need a price check? Is there not a price tag on the item?" This was a little unsettling to me, if a customer is requesting a price check, doesn't that mean there isn't a price tag on the item? Majority of the Managers at this location are rude to customers and their employees. I'm not sure how the employees continue to take such disgusting attitudes.

A thrift store or any clothing store should not be allowed to close fitting room availability for a customers and on top of that have strict stipulations on overpriced thrift wear for exchange only. I am a long time vv member and finding vv so overpriced and the lack of compassion for your ‘community’ by trying to stiff your customers every way you can. A lot of community people need these stores and vv new policy of no Fitting rooms is insulting.

I come across a petition today on the Internet, that’s now on Facebook and other social media about a customer named Darren that shops at Value Village at 6925 King George in Surrey. Since the poster has made this information public, I thought I’d voice my input also, and first ask why nothings been done about this idiot. Guaranteed to be the same individual “also named Darren” that walked by me last week and yelled [censored] OFF while looking directly at me, but pretending to be on the phone. This idiot is at the store every time I shop, and I shop there once a week, I can’t imagine myself there more because of him. Nonetheless it very difficult to shop at this location so I find myself driving to Talize instead. After reading the petition I completely agree that something peculiar is going on between him and staff members, especially in the donation area, I too have seen staff bring out items to him, like expensive golf clubs and artwork below $10 which I’d have bought imminently for $150.00 had I had the opportunity. This is crazy keeping this guy around, after he was allegedly banned once previously? Now I know why. You should seriously have a chat with the general manager. Having an aggressive customer in the store “ALL DAY LONG! Is absolutely ludicrous! Bad for business and a bad experience for customers. I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels this way, there are over 90 signatures within the last 48 hours to ban this individual, which speaks volumes. The very least you can do is limit him to a 2 hour maximum like any other regular shopper. Ive posted the link below in-case management haven’t already seen this.

https://www.change.org/p/ban-darren-from-value-village

The management was sure that caught me red handed getting high in the bathroom. Things aren't always as they seem, as I immediately left the store, leaving the item exactly where I found it. It was a ball of fentanyl. Had it been mine, there's a high probability I would have taken it with me. That assumed it was mine and did not allow me a chance to explain. She said I'm banned and I left before they called the police. It's bothered me daily that a child could have found that and I don't want to be wrongfully associated with it. I've never seen that many drugs in my life and was planning to go straight to management had they not bombarded me in the washroom first

On April 14th 2023 at approx. 630pm I dropped my friend and my son off at value village. When I returned a short time later, my friend told me that she was being followed around by the manager AGAIN and that she continuously yelled at my son. Yes my son was playing with thr toys but that is no different than any other child. I have never NOT seen a child playing with the toys in all my shopping at value village (and thats a lot!). I confronted her in a professional manner and I could see thr attitude of the woman was already going to be an issue. She was arrogant and rude like she was better than me. She told me how my son was so "rude" and wouldn't listen to her when she told him not to play with the toys. Other kids were playing with thr toys but she didn't yell at them. My friend is native and she is disabled The store manager followed her around making her uncomfortable as though she was doing something wrong? She wasn't she had a cart full of stuff that she left by the bathroom to use the bathroom. When she came back out the cart had been taken and her items put back. I am appalled at the unprofessionalism displayed at this store. Manager Cheryl, did not have any right nor my permission to yell at my son. I want her to attend a class on manners and how to properly deal with customers. As a former manager at Walmart, I can vouch for these classes and programs. As for my friend, she deserves to be compensated for the discrimination of a person with a disability, and I for the discrimination against a child. My friend and child's human rights were violated and I believe Cheryl to be a racist. For these allegations she should be dismissed permanently.

April 10 2023 Not having change rooms is inconvenient. I have to return items, I lost the receipt, and not to mention gas back and forth. I go there due to financial issues and it's costing me more troubles and money. Bring back the change rooms. My number is [protected]. Let's resolve this huge problem. I want my money back or in store credit. The staff was great to me

I believe her name is Kristen. I am a very avid shopper at VV and spend a lot of money there weekly. Please take a look for yourself at my account status [protected]. As I was shopping tonight in Value Village right before closing one of the employees who I see regularly at this store approaches me with a security guard. He informs me that apparently I am banned from this store and he APOLOGIZES to me about the situation and informs me that he doesn’t know what the situation is but his store manager has informed him that she has decided to ban me from the store. In what world do employees/managers just get to decide on their own free time and will that a customer is just going to be banned from the store!? Not to mention a customer who is very high up there in savers club with the amount of money I spend at this store! It was absolutely humiliating and even more embarrassing because the employee quite obviously did not agree with the situation as he keep apologizing profusely and saying he could not comment on the situation as he was not there and he was sorry he just didn’t want to ruin my day. I have a great report with most of the employees at this store with the exception of a few women employees who seem to have formed a bit of “mean girls” clique. They mostly like to laugh and roll their eyes at me when I have to run out to the car to charge my phone because it died and I need it to pay or if my card gets declined they all love to smirk at each other. Despite this atrocious behaviour from a select few employees I still choose to put myself through such humiliation because I do love your store so much. However tonight was enough! The store manager who apparently put this “ban” in place on me was not even in the store to inform me of such and I believe there is certain steps that need to be followed when trying to ban a customer from your store not just being able to decide on your own free time and then inform them the next time you see them come in. This is the perfect example of how these women have been treating me at your store like elementary school bullies!

I am disgusted and humiliated after what just happened and I want to speak with your Human Resources department, I want to speak with someone who does not allow for hate and bullies to be a part of their business or else I will go to every news outlet every social media account I have that all have major ties in the thrifting community all over BC and I won’t stop until people understand that your company has no problem employing bullies and mean girls.

There are no change rooms at Value Village locations. It is impossible to know if a clothing item will fit, as many manufacturer's sizes vary, and due to the nature of it being second hand, the product may have shrunk, expanded, etc.

Therefore, you would have to purchase the item, bring it home. If it doesn't fit, you have to spend time going back to the store, and at the store, it is exchange only, on the spot.

This is egregiously unethical - I would be fine if a gift card or store credit was offered. I would of course prefer a full refund. This policy is actually robbing your customers. We are forced to buy a product that we may or may not want, we spend our time and money trying to return it,and are forced to choose more items that we may or may not want.

There are 2 options:

1) If there were changing rooms, then my autistic child would have tried on the clothing in store, found it did not fit, and we would not have purchased the item in the first place, saving us time on trying to return the merchandise. In this case, exchange would be reasonable.

2) If you don't have change rooms, then full refund or store credit should be offered. At least with store credit/gift card I can come back at a different time when something would be avilable that would fit - obviously i can't exchange for something that isn't there for me!

Signs should be posted about exchange only in the store. If you don't have change rooms, then your return policy should be different for clothing items.

Your prices on some mens jogging pants are out to lunch. They are pants I can get at Walmart for the same price. Also you need to have your washrooms open at all times. I have issues with my stomach and they are closed. I understand the kind of people who use but we should not have to suffer. Also dressing rooms at least 2. Your prices are getting to high. I saw curtains in there hat were 9 dollars each. They are 9 dollars at Giant tiger. All these clothes are all donated. I used to spend around 600 a month not anymore. Way to high priced. I see clothing stained unacceptable. And bathing suits should be out all year round.