Food > Shopping
Hi guys! Hope you’ve had a wonderful day <3
Sorry I’m late posting- I was busy munching Cheesecake Factory and shopping with the Pilot. I knew you would understand 😉
This afternoon, in the middle of Packing Frenzy 2010, I put together all of the macaroon bundles for my HLS friends. If you see me at HLS and would like some macaroons, just ask! I’ll have a stash in my LiveWell Bag 🙂
For lonchi, I munched a leftover McCurry burger atop organic cucumber and grape tomatoes dressed with Dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, Stevia, cayenne and Garlic Gold (MAYJAH GG promo comin’ atcha in the morning)
The doorbell rang, and even though I knew what it was, I waited until I finished my lunch to open the package. This confirmed that as crazy of a shopaholic I am, I love food EVEN more. 😉 Who knew?!
I opened the package with gusto, tried on the dresses, and actually started crying when the one I was so excited about looked horrendous. The fit was totally wrong… tight in the hips, baggy in the waist, and the girls totally hanging out. The pilot came home from work to me in tears, still wearing the dress (which he agreed as sweetly as possible that it was a disaster) on the phone with Rent the Runway. I’m not one to say anything about companies when they’re less-than-stellar, but do want to tell you guys that customer service was extremely rude and unwilling to help. I *should* have read their return policy more carefully, because I was going to be charged for both dresses even though the second dress that fit me was much less expensive, or I’d have to send both dresses back and be left with nothing to wear this weekend in order to get a full refund. I understand that policies are there for a reason, but in certain situations where the customer is truly unhappy, you should be polite –they weren’t- and *try* to do something to help them. When I was a department store area sales manager (pre blog!), my store manager would always tell us to make an exception if a customer wasn’t fully satisfied.
They didn’t offer me a credit for the $250 dress until I told them I had a blog and was really looking forward to sharing my experience with my readers. (I hate hate HATE to pull the blog card in situations like that, but it was the only way they offered to help. Terrible) So now I’m wearing dress #2, which did fit and sent the other dress back.
The pilot and I got on the road to J-ville, and the Cheesecake Factory’s brown bread *almost* made me forget about the whole debacle.
For my entree, I rolled with the usual vegetable salad (beets, edamame, cucumber, tomatoes, roasted asparagus and greens), with goat cheese instead of cheddar, balsamic dressing (I forgot to get it on the side) + a grilled piece of salmon.
Now we’re chillaxin at the hotel and going to call it an early night since I leave for CHICAGO IN THE MORNING!!! 😀
Hope I don’t wake up the hotel neighbors with my AM TurboFire sesh 😉
See ya before I leave with a crazy awesome Garlic Gold promo <3
xoxo,
Gina
Something to talk about: What was your favorite formal dress ever?? I LOVED my Junior prom dress that was a purple-y pink color and laced up the back, and also this dress I wore to the squadron Christmas party 3 years ago. Simple but still fun 🙂
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I want roonies!!! I wish I was there! Sorry to hear about your dress 🙁
Good for you for pulling the blog card, it was totally worthy in that situation! I hate when companies don’t have good customer service departments. Let’s just hope it was that one person! Have so much fun at HLS!
nope i’ve talked to three different people there and they were all very unhelpful
wow, that’s too bad about RTR… I’ve not used them yet, but I’ve wanted to, now …?
still excited to see your dress #2 🙂
have a great weekend!
i sent your roons today! should be there mon or tues!! did you get your pure market goodies yet?
Bummer about Rent the Runway…that’s the one thing that always worried me about getting a dress from them. What if it didn’t fit?! Hubby would find me in tears too! Oh well. Can’t wait to see the one that DID work!
That stinks about the dress AND the bad customer service! I’m glad plan B worked though!
Oh and I wish I could have some of those ‘roons AND your hair!!! I’m in love with your hair in the last pic!
thank you!!
That really sucks about RTR. And it is a shame that they wouldn’t help you until you said something about the blog! What jerks 🙁
Cheesecake Factory is one of my guilty pleasures 😉 And I’d love to try those macaroons…yummm
The red dress is GREAT on you 🙂
I am so bummed to hear about the customer service at Rent the Runway, I am sure they are busy, but that is no excuse for being rude. Especially since you called them as soon as possible and didn’t wait a few days to decide.
Have fun at the HLS!
I’m sorry you got terrible customer service, but at least things worked out in the end. I don’t really have a favorite formal dress ever. Maybe someday, huh?
Bummer about the dress! At least the other one fits. I’m sure you will werk it!
I can’t believe all of my fave bloggers are going to be in the Chi and I don’t have tickets to your conference. Are you going to hit the lake for a run at all? I’ll be back out there Saturday morning looking for ya. I dream of your macaroons – if you’re on Mich Ave and some crazy mom with a cutie 2 yr old boy accosts you for a tasty, don’t be scared, it’s me 🙂
hahah!! i won’t be running this weekend, but some of the other girls will be. if you see me, definitely ask for some roons!
How horrible… I was seriously considering renting a Christian Siriano dress from RTR and dropping major bucks but after reading this it will NOT be happening! I am just an average Jane with no blog so I can imagine I would not be getting any help if I was to be in a similar situation. glad everything worked out for you though!
Gina how is the turbofire going?
i’m in LOVE with it 🙂
I have been on the fence about buying it. I know you were not to fond of Insanity.
Fran
really? i loved insanity, too!
I’m glad things worked out for you with the dress! I hate when I get bad customer service. People need to remember that it’s part of their job so they just need to do it!
How sweet of you to make macaroons for the girls at the HLS! I can’t wait to see everyone’s updates.
My favourite formal dress was actually one I wore recently to my brother’s wedding. It is purple and has one strap and I just love it!
Love the red dress. HOT!
I’ve been wanting to rent a dress from RTR but was nervous about ending up in a situation just like yours! I’m sure you looked fab in the 2nd one 🙂
Awww I’m sorry about the RTR dress! I hate when you try something on and it fits horrendously. It’s so disappointing 🙁
I love your red dress! Mine is a dress that I got from Nordstrom’s last year. It’s a cobalt blue dress, similar length to that red one of yours with a fanned top. I wore it for my Preference round of sorority recruitment, our sorority christmas party, and at the “formal*” night of sorority convention. I get so many compliments on it where ever I go. *Every night was pretty much formal night in my eyes.
ughhhh i wishhhh i were going to HLS!!! i would LOVE to meet you!!
my favorite dress is this one-shouldered green velvet dress that’s covered in green rhinestones – vintage couture from the 80’s, it was a birthday gift from an aunt with a SICK vintage collection!!
http://www.happyhealthyhottie.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/dsc05132.jpg
sadly i’ve never actually worn it to an event!!
i would love to meet you too!!! hopefully one day!
and that dress is AWESOME
Love that red dress! Makes me wish Christmas was here!
I usually like your blog, but I have to defend this company. I’m not going to use their services, but I used to work in retail, and customer service, and it was frustrating when people did not read the return policies- instead choosing to argue with us. This is taken right off of their website:
What if the dress still doesn’t fit?
If your dress doesn’t fit, contact us immediately upon receiving your order and be sure to postmark the unworn dresses within 24 hours. Once we receive your dresses, we will issue a refund less the cost of shipping. An important note on our return policy – we only issue refunds for fit in the following scenarios: 1) you reserve only one dress and it does not fit; 2) you reserve more than one dress and none of them fit. If any of the dresses in your order fit, we consider this a successful rental
You had two dresses and one fit.. they considered this a successful rental as noted in the last line. They bent the rules for you, and you still took to your blog to defame them, and their service. Unless I read it wrong, you have to be careful- they can sue you.
they explained to me the policy- i just asked them if there was anything they could do because the dress that didn’t fit was very expensive and the one that did wasn’t even half as much and they were going to charge me for both.
i didn’t defame them. this is a blog and i think that if i’m unhappy with the way i was treated by anyone i have the right to say that. i didn’t say i’d never use their service again- i will because i have a $250 credit to rent the runway now- but the way they treated me was unprofessional.
i worked in retail for 8 years and was a department store area sales manager. i know that the rules are there for a reason but can always be bent in extraordinary circumstances. no matter what, you should be polite and courteous which was not the case today
I think it’s up to the readers to decide if they still want to use RTR…Her experience just gives us perspective and a reminder to be wary of the return policy! Honestly, mentioning the blog is just like saying “I wanted to tell my friends about how I really liked RTR.” It shouldn’t really have to have taken Gina to mention it for there to be a change in attitude.
I agree with Ann on this. Gina has every right to talk about her experience on the blog. It didn’t make me think “oh, well since Gina had a bad experience I’m never going to use Rent the Runway.” I work for a major clothing company and we are told we can allow a one-time accommodation for non-returnable items. This way the customer remains happy and they are fully educated on our return policies for future purchases.
P.S. Gina– I love how you always stand like a celebrity on the red carpet when you pose for pictures. haha too cute!
As a lawyer, I have to laugh hysterically at the “they can sue you” comment. No they can’t. She didn’t defame them. It’s her opinion and it was not directed at a specific named person. Leave the law to the professionals dear.
I think this is just a helpful reminder to everyone to read the return policy before you purchase anything- especially online. I worked in retail (very high and low) management for 10 years before becoming a director of customer service for 5. Customers are supposed to come first, and service is always key, but return policies are set for a reason. Companies lose millions every year for “just one exception” which in turn takes away jobs and eventually the company itself. I think it would have been fair to a give a fair review i.e. they sent me measuring tools, and their return policy is as such, but I wanted them to bend the rules because I didn’t want to spend $250- even though the return policy warned me ahead of time. I thought they would make an exception for me, but I had to speak to three different people before I got it resolved. I understand that it probably was not in their power to refund the money, due to the policy, but they should have offered a manager right away when they realized I wanted my refund- they didn’t. What people need to understand is that only managers can bend the rules. If you had followed the policy, and both dresses didn’t fit, but they still refused a refund you would have had every right to say that the company was not so great. We’ve all dealt with horrible service, but most of us also know, and need to remember, what it’s like to be on the other end as well.
LOVE the red dress and your hair in the last pic! work it girrrrl 😉
Ok with all the garlic you’ve been eating, let’s just say I’m pretty sure your immune system is super strong and ready to fly, be around germy people, and live in a hotel for a few days…garlic does a body good (sickness prevention!) LOL
Ok the whole Rent the Runway fiasco. Girl. I would have been in tears if I had waited and counted and planned on a dress and it didnt work. Not sure how dress #2 got to you all today, or assuming you ordered #2 along with #1 just as your backup…thank god you did if that’s the case. Anyway, i am not a fan of mail order shopping. I am almost 5’11” and so you’d think that the clothes would fit me b/c clothes are made for models who are tall…right? No. Wrong. They are made for the average woman and mail order stuff never fits me so I never do it…let alone for a major event. I have to try on about 17 in person to get one to fit 🙂
HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
🙂
i can’t imagine you could look bad ever! but i am glad you mentioned that about rent the runway…it’ll definitely make me think twice before ever using their “service”
I thought about using them for a wedding I have this weekend, but I was afraid of this exact thing happening. I am so sorry they were rude to you and I hope they reimbursed you for the dress that didn’t fit.
you look stunning.
*If any of the dresses in your order fit, we consider this a successful rental*
What? Really? It seems like both dresses should fit for it to be a successful rental. I’m not sure why it had to be such a big deal for them to give you credit. $250 is a lot of money!
I won’t be using that company in the future.
Have fun at HLS!
I’m sorry you had such a bad experience with RTR! Bummer!! I’m sure whatever you end up wearing will be lovely and you’ll look beautiful though!
That’s funny-that’s my fav order at CF!! Brown bread, veg salad with *goat* instead of regular cheese and grilled salmon or shrimp. um, yum.
Omgoshhhhh the coveted gina macaroons…you mean, I can have one?! *Drooling over keyboard* ha, can’t wait!
mmmmm i am definitely whipping up a beet and goat’s chese salad for lunch today – i managed to pick and bring back some home-grown beets from my family’s garden just outside Moscow. Until recently, I’d only ever tried the dissssssgusting pickled variety, and i’m so glad i’ve found another veggie fave.
looking at how you feast, it seems that we have twin tastebuds – I am addicted to goats cheese, anything spicy but particularly mexican and (my absolute fave) indian food. Really looking forward to trying some of your recipes 😀
oh, and for the record, the pinky dress pic is stunning. go you!
first of all i absolutley LOVE that dressin the last pic! you look georgeous! that is so frustrating with the rent the runway situation. This is what makes me nervous about buying clothing on line esp dresses, that you get for one occasion. Youwill look beautiful in whatever dress you wear 🙂
You should have just worn that red dress! It is smoking on you. Sorry the dress you were hoping for didn’t turn out all that well. I hate when things seem like they will works so well and they don’t. Under stressful situations I would have cried too.
OMG I would been crushed about the dress! I love so many of my formal dresses… I can’t even pick a favorite.
I’m so sorry about the dress situation! I don’t understand why customer service people have to be so difficult some times, and unprofessional! You’d think that it would be less of a headache for them if they just make sure you were satisfied with your order or if you weren’t, did whatever they could (or had the authority to do) to fix it. That’s what I was always told to do when I worked in customer service. I’m sure you’ll look smashing in whatever you end up wearing!!
On the bright side, your dinner looked quite delicioso!!! 🙂
You look so beautiful in that dress! 🙂 Hope you have fun on your trip!
My favorite dress would be this little black number I wore to my brothers wedding in Jamaica. Looking at it on the hanger, it doesn’t look like much. But once on your bod, it was awesome!
Well, I loved my wedding dress, although it was far from formal! Verrry simple, but I think it looked great! I also loved my senior prom dress. Short and black with big coral flowers, fit me like a glove. Gorgeyyy!
xo
Kris
I really appreciate you being honest about your experience. I’ve only heard good things about Rent the Runway, but I also wondered what happened if a dress didn’t fit or you hated it. Sorry the one you loved didn’t work out–but I appreciate the candid review!
honestly, that sounds liek a horrible horrible experience with Rent the Runway!! #1 those dresses are price outrageously!!! They should have better customer service when you are dropping $250 on a DRESS!! I mean common on you could have gone to express or any other nice retail store and gotten a dressed that fit for half that price. Money is tight for everyone and customer service should be at the top of all companies list to improve!! You didn’t have to spend your money or time with you them and they should have helped you more!
I wouldn’t let anyone make you feel bad about give out your honest opinion about this {or any} company! it’s your opinion.
🙂 anyhoo…..sorry for the rant. I hope you have a great flight to chicago! 🙂
Did they even ask about the name of your blog or where they could find it? It seems like anyone could pull the “blog card”. Glad the back up dress worked! The red dress was cute!! Do you still have it or was it RTR too?
You are like the macaroon fairy! Wish I were there!
Sorry about the dress fiasco. I love that you shared the whole story about what happened. How disappointing that they only offered to help you when you pulled the blog card. They should care about each individual customer, not publicity. Publicity comes when you run a good company.
I REEEAAALLLY hope I can get some roons from you this weekend.
That sucks about RTR. I almost rented from them a few months ago, but all the dresses I liked where so expensive. I ended up ordering a better dress of Gilt that is mine to keep!
That is exactly why I could never go through with getting anything from RTR. Depending on the cut, I wear a size 4 through a size 8! I would never know what size to get. I’m glad that you got the credit. I don’t quite get that return policy. If you have taken the two dress option and you dont wear one dress and send it right back because it doesn’t fit, then they should charge you a processing fee and that’s it. Not full rental price. Especially $250! Have a great time in my old home town Chicago!
Oh goodness, I would be so upset! I think customer service is VERY important and when it’s terrible, it’s just unacceptable. My manager at work also tells me that my job is to make the customer happy, comfortable and satisfied… sounds like the people you dealt with just don’t care! 🙁 at least you got to enjoy that amazing bread at the big Cheese!
That really stinks. I too have worked in retail and I know that the customer comes first. I’m not saying stores need to bend over backwards and lose money to help their customers, but at least be polite and kind in dealing with frustrated customers.
I’m glad it all worked out. And I agree with other commenters, that I have a hard time you didn’t look good in the dress (sorry if this sounds creepy) — but you are so beautiful and I’m sure you’d look good in anything!
But I understand that YOU being comfortable and confident is most important. Have a great time in Chicago!
My favorite dress (aside from my wedding digs) was this phenomenal peridot-colored, assymmetrical drop-wasted dress with a flapper-style trim. I’m a redhead so the shade of green worked great. Plus it was a steal haven been marked down over and over on a clearance rack at Dillards. Sadly, it’s sitting in my closet, waiting for me to be a size 6 again….if ever.
I have run across so many companies that treat their customers poorly. We needed people to come and paint the outside of our house, and it took 3 weeks to get them out here (after giving a deposit!) THEN, I was going to have them paint the inside, and they were supposed to come out for an estimate, and they never came. I was like, glad business is so good because you just lost a client! You would think in this economy….ok, I’ll get off of my soapbox now! 🙂 I’m sure you’ll look fantastic. Can’t wait to see pics!!
I feel the same way about customer service, I just want them to be polite and at least act like they care that I’m upset even if they can’t fix it. I’m glad that they finally gave you a credit.
Have fun in Chicago!
Love that dress!!! Sorry that your other one didn’t work out 🙁 It really is a bummer when a piece of clothing gets you all excited and then it doesn’t look right.
Have fun this weekend!!
I’m glad I lack the fashion gene. $250 to rent a dress (or even two) is crazy to me. I wouldn’t even buy a dress for $250. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
I’m so sorry customer service was rude to you! But, I’m glad the 2nd dress fit! Also, your dinner looks delicious. I am also a huge salmon lover but I usually don’t order it in restaurants unless the menu specifies that it’s Wild Alaskan salmon. I’m just wondering, if the menu doesn’t specify do you ask the waiter if the salmon is wild or do just order anyway?
ugh i totally hate it when i have to deal with rude people! but you look fab in that red dress! i guess my favorite dress was the one i wore to my senior formal for college this past spring. it just hugged me in the right places and was this burgundy color with black lace on top. oh man, i wish i could wear that dress everyday!