1. Aritzia have created a cut throat pushy sales e...

1. Aritzia have created a cut throat pushy sales environment
2. They don't accept refunds or exchanges as they say they do; I suspect to keep their store numbers up for HQ.

Ive tried to exchange a scarf a day after a sale because I accidentally bought the smaller version and not the large square. If my memory serves me right, they told me to exchange the day after the sale ended because they blacked out refunds and exchanges on the sale day. When returning the day after, I was told that I would not receive the sale price in the exchanges, this was 2017. The manager not only wouldnt perform the refund/exchange on the moment following the purchase, but she was cold, and unpleasant to deal with. I was angry I didn't get what I wanted but brushed it off fairly quickly.

That's one example, but I have never had a worse experience than that of this week. I was pressured by the sales Associates to purchase more than what I was looking for which I repeated over and over I was just looking for this one item. That item (a blazer for work) would have required significant tailoring to fit how short my arms are. After stating repeatedly that I was only looking for this one item and I wasn't satisfied with neither the drape or the fit, unsolicited, I was brought more items that could be suitable for work. I recognized the upsell but I thought it wouldn't hurt try on a few more items because I had a change room. Ultimately, I decided to go home and sleep on which items I actually needed. They stopped me before leaving, said I needed to make a payment for layaway and I said no. I was given another pitch to which I lazily responded that I couldn't because wow look at that, I forgot my wallet. Honesty was just easier for them to latch onto and I didn't want to cause a scene at how irritating it was to be pushed on a sale. They asked for my phone number to have the items put on hold for me, I thought it was harmless so I gave it to them.

A few hours later, the sales associate texted me to ask me when she could have the items ready for my return. I said "tomorrow", but I already told her that, she already knew that.

I went to another location the next morning to avoid explaining why I was only going to get the camisole (and not the entire 5 peice $800 bill), and the manager their already knew who I was by name and situation because they had talked about me. She asked me to go to the other store to settle my bill, basically blocking her own sale. I decided against the entire purchase and went home out of the situation making me uncomfortable.

Not only do I feel harassed at home by text, and in store, but my customer anonymity was lost. I'm very, very uncomfortable returning items, and fear being upsold to a ridiculous point - it's like a used car sales lot. My advice to aritzia is if your SA's are going to follow up by text message, the associates and clientele should have a personal connection, otherwise, call from the store phone. Second, I don't blame the staff, I blame whatever targets you have on your people to make them feel they have to act without manners and honouring social cues.