Lane Bryant

I’ve avoided LB for a few years now, as their clothes are gaudy, way too expensive and are usually made up of at least 90% synthetic fabrics. Honestly, just because we’re fat doesn’t mean we don’t have taste and/​or want everything we wear to be shiny, sheer or bedazzled! That said, it’s still the only place I can get lasting bras and underwear.
Needless to say I was shocked when I hit the clearance rack and discovered a marked-​down, super-​cute, low-​cut sundress. I tried it on and it fit; however, I noticed there were these really weird little brown spots on the inside of the dress, one or two of which slightly bled through a bit to the top layer of the dress. (Albeit in areas that wouldn’t really be visible unless I walked around with my arms in the air all day and night.)
Alas, it was the only one in my size so we approached the clerk and asked if there a was any way for them to discount it further. She said no and called around to all the other LBs in the area, and of course none had it. She kept apologizing and saying, «I’m so sorry, this looks as if someone bought it and returned it after getting stains on it, and it shouldn’t have even made it onto the floor.»
I thought it over for a while and decided that, even if I only got a handful of wears out of it, it was too cute a dress at too low a price (seriously, $ 29.99 for a well-​fitting, non-​matronly, 100% cotton A-​line dress at Lane Bryant is like the Holy Grail – especially considering the bra I got cost MORE than $ 30) and that I should just go for it.
The clerk seemed quite personally ashamed that I had to buy something with flaws that she said, «You know, I can’t TECHNICALLY discount the DRESS, but let’s see what I can do for you.» She rang us up and waved a few coupons in front of the scanner and said, «Normally you wouldn’t be able to use this coupon on your purchase since you’re buying the clearance underwear, but I can override that.» When all was said and done, we got $ 25 off our purchase. That means the cute, mildly damaged dress only wound up costing $ 5.
I swear, that lady is like my new favorite customer service superhero! Isn’t it refreshing to know that there are still a few friendly people in the service industry who actually treat customers with kindness and respect and give awesome discounts on damaged goods? I know. I was shocked too.