Bath & Body Works

I don’t shop at B&BW often, but around the Holidays it’s a good store for candles and gift packs for the women in my family. A few days before Christmas they were running an $ 8 candle sale (75% off) so I stopped in after work.
There was a run on candles like they were Benadryl at an Allergist’s convention! People were grabbin’, blocking out like Scottie Pippen in Game 7, it was a real scene, man! The store staff handled this very well– restocking candles as quickly as they were being gobbled up, and leaving the candle trays out so people could have an easy way to transport them. That’s all I really have to say– staff here were on point, polite, and helpful during what was I’m sure, a very trying day.

Very nice staff and great layout.

It’s bath and body works. The is location get a lot of the commuters smelling good, friendly staff, decent enough space, otherwise unremarkable.

~ Behind Enemy Lines ~
As soon as I walked into Bath & Body Works I felt a chill overcome me. I kept walking toward the back, in a confused daze due to the completely alien flowery and soapy smells wafting over me when, suddenly, the lights went completely to black and a garage door closed down behind me. Bang. Whomp. On came the floodlights in my eyes.
_​_​_​_​_​_​
The Enemy: What’s your business, sir?
McGuffin: Soap?
The Enemy: Speak up.
McGuffin: Um, hand soap. The foaming hand soap. Sea Island Cotton?
The Enemy: It’s right over here, sir. It’s two for twelve dollars or four for fifteen dollars.
McGuffin: Well, okay, I’ll take four?
The Enemy: I can do six for twenty.
McGuffin: I think I’ll just go for the quad, thanks.
The Enemy: Huff. Is this for your wife, sir?
McGuffin: [Stunned silence]
The Enemy: Your wife? Is this for her?
McGuffin: Ya, um, I’m not married.
The Enemy: Are you getting close?
McGuffin: Sheesh.
The Enemy: Watch it, boy. You are mine, Gitmo style. Answer the question.
McGuffin: Ya, I’m not really the marrying kind.
The Enemy: Ssss. Girlfriend?
McGuffin: Sheeshus. Um, sure, okay.
The Enemy: Lucky gal.
McGuffin: Are we good? Can I go now?
The Enemy: Yes, I’ll be watching you. Make a move, boy.
McGuffin: Jawohl, Herr Commandant.
_​_​_​_​_​
And then the lights came up, the garage door opened and I made my jailbreak in a cold sweat.

I bought a bunch of candles during the 2/​$ 22 sales. Many just did not smell good (Island Colada, Spice, one of my old Bahama Fizz candles, etc) and I went to take them back. I was told I could take credits for each of the candles at their last price in the store (i.e. 75% of 20 = $ 5) but could not exchange the candles for any of the other 2/​$ 22 candles out at the current time.
Basically if you get a candle that has its fragrance discontinued for the year and it goes on sale, you cannot exchange it for another candle if you hate the scent. The customer service was really lacking and they seemed to be fine with the fact that I was upset about this policy and would not be purchasing from them again in the future.
I have spent over $ 300 at BBW in the last three months and expect better customer service in stores, especially when the call center at BBW said you can exchange any candle with its receipt for any other candle, jar-​for-​jar in the store for a fragrance the customer loves. That’s part of their 100% satisfaction guarantee, which this store is unaware of!

I went there because I received an e-​mail telling me their 3-​wick candles were $ 8 in-​store, one day only. This is the only Bath and Body Works in the city area of Chicago, so I had to check it out.
Even though the store was packed with holiday shoppers and the candle selection had been selectively picked through, everyone working there was very helpful, despite probably having had a long, stressful day at work. The woman who was over in the candle area was extremely helpful and went around trying to locate specific fragrances for customers.
Will come back to this location.

This shop is conveniently located inside the Olgilvie Transportation Center, on the 2^nd floor right by the trains. It’s the basic size of any B&BW shop. Carries all the lotions, soaps, skin care prodects and fragrances that you’d expect. I am especially happy this is here because the Bath & Body Works which was on Wabash– closed. The one in Water Tower Place– closed. So really, this is the only one in the downtown area that I have access to. So I try to shop here when I can– good place for some little gifts, and when I am catching a train out of town, sometimes I’ll pick up some little gift-​y item for whomever I’m visiting.