Ross Dress For Less

For years I have been complaining. Now, it has just dawned on me, Ross is very much aware of their procedures and management style. They will not spend the time or money to size their cloths, nor keep a clean store.

Why should they take from that almighty bottom line to hire a few more people? That's right! Let the customer do the work

After exhausting myself in their oh-so-tidy dressing room, I actually witnessed one of their "Sales Associates" put back the very clothing I had tried on. They put it back on the rack all right. All my Size 16 Blouses, Pants, and even a Bra were scooped up and shoved onto the Junior Size 9 rack. Thats when the lightening bolt hit. What a county bumpkin I am.

Accept the fact, you have to do some work when you shop at Ross.

Here are some helpful tips:

1. Allow for at least two (2) hours per department. Such as:

Purses - 1 Hr.
Shoes - 1 Hr.
Blouse - 2 Hrs.
Pants - 2 Hrs.
Dress - 2 Hrs.

2. Always relieve yourself before going. Trust me, you do not want to experience their facilities.

3. Pack a lunch (See #1 for duration and length of stay).

4. Bring plenty of drinking water. Dehydration is possible, as they do not have air conditioning. (Hence, fowl order in dressing room from sweat).

5. Never ask for help. Once and only once I asked a Sales Associate could she help me find the matching jacket to a skirt that said 2-piece. She looked at me like a deer caught in headlights and said, Qu. I thought this was her way of getting out of helping. So, thanks to the California School Systems, I asked in my best Escuela Espanola II. She responded in perfect English, Ill see. She took the skirt and I never saw her again.

6. Pace yourself. Dont find just one article and try on. This will for sure tire you out. Upon entering, find a functional cart (if you can) and starting at the front racks (size 4). Work your way back to the dressing room.

7. Now, I dont know if they do this on purpose but the Dressing Room Matrons always have a presence about them. I dont want to speak ill of any organization that hires from the local drug rehab or AA, or works closely with the California State Parole Board. They all seem to keep the same M.O. About 40ish, 20 pounds overweight. They wear black stretch pants that are two sizes too small and two inches too short. Oh yea, black therapeutic nurses shoes. Dont mess with these women. If they say you can only take in 8 garments, only take 8 garments. Its the LAW.

8. Where to park the cart? This is always been a conundrum with me. And thats exactly what it looks like on the isle in front of the Dressing Rooms. At this point in the game, youll have to trust your hard-shopped items are still there when you retrieve them for that second or third wave of trying on 8 items at a time.

9. Upon entering the Dressing Room look up. Try and choose a stall that has a working light. Also, remember cheap fluorescent lights distort colors. At Ross, they dont come any cheaper. While visiting one day, I noticed a ladder and a girl taking out two tubes in each unit that holds four. (I commend Ro$$ for being so thoughtful, environmentally conscious, and Green.)

10. Now, buy it. Im gonna have to revise No. 1. Put in another thirty minutes waiting in line to buy your stuff. The most veteran of Ross shoppers knows not to ask for a price on any untagged garment until they get to the Check Out. Asking a Sales Associate would take thirty plus minutes for each garment, or there is the fear of them vanishing. This way they are forced to look up the price on everything at once. After all, you are holding up the cash flow.

Always pay with credit or debit card. Cash confuses the cashiers. (One of those famous Oxymorons). There is something about counting they dont quite grasp. But, if you slide that card through the little box, they dont have to handle real money. After this, let the cashier do their work. Dont ask any more questions like Can I have the hangers with those pants? This will certainly confuse them and delay your departure.

Im sorry for the person behind in line. But, they have forced us shoppers to be rude, ill tempered, hot, dirty, hungry, and about to pee in our pants. At this point, we are certainly not really thinking of the other guy. Its dog eat dog out there, every man for himself.

Stay tuned for tips on Returns and Exchanges, and Christmas at Ross.

Posted 10/20/07 | Report Abuse

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I like the bargins but I'm disappointed at how un organized it is there you have to look through an entire racks of items. Items are not together they are all scattered all throgh out the store

PROS: Prices
CONS: not organized

Posted 10/06/05 | Report Abuse

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