I don't hate the Bay, I just don't make a point to shop here very often. However if I do find myself wandering through, it isn't a terrible experience.
I do have one major issue with the Bay: it seems like every time I get to the counter to buy something, it ends up being cheaper than the posted price. I know this pet peeve might seem a little counter-intuitive and you're all probably thinking "but Laurel! You got a discount! Isn't that awesome??" Yes, it is kind of nice but at the same time it does two things that I don't like:
1) It makes me feel ripped off whenever I do end up paying full price here
2) It means there are items in the store I've put back on the shelf for being too expensive that were actually on sale. I shouldn't feel the need to price-check everything I pick up at the Bay.
That being said, the Bay does have a surprisingly good kitchenware section and their clothing department has also greatly improved over time. While its target audience is clearly older women, they still have a decent selection of more youthful attire. Their shoe department is also a great place to find brands that can be found elsewhere in the mall at lower prices (i.e. Coach and Nine West).