I've shopped here many times, but I was apalled at the way I was recently treated while Christmas shopping. I was in the store shopping for my husband and nephew. In one hand I had bags from purchases made at other stores, and in my other arm I was juggling my purse, a fountain drink, and a shirt I was planning to purchase in-store. I didn't have a free hand to shop, so I approached a young sales rep at a register in the men's department and politely asked her if I could have a paper shopping bag (the one with handles) so I could merge my stuff into one bag and free up a hand to shop. She hesitated while looking me up and down and then informed me that I would have to make a purchase before I could have a bag. I was irritated that Macy's couldn't spare a .20 cent bag to ease my Christmas shopping experience but I was even more incensed at the way the sales rep looked at me, as though I was going to try to stuff something in the bag I hadn't paid for. Obviously, with a Dillards bag and a Disney store bag in hand I was making purchases that day. I put the shirt back on the rack that I was planning to buy and left the store and finished my shopping for the boys at Dillards and Dicks.
I am a business professional and I work in sales. The entire sales team in our company just finished reading "The Customer Rules" by Lee Cockerell. I recommend Macy's invest in a similar plan for their sales team. They need to learn how to create a welcome environment for their customers and go above & beyond to provide exemplary service. Otherwise they will continue to lose business to the many other retail options available to consumers.