Racquet Network - Calgary, Alberta AB T2W 3Y1 (Woodbine Square)

Taking Advantage | by Spencer on Jul 15, 2020

There are two ethical issues I feel obligated to bring to light regarding my purchasing of a pair of tennis shoes on July 8th and attempting to return/exchange them on July 9th (due to finding and preferring similar shoes later on July 8th from a different store). Firstly, the Racquet Network has revised their exchange policy (due to COVID) to be a no-return/exchange policy (which is reasonable), yet at no point was I informed of this throughout my shopping experience. Had I been informed, whether it be through signage or verbal communication, I would not have taken the financial risk. After attempting to return/exchange in-person on the 9th, I sent the owner a follow-up email outlining the unfairness of not informing me of the conditions attached to the product he sold me - to which he responded saying his policy was on his website. However, I was an in-person shopper, not an online shopper so the fact that his policy is online (and not found anywhere in his store) is no justification for not informing in-person shoppers about the details of their purchase. Secondly, the store owner seems to be catering to pandemic restrictions when convenient to his business’s success and disregarding them when it isn't. 1) He uses the pandemic restrictions to his benefit in instilling this no-return/exchange policy and withholding said policy from in-store customers until questioned or until the customer reads it on the receipt (after they’ve purchased, which makes that info of no use) thus ensuring the sale. 2) He disregards pandemic restrictions when it assists his sales by letting people try on and test products in his store. I tested 4 pairs; this means that there are three pairs of shoes in his store right now that I have worn exactly as much as the pair of shoes he refuses to return/exchange. If the no-return policy is based on the idea that I have touched the shoes, then he should not have allowed me to touch other shoes. First time in my life Ive felt justified to give a negative review. To the owner of the store, I anxiously await your response!