I don’t know if you were able to print the $10/$10 or more Hallmark coupon that was available last week (no longer available), but if you haven’t used it yet I wanted to let you know about a conversation I had with our local Hallmark store owner.
I went into the store on Saturday and being the “smart” shopper that I pride myself on being, I chose four items that totaled just around $10 worth of merchandise. I wanted to take advantage of the coupon so that I would get as much merchandise FREE as possible.
As the owner rang up my purchases I asked if I had made it to the $10 mark and he responded,”Oh, that’s the game that everyone was playing yesterday (Black Friday). At the end of the day I was heart broken.”
I assumed that Hallmark’s Corporate Office would reimburse the stores for the coupon, but when I asked him about it he informed me that Hallmark makes them take the coupons and says to use them to “upsell” the customer.
Most stores run a loss throughout the year and count on Black Friday and Christmas sales to put them into the “black” or positive side of accounting (thus the name “Black” Friday). This particular store lost thousands of dollars honoring the $10 coupons when customers used them and didn’t buy anything else.
It could be said that Hallmark should come up with a better policy that benefits the customers and the stores, but in the meantime, it is something to think about. I know that there are many stores in our mall that have gone out of business and I would hate for that to happen to this store.
I am grateful that the owner honored my coupon and I will definitely think about purchasing more than the coupon amount for the next “FREE” coupon deal.
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My daughter works at American Eagle and they too have the door counter.
Their sales must equal a number calculated by how many times the front doors are opened! So they are basically punished if someone comes in and doesn’t buy something!
I only use these at corporate stores, so there are no local owners loosing money on these. Not all hallmarks are privately owned.
Has anyone actually confirmed this with any other manager at another store or with the corporate offices (re: the store not getting reimbursed from the corporation)?
Cindy, I have personally only spoken to this manager. I did see a comment on Hip2Save that said that corporate stores were reimbursed but franchise stores were not. You could call your local Hallmark store to check with them.
I am the manager for Ann Taylor store I would like to Comment on
Rebecca Bruce comment ..
Yes Corporate does install counters in all our stores Ann Taylor,Loft.
We use this soley for sales purposes what stores are busier than others the times frame the holiday season do people shop more at black friday or for christmas that way we can have enough sales associate on staff and also have an idea what our sales may be …The old idea is to beat last year sale or the next store in the divison often other store can have give aways what store can beat the other in Conversion..I cannot go in details but this is just an idea for you guys to think about.
Thanks for that information Crystal.
I used my $10.00 coupon yesterday @ my local Hallmark and I had no idea that Corporate wouldn’t reimburse them. I love my Hallmark….some time before Halloween they always have cookies, coffee and hot chocolate for customers. This is a very busy Hallmark, the shopping center is anchored w/a Walmart. In the future I’ll think twice about just purchasing the coupon amount. Thanks for the information!
You’re welcome. It was news to me too.
Very interesting!!! Something else has come up twice now at the mall that I thought was kinda sad as well. It didn’t directly happen to me, but I have watched it. It appears corporate stores now have counters installed at the front door openings. It counts shoppers, then expects management to sell at least that much and more. Twice now I’ve seen store owners get very upset with customers going back and forth out the door; children playing around the door, etc., because each time the person re-enters, it counts them as a new shopper. I’m not sure if it is helping sells, but it sure stressing out some store managers.
That makes me sad. I am sure that the customer experience will be affected by the pressure the managers feel and thereby pass on to the employees. In my mind that may lead to fewer sales because I know I’m not going in to a store that makes me feel stressed!