My husband Edward’s birthday is on March 1. My son Brian and I went shopping for his birthday gifts at Bloomingdales. We knew there would be some great deals because the store is closing. Unfortunately there was nothing on the sales rack that he needed. I decided to go shopping for a light jacket for his bicycle riding use. After dropping Brian off at the gym I went to Helen’s Cycle . It was supposed to open but no one was in the shop. It was 11AM and my husband Edward had said he wanted to open his presents before lunch. I was in a hurry to shop for him so I left home quickly and did not change my shoes, I left home in my sandals and went shopping at REI store and Patagonia store in downtown Santa Monica.
When I arrived at Patagonia store , it had a sign that said the store hours were from 1-5 pm. But I saw people inside the store, so I waited for the manager. Then a tall man came by to pick up his on line order from the store. I asked him what he knew about the store hours changing. He answered me that the store was open on google map. Another man in sandals, like me, walked by looking very chill. The manager came at last, and asked me what I needed, I answered I was shopping for my husbands birthday gift. I remembered my sandals and my non pedicured feet and felt a little embarrassed. I had not had a pedicure since the pandemic started. The manager asked the first man what he needed, who answered he was going to pick up his on line orders. The short man with sandals answered he just wanted to do some shopping, no special need. The manager looked at me and said he would let me in but needed to give the first man his order. He then told the second man to go walking around for 15 minutes until I was done, then he could go in and shop. He agreed and left.
The manager locked the door and went back to the register to look for the tall guy’s order. He came back to open the door and he gave the first man his order then he let me into the store. It hit me that the store hours had changed and there was a limit to how many people could be in the store because of the pandemic. While he was opening the door for me, I noticed the jacket he was wearing. I liked it. Were any other colors available? He said his jacket is not available in the store, but he pointed out the the jackets from last year on the other side of the wall across from the register. I told him I had already purchased that jacket for Edward last Christmas. Edward likes jackets. He started searching for wind breakers with me, pointing out a light jacket would under $100. Edward already had one. Then I quietly walked around the store looking at each section of clothes and talking to the manager about the colors and designs. I was looking for bright colors, easily seen in the distance. There were some bright colors jackets and he said those jackets were more for skiing. I went back to the manager behind the cash register, and he showed me the new light blue green jackets behind him, I liked the colors. They looked comfortable. I asked if there was another design with the zipper that went the length of the jacket. He said,“Available on line only and it’s over $100. Is that okay?”
Edward liked the brand but, if he did not like this jacket, could he exchange it? The manager said Edward could have a store credit. He gave me a gift receipt and a store receipt. I was happy to find this gift and I felt I had to buy the gift at this store, because the manager was so kind and helpful. I did drop by REI to check their spring items, there was nothing like what I had already purchased. I came home with a happy feeling.
Since the pandemic started, our living style has changed, I never shopped at the store I was the only one customer, no manger was helping me like he did. In the beginning there had been a tension between me and the manager about how much money I would spend on the clothes. But because I was the only customer in the store, he was able to talk to me when he was busy handling the on line orders When he opened the door to let me in I felt great! I knew I would have to buy a gift from the store for sure. Then I realized some of my girlfriends were wearing light jackets like the ones in the store too. I will buy some clothes for myself next time.
Submitted by Wen Chen, Los Angeles County – Santa Monica.