Sham's Inc ... "Don't be Scammed... Sham's is a Sham !!!" No Refunds, the Customer is Always Wrong !!! Columbus, Ohio

At approximately 5:16 pm on Tuesday 9/4/2012, I reluctantly (and in hindsight, regretfully) purchased a pair of black Lacoste shoes from Sham's in Eastland Mall for $85.  Prior to buying the shoes, I told Sarah, the owner who was visiting from Indianapolis, that I normally only buy Pumas, because of their comfort for my feet. 

She tried repeatedly to convince me to buy the Lacoste, and lowered the price from $106.75 with tax to $90 including tax.  Then she lowered it to $85 including tax.  Eventually, I caved and bought the shoes at $85 including tax. 

When I tried the shoes on, I tried them on on the carpet, and they felt comfortable.  I exited the stores wearing the shoes, onto the hard (but clean) mall floor.  Upon walking a few steps on the hard mall floor, I immediately turned around to return the shoes, literally within 5 minutes of exiting the store. I checked the shoes to make sure that they were in NEW CONDITION, and they were, since I had only owned the shoes for 5 minutes.

I politely asked Sarah for a refund, because the shoes were uncomfortable on the hard floor.  Sarah told me they don't give refunds, and they could give me store credit. I told her that I didn't want anything else from her store. She adamantly refused a refund. 

I told her that I was not happy, I told her "you didn't tell me that", and she said, "you didn't ask".  She said, "it's on your receipt" which is is NOT.  She said, "that's why we have signs". I said, "I never saw the sign". I told her that "I am not happy, that I will NEVER shop here again, and I will tell everyone I know to NEVER shop there again." 

I said other stores give refunds, and she said, "None of our stores do. I can't".  I said "you can, but you won't... this is your last opportunity"  She replied, "I can't", and turned around and walked out quietly, but feeling like I had just been "shammed", scammed, and taken advantage of.

I would have left the shoes at the store, but I didn't want her to have my money AND the merchandise.

Ironically, in the past I have avoided even going into this store.  The name says it all... "Sham" :(

My suggestion to everyone is to not do business with a company that won't honor a refund of an item within 5 minutes of purchase.  There are too many other stores out there that will honor refunds minutes, days, weeks, months after purchase.