Loehmann's

Review: My husband and I made a purchase in the Loehmann’s [redacted], MD store on Saturday, April 7, 2012. During that April 2012 purchase at Loehmann’s we were not offered the opportunity to “select three magazines” for a free 90-day trial; nor were we provided with any information stating that magazines were included with our purchase. Like most customers, I used the PIN pad to pay for my purchase with my debit card and nowhere during that transaction was I asked to select three magazines or Accept or Decline a trial magazine purchase. The sales associate never explained the program nor did she ask if I wanted to select three magazines for a 90-day free trial. I started receiving People, Marie Claire and Cosmo magazines (magazines that I don’t read and would never order for myself, btw) in the summer of 2012. When the magazines started coming to my house, I checked my [redacted] bill because that is the only card that I use for any recurring charges. There were no charges for those magazines.

While reviewing my July 2013 bank statement, I noticed three charges for People, Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan magazines. I called the toll free number for the [redacted] and spoke with [redacted]. He explained that the magazine subscriptions were initiated in a Loehmann’s Store on April 9, 2012, and that the magazine offer could have been bundled with my purchase. He also explained that the sales associate at Loehmann’s should have explained the promotion which included a risk-free offer for magazines. He mentioned that the sales associate should have also discussed the terms of the offer; three months risk-free, after 90 days you are charged and the magazines continue under the continuous renewal program. We were never explained any of that by anyone at Loehmann’s nor did receive any written information on the magazine promotion.

I realize that I contributed partially to this loss by not scrutinizing my bank statements more closely and for not further investigating why I was receiving magazines that I did not order. The total purchase for the magazines and the renewal was $283.98. Since I cancelled at the beginning of another “continuous renewal” period on July 15, 2013, [redacted] has promised to refund $95.62. I hope that Loehmanns will agree to refund me the additional $188.36 for the magazines that were unscrupulously bundled by your sales associate as part of my purchase. While I have certainly learned a valuable lesson ($188.36 worth) on the need for scrutinizing your bank statements, I can assure you that I will NEVER shop in another Loehmann’s store. While Loehmann’s has initiated a practice of deceptively getting its customers to purchase magazines, it has failed to understand that someone like me, a loyal customer with disposable income can and will choose to shop elsewhere. I hope the kickback on the magazine scam was worth more than what I would have likely spent in a Loehmann’s store.Desired Settlement: Loehmann's has a responsibility to properly inform its customers of the terms and conditions for any promotion it is peddling. Bundling a "risk-free" promotion with your purchases without the benefit of explanation or a clear offer to accept or decline is fraudulent. Loehmann's should alse be REQUIRED to give the customer a list of written terms for any promotion that they purport to discuss with everyone. We were not given ANY information on the magazine promotion nor were we presented with the option to accept or decline the offer.