Gymboree
Reviews and Complaints

I have ordered some clothing from www.gymboree.com and after weeks of waiting I decided to contact the company to see what was going on. When I called I was put on hold for about 40 minutes and they I was told to call back later because they were very busy and had no time. When I called again no one picked up the phone. Then I sent them an email and received a reply stating I have to call the company to discuss the problem. So I called for the third time and was put on hold and then disconnected! The worst customer service ever!

My wife placed an order with Gymboree on November 28 for over $100. She had a coupon for $25 off. At the time she placed the order, she forgot to enter the coupon. Just after placing the order on-line, she called Gymboree customer service and explained that she forgot to enter the coupon.

Customer service said they would charge back the $25 against the cost of the order. They mentioned it would take 10-14 days to process.

Month goes by and no charge back so I email customer non-service. Week and a half later, a partial charge back.

I email again - customer service says the difference is due to "Manual Sales Tax". I respond that there is no sales tax on clothing in PA. They promise to look into it and get back to me.

Now mid-February - still no explanation or rest of the promised refund. It is not a lot of money, but at this point, that does not matter. We will not be spending any more money with a company that has so little respect for it's customer.

Called same day delivery came package claimed to items only jeans in bag, not pajamas already paid, contracted customer service promises pajamas through mail around January never recieved will not order on line again gymboree stole my money by not putting correct items in bag making it appear as if they shipped that's crooked workers they should investigate and hire personal cpa to find errors find errors find crooks

I ordered around 120$ of kids clothes to be shipped to Canada. When I tried to pick up at post office I was asked to pay 50$ in duties, which I did not know about and was not told about when checking out. I did not accept the parcel. When I contacted Gymboree about it, they told me I would have to "dispute the charge". I did. Then Gymboree contested. Bank of Montreal caved in and charged me back, despite admitting that Gymboree's information was inconsistent. This was 6 months after I contacted Gymboree to ask for a refund and they told me to dispute the charge. So when Bank of Montreal was investigating, Gymboree rep Jo promised she would let me know about the parcel. To date she has not.

I used the refer a friend promotions that I should get $20 rewards. but it is nor working.
I called the customer services several times, but each time they said different things that not true. they said the purchased must be higher than $70, but in terms of conditions there is not anything like this.
I spend several hours but they did not solve my problem.

I had a very disappointing experience at tanger outlet, Iowa
I had to drive from Des moines to tanger depending on a telephone conversation with a staff on outfit return
But At the outlet very bitter experience was awaiting, didn't provide online help or good service to me
I will never ever shop from Gymboree. Will make sure all that I know are aware of this too

I placed an order on 7-Dec in GYMBOREE onlilne shop which will send international shipping to Hong Kong, I still not receive my item up to now, when i sent several mail and called to customer service but no one can track my shipping and let me keep waiting for 20 business day until 7-Jan 2014, this is completely UNACCEPTABLE! after I call and sent mail and mail again and again, one day one of the customer service replied me and provide a tracking number (the format is CLxxxxxxxxxDE) let me to check with local postal office, i want to post office to check but said no record for this reference number, besides, the post officer said base on the reference number format, "DE" is mean for sent from Germany but not US, when i revert back to GYM my post office advised no this reference number, the customer service said again cannot trace my shipping status!
HOW CAN I DO NOW?
i am very disappointment cannot give the X'mas gift to my daughter on time.

Look at the Gymboree website! BEWARE! They state... " take an additional 20 percent off already reduced merchandise..." Called customer reps--at first no managers could come to the phone---unprofessional. They just yes you to death and repeat the same phrase over and over... It says what it says... Your website is not truthful o hardworking customers.

Your merchandise credit is very unfair. I can not use it online to get the correct size. I can not use it with a coupon or gymbucks. My children have outgrown your clothes and I am stuck with a 250 dollar credit that is not practical. You have a 60 day return which is not similar to other stores of 90 days or more. A store credit would be fair. My money was good then for gymbucks and it should be now. My money was without restrictions before the return and should continue with the store credit. I view your merchandise credit as more of a way for you to keep your money (but it looks good on the surface when issuing the merchandise credit) and not providing good customer service with a store credit. You are the only store with such strict rules with the merchandise credit. One day you will change your policy hopefully to tilt the ball towards customer service and instead of the company’s sole benefit.

I have this store credit card, and by the time I went to make purchase during the earning gymbucks period (not using it). They do not allow it. This store credit is the money I have spent in the past in this store, and it should honors as CASH. And this CASH is something that they kept in the company pocket. And at this earning Gymbucks period, this CASH cannot be honor as CASH anymore. And this CASH cannot be use on any online purchase. So it is not a surprise, this store credit cannot be use during redeeming the gymbucks period as well.
So which means, if you return something, DO NOT accept store credit, because it limits how and when you can use it.

After eleven years of being a loyal customer of Gymboree, its disappointing to see so many negative changes. Until recently, any time I placed something on hold, I could get an extension and store employees didn't mind because they knew I wouldn't change my mind and I've ALWAYS picked up my holds no matter what. When items are placed on hold, they're to remain on hold for 24 hours until CLOSING time the next day unless you call in for an extension. Well, since DM (district manager) sasha has taken over, things have changed for the worse! She doesn't even bother to read a hold before putting it back on the floor. I was overjoyed when I went into a store location to make a purchase and found the very last sweater from another line in the very size we needed. I put it on hold as I made my purchase. But when I phoned in to pick it up at opening time since it had expired at closing time the night before, I was informed that Sasha had been in earlier the day before (around noon) and put the sweater back on the rack. So this meant someone else bought my sweater! I complained to the corporate office about this. After all, what's the purpose of including your phone number on a hold if they're not gonna have the decency to contact you BEFORE putting your item(s) back on the floor for other people to buy?!

Shortly after this incident, I went to the Town Square location where I came across a dress that was to die for along with a couple of other nice things. Well, they too were put back on the floor BEFORE the time of expiration. This prompted me to start taking care of my holds in person instead of over the phone. When it happened a 2nd time, I complained to the corporate office and not once did the person on the phone indicate that taking care of my holds in person was a problem. It wasn't until I was in the store was I then informed by an SA that corporate had come down hard on Sasha and in turn, she came down hard on them so they weren't allowed to do holds anymore.

The Town Square location recently lost a very good manager when she decided to quit. Now they have some anal store manager that is rigid beyond belief! Like Sasha, she doesn't bother to read holds before returning them to the floor! So, to keep either of them from disrupting my hold again, I purchased the entire thing and drove to a different location to do a return buy back. This was necessary in order for me to keep my finances balanced since like many, I'm not making what I used to. Once the anal one of Town Square got wind of this, she just couldn't wait to phone Sasha and tattle to her! Now all the stores are on pins and needles!

If Gymboree would face the fact that our economy SUCKS and many, many people aren't making the money they once did and just start a layaway service, holds wouldn't even be an issue! Instead, the attitude of corporate is "SCREW YOU! We don't care how long you've been shopping at our store or how badly you or your child wants the item! We only cater to those with $$$$ on hand the moment they walk into our stores!" This makes you wonder why they even ask people to go to their link called "gymboreelistens.com" to take their survey and give your opinion. If they truly listened, they wouldn't be so ridiculous about their holds!

I had $300 worth of Gymbucks, which means I spent over $600 to earn the gymbucks. I purchased several items, some of which were their Christmas Holiday dresses & accessories. I do not have a store anywhere near me, so I do all my buying online. I received the merchandise home. One pair of shoes & hat did not fit my daughter. The shoes were too small & the hat was too big. I drove an hour to go to the store to do an exchange. I was denied an exchange because of their ridiculous new return/exchange policy. It says on their receipts & website that they gladly accept returns within 60 days. I called the customer service & their outsourcing compay that they've hired to monitor only their returns. Neither one would help me. I finally went up through the chain of commands at the Gymboree customer service dept., they sent me a pre-paid label for me to return the items to them & they would exchange them for me there. They said that if they didn't have the items, they would credit my card. I told them that I have 3 kids & they are the only company that I shop at, this will no longer be the case. I will NEVER shop there again! I also made a complaint with the BBB regarding fraudulent advertising & filed a complaint with my state's attorney general. I would encourage everyone to do this as well. The only way that we will make Gymboree either advertise their return policy or change it, is to make a stink about it. I think that they will loose a boat load of customers because of this policy. Who would buy anything from a store where they sell only children's clothing & then not be able to return or exchange it if it doesn't fit. Does anyone else share my opinion?

I was a loyal Gymboree customer shortly after I had my little girl (currently 2.5) and would always utilize their GymBucks as much as possible usually buying way more than she can ever wear. However, the past couple times I have shopped I received the WORST customer service (I mean I have gotten better at Target) mainly from the same sales lady. If the sales transaction is not the standard pay for items and goodbye she turns into this mean woman with irritating tone and wicked looks. This has happened after I questioned their exchange policy and later their return policy.

Although Gymboree has some irritating policies, I would be able to deal with that if I was treated with respect when they told me rather than treating me like the red-headed stepchild...I am actually a bit sad that this sales lady has left such a bad taste in my mouth because I now have another girl on the way and I would love to buy outfits for my little ones there. I should mention I found a great place to get Gymboree without contributing to my local stores bottome line - EBAY!

I have left feedback twice now at Gymboreelistens (which they are always touting) and never heard back from anyone so just seems like they don't care.

To new shoppers this is what you should know before you buy! (I would just make sure there is no chance you will want to exchange or return or it is a hassle)
1. If it is not during the timeframe to REDEEM Gymbucks, you can most likely earn them. Make sure you ask! Usually my store has a sign saying earn Gymbucks or the sales lady will tell you but occassionally you come home with a $45 purchase only to look online/hear from friend.ect...that you could have gotten Gymbucks if you have spent $5 more. You can not return the items and buy again plus whatever amount you need to earn the Gymbucks. You basically have to just make another purchase for $50.
2. Gymboree often has coupons or with Gymbucks you get a discount. They discount each individual item you buy not the total amount purchased. So if you end up returning an item you do lose out on some of the total discount you would have received. If you exchange the item for a different item you do not get a discount on the new item even though the original item has the discount, even if the item is the SAME price. Example, I exchanged headband for hair clips, same price but since one was bought with Gymbucks I had to pay the difference of the higher priced item. (Not huge amount but can add up)
3. If you received Reward money (like $5 or $10 gift card type cash) make sure you do not exchange the item. The discount does not carry over to the item you would rather have and again you lose money considering the first item was discounted. You can only use this one time and you lose it even if you exchange so just make sure you will in no way exchange.
4. Here is a weird one...If you are returning item with receipt you need to actually bring in the card you used to buy the item with or you can only get store credit. These days miraculously most stores seem to know which credit card you used when you give them the receipt (Macys, Target, Marshalls have all done this) but NOT Gymbo, if you don't have the card you can't return which can be a hassle if your spouse bought the item and you are returning for them.

Gymboree has cute clothes, most can't argue with that, but their service leaves much to be desired and in my experience even the corporate program designed to "listen" doesn't seem to care.

I used the Gymboree bucks to purchase some pink leggings(18 months) among other things.
They were too small so I went to exchange them for one size bigger (24 months) however they didn't have any. So I tried to get a refund, they told me that I would only get 3 dollars back instead of the 12 since I used gymbucks.

So I found a green color but they told me no because the ones I bought were from the winter collection and the green ones were for spring collection.

So I found the EXACT same pink leggings in a even bigger size (5 yr) in the same color and same winter collection and same price. However they still told me no because now it's from the kids section instead of the toddler section.

Gymbucks sounded like a good deal but I found out that it's not worth the hassle. Especially if you were to use it to buy a gift for someone, they would only get pennies if they returned it and even if they tried to exchange it for something else they would have an extremely difficult time.

Now I don't shop there anymore. I kept the leggings and gave it to someone else instead.

I too, had the same thing happen as 'Gymboree Bucks are a rip off!'. I returned things to gymboree after using my gymbucks, and they didn't explain how it divides the gymbucks up. I even told the associate that I might have to return the last two items. The other items were worth enough to use the gymbucks, so I could have bought the two items separately.

I filed a complaint and they just sent me a generic email response. I responded and received another generic email response.

I will no longer shop there and highly discourage anyone else. It's simply called good customer service.

I signed up for a 6 week class for my little girl, which I was not told upfront the classes that you miss, you cannot make up until you sign up for another session.

I showed up to one wrong class where kids were smaller than my girl, we were asked to leave by the manager. We showed up one week later, where there was a bigger kid in the correct class that my little girl was attending, she was allowed to stay. My little girl is not even 3 yet, so you can imagine how traumatized she was when I had to yank her out of the class.

The manager was rolling her eyes when I complained to her and instead of her quietly asking me to go to a different room to talk, it became a shouting match infront of other parents and kids!

I called back to talk to the owner, while I was telling the owner what happened, she was laughing on the phone to one of her staff!

This school is dirty, the classes lack learning for the evergrowing minds of the kids. They play the same songs, the same activities over and over again every week. The same for younger kids and older kids. No growth!

My experience was horrendous. Especially after having complained to the manager and the owner, and basically got laughed at! These women have no business skills and their classes are terrible for young kids and parents that are really looking for great learning and great atmosphere for their kids.

I have shopped at Gymboree for years! The other day i went in and bought several items for my daughter. When I got home I noticed one of the shirts I bought wasnt in the bag. I called the lady said she took it off she thought i didnt want it but charged me anyway? She said I could come in anytime and pick it up. I sent my hubby in to get the shirt. they refused him the shirt because he didnt bring in the receipt. Although they called me on the phone and verified the item #. what a joke! I will never shop Newgate gymboree again! They can keep the damn shirt I am not driving out there again.