The Wet Seal
Reviews and Complaints

by signing the receipt, you obviously were TOLD the return policy but you weren't paying attention

Yeeaah, nothing new for Wet Seal. More than likely the cashier asked "Do you know about our return policy?" and you, not wanting to hear her rattle it off or you weren't paying attention responded with "Uh, yeah...".
This would be your fault, not the store's or the clerk's.
Wet Seal is not the only company with this policy. The store's have started having this policy due to scam artists ripping them off.
Get over yourself, "chrystal".

I don't work for Wet Seal, and I never have. But I have to say, Chrystal, before you call someone stupid, check your own stupidity. You probably weren't listening when the return policy was explained to you. It's been this way at Wet Seal for years. It's on the receipt, and posted at the register. If you didn't take the time to listen to the associate and read your receipt, you're the stupid one. I also highly doubt you took the time to call all of those stores. Be real, here. No one is going to do that. If you did, you need a hobby. And Jessica29, before you post, you need to learn grammar skills. I don't mean to insult you, but if you're going to be on a message board, type like an adult. If you talk like that in real life, you're either 14 years old or a ditz.

I have to disagree with your complaint. If I decided to open up my own business one day, I find it beautiful to know that I have the freedom to make my return policy how I please. This is America, founded on the creation of business with limited government interference. Just because other stores offer refunds, you shouldn't expect all to. And you sure shouldn't expect corporate to do anything about that. Do you really think they would have that return policy knowing people weren't going to be absolutely thrilled with it? 99% of their other customers are fine with it and those are the loyal ones that come back anyway. The return policy is posted by the register. It's on the reciept. They ask all customers if they are familiar before purchasing. I'm sorry you didn't bother to read it. Don't like it? Don't shop there. You're lucky they even offered store credit because companies have the right to deny returns in the first place.

I used to work for wet seal and it was even an awful place to work, everyone there was nice to the customers face but then made fun of them right as soon as they walked out the door. I hated the enviroment, it was always negative. The girls were cool but even the dist. managers and the store managers would sit there and call customers stupid ### and [censored]s. Its just not a good enviroment for a 16 year old, personally.

omg the same thing happened to me! I bought something around christmas and they wouldn't let me get my money... so stupid. I will not buy there ever again. Hate the clothes anyways...

people read the return policy it is there in black and white

you shouldnt buy ANYTHING unless you're 100% sure you want it

you know what, i had the exactly same experience as you did. All they offer is merchandise credit or exchange, that's fine! BUT, they even gave me a merchandise credit card with no money on it!How can they do that? I will never buy anything at Wet Seal anymore.

I work for them now and yea, it's ridicuous, but you are supposed to be 100% informed of the policy before even one item is scanned. It's not the store's fault that you weren't listening. 99 percent of every person I tell about the return policy ignores every word I say, so I feel no pity for you. You probably were told, you just had something more important to pay attention to...

The return policy is ridiculous. I worked for them for over a year and had atleast one complaint daily about the policy. It is a total rip off whether the customer knows about it or not.

Harry, no coat that is warm is going to cost less than 15 dollars. I'm sorry, but if you didn't check the warmth of the coat, that is your problem. If you want warm, go to Columbia or North Face. My winter coat is from Abercrombie and it's the warmest coat I've ever owned, and it cost the same as a Columbia or North Face coat. Don't pull the 'the economy is bad...' card. We all know that. That doesn't excuse over looking a store policy or complaining about them because you didn't take the time to make sure you understood everything.

Here's another good one. My daughter got a shirt for her birthday from Wet Seal, and the person that gave it to her had crossed out the price on the tag. Note, the tag was still attached, but just the price was crossed out. The shirt was too small, but since the price was crossed off on the tag, they refused even an in-store credit!

Most stores of this kind do not have an exchange/store credit only policy like this. Even Forever 21 asks you if you know their return policy without having such a ridiculous policy. They should warn you before you buy anything that you cannot return it as this is not expected for this kind of store

A lot of stores give you store credit in return, if they didn't, they wouldn't make money and they wouldn't exist. Should have read the excghane policy and checked if it was warm enough before buying it.

Shouldn't you have realized it wouldn't be warm enough before you purchased it? It's too bad you blame the company for your irresponsibility. Lesson learned: Find out return policies BEFORE you buy. Retailers vary in their policies and as a consumer, it is YOUR responsibility to ask what they are! Buyer beware.

I recently purchased clothing items for my daughter from Wet Seal in advance of her visit (I spent $456). Some of the items were not suitable because a) it had a tighter fit than the other items even though it was the same size; b) it didn't look like the picture; c) the quality of the material was unacceptable. Several attempts to get someone on the phone failed miserably--it is IMPOSSIBLE to get anyone on the telephone or through e-mail at Wet Seal. When I finally decided to go to a Wet Seal store in my city because I assumed there will be a real person to talk to rather than a dead-end machine, I got the most horrendous customer service in the world. Moreover, I was told that 21 days have passed since the purchase and therefore THE COMPUTER SAYS I have reached a dead-end again. I cannot change the items for a bigger size, I cannot get a refund, I cannot get in store credit. After getting the COMPUTER instructions, the sales person just moved on to the next customer. Not sorry we cannot help you, not here is someone you can contact, nothing! It seems to me Wet Seal makes a habit from getting customers into dead-ends after a purchase: on the phone, online, and in the store. This way they can ensure that every sale is final, regardless of what the customer actually gets. The lesson I've learned is NEVER EVER to shop at Wet Seal again and NEVER EVER to let anyone I know go through the same hassles and waste of money.

I too had a similar experience as many of you. I purchased boots for my daughter for Christmas. They didn't fit. I took her with me to exchange them the week after Christmas. They didn't have any in her size. They refused to check other stores. Of course, no refund.
I purchased them on Black Friday and was NOT told about the return policy or I would not have purchased the boots. When my daughter and I went to the store to return them, the manager was extremely rude and basically told me to take the merchandise credit and leave her store. I was not being loud or rude. Just explaining that I was not informed of their crazy policy.
I did call corporate and the regional manager called me back. She apologized that I was treated so rudely but refused to give me my money back.
That was the first and last time I will ever shop at Wet Seal. I still have the merchandise credit. I've tried to give it away to some friends but they won't shop there either because of the return policy.

A young friend of mine, petite, size 10 was shopping at Wet Seal today-Sunrise Mall-Sacramento area. She was basically told that she didn't fit the Wet Seal image, and was
Pressured to leave, BY A 'MANAGER'! I am disgusted by this Abercrombie and Fitch elitism. Who ever would let their teenage girls shop at this appalling place needs to have their priorities questioned. I'm a 6th grade teacher, I'm turning this into a teachable moment. I'm telling as many parents and students as I can...this is just wrong!

That went way better than I expected. I called and told them one of my items from an online order was damaged and they are sending me another one, and the price is cheaper now then it was 3 weeks ago so I am getting a few bucks back. Shipping of the replacement waswaived, and I don't have to send back the cardigan that was damaged they said to discard it and I'll get a refund. Which is the way it should be if the item comes defective. But definitely THOROUGHLY INSPECT things over in the store before buying, because they won't give you your money back even if you bought it in the store and took it home and found it defective at home. I got a tweed double breasted coat that was starting to rip in the shoulder/scapula seam before I bought it and didn't notice until I brought it home and a button fell off the first time I wore it, and they wouldn't take it back and didn't have anymore left in my size. I took all the buttons off and sewed them again like previous commenter, but the whole coat fell apart in like 2 months. Poor quality but it was cheap.

They have only been doing this for about the past 4 years, so it's fairly new. I shopped there a lot before and was caught off-guard when they explained the new return policy to me one day when I was about to ring up something after it was in effect. I was like wait, I can't get my money back? And they said no, so I didn't buy the item, because the pants were something similar to what Delias had but was out of in my size, and since it wasn't exactly what I wanted, wasn't sure I wanted to hang on it. Their loss. The company is so stingy that most of their clearance is final sale and they make you initial the bottom of the receipt acknowledging that they told you so. I just ordered online from them and a sweater cardigan came with a hole in it and a line going down through the fabric so I am going to try and exchange it for another one and not pay for shipping because I don't like wasting my average American money on defective products. I will get back to you on my experience.

I used to shop there every Christmas for my daugters. I spend over 300 dollars at times in the store. This christmas I bought them shorts that were to small. When I went back to the store to exchanged them they did not have a larger size. I lost the receipt . They would not let me exchanged them for another item that was the same price. It is not worth buying any gifts from there. I will never shop again there. The said they would not grant me an even exchange because it would throw off thier inventory. i guess there inventory is more important then losing a costomer. Be very careful when you buy gifts in this store.

Wet Seal's EXCHANGE policy has been like that for YEARS! Not only that, it is posted on the front counters, the bottom of the receipt and we tell you about it BEFORE we finish ringing you up and initial the bottom of the receipt to verify that you were told. For those customers that are on their phone or chatting with friends or family in the line while the cashier is trying to tell you is your fault! When we ask if you are familiar with the exchange policy and you say yes and you don't give us the opportunity to explain it then you are saying that you know the exchange policy! If you try to bring something back and said that you know it that's on you. Like I said, it is posted on all of the counters and the bottom of your receipt. Don't just ASSUME that you can get your money back just b/c other stores do. Wet Seal is not other stores, it's Wet Seal! All stored are different. This is 2012 and a lot of stores are starting to change their policy's. Look at it from the other side...pretend you're the business owner, would you want to lose any money? And if you have ever worked retail then you should understand! I think that instead of drafting people into the military they should be drafted into retail!

I purchased a belt at Wet Seal in the mall and upon purchasing the cashier went over what was final sale (jewelry, Lingerie, swimwear, compact discs, clearance and sale items) my belt is none on that list and is not sale or clearance . I asked her what about this belt? she said exchange or store credit only. So i proceeded to checkout. The next day I decided to exchange the medium size belt for a Large . I waited in line for 30minutes since there was only one cashier (the same one from the day before). When it was finally my turn in line I said I'm here to exchange this medium size belt for a Large size and it still was in brand new condition with the tags attached and the receipt. she looked over to the other cashier and asked "can we do exchanges on belts?" i'm thinking why would you tell me i could yesterday and now act like you don't know your own policy? so she said yeah just get the one your going to exchange it for but it has to be the same style. I get the exact same one just a size Large, the line was long and she kept taking the next and the next customer ignoring me waiting on the side of the line so i jumped the line for when the next cashier (the one she asked about the exchange) and she was really rude and said "final sale on accessories" I said o.k I understand that but she ( the one next to her) told me yesterday and just now that I could so make up your minds.So she says in an attitude " I'll do an exchange but just this once!" then I said o.k thank you and I'll never shop here again. She didn't do the exchange because the size Large had a different upc bar code number from the medium size one . Me working retail all my life I can tell you that of course it's not going to match because each size has its own bar code upc number. To make a long story short IF ACCESSORIES ARE FINAL SALE THEN IT NEEDS TO BE STATED THAT WAY IN THE RECEIPT BECAUSE MY RECEIPT DOES NOT MENTION FINAL SALES FOR BELTS, ACCESSORIES, OR EVEN ETC. THE STORE DOES NOT WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO RETURN OR EXCHANGE ANYTHING. ONCE YOU PAY THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT DON'T RETURN WITH THE ITEM. AND ANYBODY CAN TRY AND SAY THAT I'M IN THE WRONG BUT AS A NEW WET SEAL CUSTOMER AND NEVER AGAIN WET SEAL CUSTOMER THERE RECEIPT STATES THIS : NO CASH REFUNDS OR CREDIT BACK TO CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS. UNWORN, UNWASHED, UNDAMAGED MERCHANDISE WITH TAGS ATTACHED, PRESENTED ON OR BEFORE (DATE) WITH ORIGINAL GIFT RECEIPT MAY BE ACCEPTED FOR EXCHANGE OR MERCHANDISE CREDIT. JEWELRY, LINGERIE, SWIMWEAR, COMPACT DISCS, CLEARANCE MERCHANDISE SALES ARE FINAL AND WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR EXCHANGE OR MERCHANDISE CREDIT. VALID PHOTO ID IS REQUIRED FOR ALL RETURNS AND EXCHANGES. WET SEAL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF RETURNS, EXCEPTS AS PROVIDED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

THEY PRETTY THINK THAT BELTS ARE JEWELRY OR LINGERIE THAT OR THEY LIMITED ME TO NONE FOR ANY EXCHANGES OR STORE CREDIT .AFTER CALLING A DIFFERENT STORE AND TALKING TO CUSTOMER SERVICE CORPORATE AND DISTRICT MANAGER NO ONE CARED TO DO ANYTHING NOT EVEN TO FIX THEIR POLICY WRITING SO THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE. DON'T SHOP AT THESE STINGY CHEAP PLACES WITH NO CUSTOMER SERVICE. I HAVE BETTER EXPERIENCE SHOPPING AT PLACES LIKE TARGET, MACY, FOREVER21 ETC.

Stores have their own return policies and before purchasing customers should of checked the policies out. Customers loose their privileges of returning any items without anything because of customers who buy clothings and wearing them and returning them. It's the customers' lost of privilege. I believe most people have done that before. Probably Wet Seal did not want to sell any damaged merchandise, but when people try it on in the fitting room, the clothings loose buttons or it may get ripped. If there is no one who reports that then the employees put it back on the rack. Therefore it's not really Wet Seal's fault, but customers' because they try on clothings and damage the cloth. Customers should ask for the store policies and stop thinking that the store is trying to rip the customer off or stores are selling damaged merchandise.

Rhett...seriously? Did YOU actually read before commenting? She did not want to return the shirts. It was only the DEFECTIVE jacket. She said she didn't want anything except the coat in exchange and they did not have her size.

You should have read their return policy first before you buy I think, to avoid surprises and disappointments. If I am the owner, I would accept your return because you are a well worth customer, too bad that they are loosing your purchases.

WETSEAL IN MAPLEWOOD, MN HAVE BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY DONT GREET THERE CUSTOMER AND WHEN YOUR WONDERING AROUND LOOKING AT CLOTHES THEN THEY GONNA SAY MAY I HELP U FIND SOMETHING OR PROMOTE THERE SPECIAL GOING ON STUPID WORKER ESPECIALLY WHEN MANAGEMENT IS ON THE FLOOR TOO THEY DON'T EVEN ATTEMP TO TO GREET THERE CUSTOMER. ALL THEY DO IS WATCH YOUR EVERY MOVE LIKE A PREDATOR WAITING TO BE EATEN. WILL NOT SHOP HERE AGAIN RECKLESS CLOTHES AND OVER PRICED THERE SHIRT I CAN GET MORE SHIRT AT FORVER 21 WITH THE PRICE THEY PUT ON A SHIRT AT WETSEAL.

Are you serious? Honestly, how many stores really take back lingerie items? I work at a Wet Seal store and it is CLEARLY stated on the bottom of the reciept that the company does not exchange, refund, or issue credit memos on panties, swim wear, or lingerie. This was from a new return policy that was put into action the first week in August 2008. The reciepts are automatically printed with this. And you must keep in mind that these employees that work in these stores are only following company policy, because if we violate the policy, we could very well be terminated! And I will not lose my job over an irate customer. We have fitting rooms for a reason.

Worse return policy I've ever seen. No refunds or credit back to credit cards. Exchange or store credit only. I bought my daughter a long sleeve shirt. She took off the tag and put the shirt on before going to school when she noticed one sleeve was about 4 inches shorter that the other. She takes the shirt off and changes clothes. We cannot find the tag now but have the receipt. I cannot exchange an obviously defective shirt because of the tag missing. I must call corporate office. 4 days later and I've still haven't talked to anyone that can help me. My last options coming up are filing a complaint with the BBB or filing a dispute on my VISA for defective merchandise.

Their return policy is not stated anywhere except on the receipt after you purchase. Talk about deceptive practices!

i buy all my apparel off Shopyop
go to http://www.shopyop.com
and OMG there they are for ANY occasion.

I don't know what state you are in, but in New York, state health code bars stores from accepting bra and pantie returns, due to health regulations--this may also apply to swimwear, but I'm not sure about that, as I never sold swimwear--but I had a flea market stall for about four or five years, and one year bought a box at auction, that contained new bras and ladies underwear, and found out that I could not accept returns, once the purchaser tried them on, as it was against the law to re-sell them.

Your state may have a similar health code policy and the shop may only be following the law. Chances are the clerk may not have known WHY they can't accept the items back, but the manager should have told you.

I bought a pair of jeans at the Wetseal in Corpus Christi TX at the La Palmera Mall. I admit I was in a big hurry and didnt bother to try them on because i had never had problems with that store in my life. Well the clerk rang up the jeans and I had left. I went home after a long day to try them on and they did not fit me at all. So i kept the receipt and never tore the tag off. The next day i go to return the jeans because i could not find anything that fit me in the store, so i tried to return them. The clerks were being very RUDE to mee and told me i could not get my money back because the return policy had changed. I read over my reciept and there was nothing stating about a new return policy so i told the clerk to show me where its at. Instead of helping me look over the receipt very rudly she said " UGH! ITS IN THE BACK OF YOUR RECIEPT!" I turned the reciept over and it was blank and i told her. I told her "since its not on my reciept can i go ahead and return them?" She told me NO! that i have to follow the new RETURN POLICY because its on the new reciepts. My reciept was only a day old and none of the clerks told me that it was going to change within a day i even asked when I purchased the pants "If they do not workout can I return them?..the girls answer was Yes! I would of thought they would of still honored it because i had no clue it was going to change and nothing about the new policy was on my reciept . I will never shop at Wetseal again. Very ridiculous return policy and very rude people!

wet seal is the worst store, rude people work for them. the quality is terrible too. they are butchers with brutal ki

wet seal is the worst store, rude people work for them. the quality is terrible too. they are butchers with brutal killing of animals.

I HAVE A GIFT CARD THAT DDINT GET A CHANCE TO USE BEFORE IT CLOSED DOWN.. HOW CAN I GET MY MONEY BACK?
My contact info is [protected]
Sandraco05@aol.com
My name is Sandra Aguilar

Omg I have similar problems with their serivce too! I had renewed my card back in november 2008 for $20! When I used it a couple days later, they said it was expired, but the girl was nice enough to give me the discount anyways. She even called the store where I had renewed it to see if I was in the system, but they said that it wasn't. So, I called customer service a couple days later to explain what happened. The lady told me that it probably took a few days for it to show because her system is saying that my card doesn't expire until November 2009. So, I tossed the receipt aside and didn't think anything of it. Anyways, the next time I used it again, same problem, still expired. The girl called customer service for me and this time, they told me that it's showing that I never renewed it. I had to explain all over again and at this point I am pissed because I don't remember where I left the damn receipt! The girl asked for my email. She emailed me asking if I remember the date I renewed it. I emailed back explaining the whole ordeal ALL OVER AGAIN and still haven't receive a freakin' reply! I called customer service like 2 or 3 times a few weeks after sending out the email and each time, they tell that "we'll look into it and call you back." I didn't trust them emailing me so gave my phone number and had asked them to leave a msg because I might not be able to pick up. I wasn't surprised that they never called. So, I called back a few days ago and demanded a refund because I done dealing that whole ###. The guy told me that sees 2 cards under my name and they probably reactivated the wrong card when I renewed it. He said that it shouldn't expired 'til July 2009. HELLO! The card should last ONE year not 8 months! Plus, I haven't had the other card since 2 or 3 years ago! He said that the only I can get a refund is to go back to the store I renewed. SOOO, I went 2 days later on a Sunday and the manager said that I have to wait 'til a weekday so she can call customer service to see what she can do for me because it's not letting do a refund since it's not an actual item or something. It is now January 2009 and they finally told me that have 2 options: I can either mail in my card so they mail out a check OR I can let them extend my expiration date 'til November 2009. I chose to extend because I didn't want send in the damn card and not get my money back. At least, this other option will allow me to have physical evidence that I own that card. I can't trust them on sending me back my money after all that ### I had to put up with the last few months with their service! DON'T SHOP AT WET SEAL!

They are truly an awful place to deal with once they have your money.

This is totally CORRECT. I came upon this article cause I was looking for news about some website glitche or something. I just bought a card and it says its expired and I just figured it was the website or something, but I see now this is a BIG problem and I am truly upset. I spend LOTS of my money at wetseal and I think I deserve to get what I pay for. Whats that BBB site? Im sending in my complaint!