[Malls]

If you would have read my other post above, you'd have realized I visited Dillard's yesterday (Tuesday) both in the afternoon and several hours later in the evening. So it was not a weekend.

You can definitely say that I am nitpicking and that's your opinion, however let's get the facts correct, it wasn't one or two carts in a large aisle, it was several large carts in the large and small aisles not to mention boxes open everywhere and the cologne/tie counters cluttered w/sales tags. Nothing had moved or changed in that area since my 2pm visit until my 7pm visit. I thought at 2pm they might be on lunch break, but since nothing changed since my second visit, I don't think they were. Also the aisles were so cluttered that I had to move a box so a woman pushing her son in a wheelchair could get by and that action is what really got me to thinking about the mess of the place.

Also if you would have noticed in my first post about this situation, you'd have realized I emailed Mall Management about the dead and dying plants all over the mall. I am hoping this sad state of affairs in the interior corridors of the mall is being over-looked b/c they might be soon remodeling the place as has been stated here. I emailed only Dillard's about the problems I encountered at Dillards.

I travel all over the country and shop at high end malls in major cities and smaller malls in cities the same size as Tally and I must say that the appearance of our malls and department stores are generally the most unkempt of them all.

I had read your other post but I wasn't clear on that one point, so thank you for explaining your opinion. It's just that there is a big tendancy for people (including myself before I worked retail) to not understand exactly what is involved in retail, and how complex the whole operation actually is. Could those employees have pushed the carts into a closet for a period of time until the replenishment team came back? Sure. I think that is the criticism, especially given that it was a Tuesday.

I have been very impressed with this Dillard's compared with several othes I've been to (Oaks Mall in Gainesville comes to mind). It's certainly much larger than the average north Florida Dillard's. Right now I think you see a lot more merchandise on the selling floor because they are still dumping stock from the Tallahassee Mall and they likely still have stock left over from the holiday season. That's likely going to change over time. I think we should evaluate the store then.

Yes, I'm still in grad school and loving every minute that I'm not in retail. I can tell you that of all the jobs I've had, retail was one of the most stressful. You'll find the managers deserve every dollar of their salary given the hours they put in and the pressures they're under. All I wanted was to make sure that we keep this in mind when we're in a store and see a cart or a couple of receipts lying around. I do concede that there's a big difference between one cart and several carts blocking wheelchair access.

[Malls]

Not at the time, but I should have.....however since I posted this information, I have emailed Gov. Sq. Mall management and Dillard's. I'll let you know what their reply is...if they do reply.

I do keep in mind that Dillard's isn't Bloomies or Saks and I don't expect it to be up to that caliber, however yesterday Dillard's was a horrible mess, so I don't feel I'm being nit-picky. On a positive note, Macy's which can be rather rough and unkempt looking was actually in great shape yesterday.

Man that's going to be a huge Forever 21 store there...my niece will be excited.

BTW: I searched the S&K store for signs of Mike Rucker (it was posted here earlier that he may work there) but it must have been his day-off yesterday b/c there was no sign of him.

Frankly, I think that is a bit of an unrealistic expectation. Coming from someone who worked in management in retail at a department store in major market before coming to grad school up here, I can tell you that firstly you're nitpicking a couple carts on an already large aisle. The fact that there were sales associates standing there is an example of a level of service you won't get at Wal-Mart. Dillard's (and many retailers) train their associates to help the CUSTOMERS, not see them as something that impedes their work. You better believe that at a Wal-Mart or a lower retailer they wouldn't have even been able to help the customers because they would be so caught up in emptying that cart. To each their own, but I'd rather that associate be able to help me find a size than be concerned about transfering new stock from a cart. That's service.

Department Stores actually have different employees who have the sole responsibility of emptying those carts: replenishment teams. They don't sell- nor do they typically ever touch a register. These same associates assist with recovery in the store, and frankly, you guys don't realize how torn up a major department store in a college town gets on a day to day basis- especially on weekends (which I'm going to venture a guess; this was when you visited the mall). A few customers might notice a cart they can easily manuever around on a wide aisle, but BELIEVE ME _everyone_ notices a department where clothes are lying on the floors, on top of racks, and stack out tables look like a hurricane came through. That is the reality of retail. The fact that the MOST that bothers you is a cart on an aisle suggets to me that the Dillards at Governor's Square Mall is doing a fantastic job given the store's volume.

And emailing mall management seems almost funny. They have no authority over tenants and their replenishment policies, even less so a major tenant such as Dillard's. Believe me, General Growth Properties has more important fish to fry than a major retailer they have a lot of equity in.

[Malls]

I don't see it mentioned on this thread, but the other day one of the employees ringing me up was asked if the store was moving by another customer in line. She replied that they were moving to the new lifestyle center which will open some by 2010. She also said that all the full time Dillards employees were transferred to the Governor's Square location, leaving only a skeleton crew. Also of note, all shirts (mens/womens) are now selling for $5.00.