I like Macy's. One reason I shop there is they carry a line of mens socks my DH loves! Also my two Prissy SIL's never like my Christmas gifts, so I buy them something nice from Macy's and get a receipt so they can return their gifts. It saves a lot of heartache for me.

ohh the target of department stores lol??? they bought out Marshall fields in chicago which was no big deal but they changed the name a couple of yrs ago and brought in their low-end products (compared to marshall field's state st store) and now their chicago stores are suffering. rumor has it chicagoans have successfully rejected the state st store enough and it's doing soo poorly it may close :-0 thank you macy's for ruining a famous landmark. i do not ever shop there, no matter what...most chicagoans do not either. there are plenty of nicer stores around ~ liz

I posted a reply to this thread, and it never showed up. Are you accepting only positive responses?

that's funny LOL monica when i hit post i thought it said it rejected my post! i figured they wanted to hear only the good too lol ~ liz

I like the girls department. They have a variety of selections and I like that. I bought several dresses for my 5 yo. The girls shorts were too short so I was disapponted about that point. I know short shorts are the trend, but my child will not be wearing them.

The younger boys section is ok. I can find a few shirts for my 6 yo and that's nice.

I don't like the size 8 and up clothes for the boys. There isn't enough selection. I went there earlier this year to look for shirts and pants for my 8 yo and left almost immediately because of the few items available everything was too trendy. I went there again when I needed a suit. There wasn't anything.

I like to shop when there are sales. Otherwise, I feel the prices are too high forthe quality of the merchandise.

We don't shop at Macy's. Clothes are fine if you're a 15 year old size 2. Too expensive also.

Have never shopped at Macy's because there isn't one in my area. I see the ad's all the time.
Donna

I originally got the "whoops' message about this thread being gone when I originally tried to log in. I think this particular thread may be having problems.

I'm from New York originally and was thrilled when we got a Macys here in Florida. (They took over Burdines). The quality isn't as good as 25 years ago, but I still like the store.

In our area Famous Barr became Macy's. I've noticed with the change that prices are higher and quality is lower, but that's jmho.

I shop at Macy's once a year--to buy my Wallace silver-plated Christmas Jingle bell. To be honest, if I could find anyone else who carried them, I wouldn't even shop there then.

I find the prices at Macy's way too high. And the only places where there are Macy's in my area are at the malls. And I don't care for malls at all--I avoid them whenever possible.

Will be interesting to see if this post goes through.

I don't shop at Macy's.

The merchandise is poor quality, the aisles are narrow and sales staff is very, very hard to find.

At my mall, King of Prussia, the store is used mainly as a path between sections of the mall. People have to walk through in single file(one "lane" in each direction), and it's a steady stream through the store...very few people exiting to shop there.

Don't shop there, the few times I've window shopped they were too expensive.

I used to love Macy's. That was when it was the cream of the crop and the flagship store on 34th Street was the place to shop. When they expanded to the suburbs they met the standards of the original store, both in quality of merchandise and service.
They certainly have 'dumbed down' their products and their help. Gone are the days of spotless departments, organized merchandise, salespeople who were attentive and gracious, selection of items beyond compare, unusual and trend-setting windows decorated for the holidays, and the feeling of actually having a 'shopping experience'....sigh.
In addition, they acquired all the local Filene's (along with other retailers), slapped their sign on the buildings, and called it Macy's. Not.

I love Macy's. They have great clearance sales and lots of great coupons.

I'm not a big mall shopper and find that most people I know aren't either. If they can afford it, they typically have a few specialty stores they go to, like Coldwater Creek, especially for sales. (Once you are familiar with a line of clothing, you can shop and buy on line anytime of the day or night. Why fight the parking lot and other hassles of a mall?) If money is tight, and that's most of us this year, then Kohls or similar lower end or discount stores get their money.

America's shopping habits are changing and I think the department stores of old are no longer viable.

Sorry Macy's! I still like your parade though!

The quality is not what it used to be; they have too few registers open at a time; and their sale coupons seem to exclude every single brand but their own.

Those are the reasons I rarely shop there. When it was a Filene's, they had better sales, included more brands in their sales, and their prices were lower.

We don't have one anywhere near where I live. Would love to go there someday. Sorry I am no help.

Meh... Macy's bought Foleys in my area. I hate Mall shopping, but the last couple of years I have had to do a lot of suit shopping, so I've spent some time in Macy's.
One in my town is so dark and poorly stocked and arranged that I feel depressed just being there. The other is less gloomy, but I have a hard time finding things. I guess big shoppers shop by maker/designer, but I'd rather have all the like items grouped together. And don't get me started on running between floors for regular versus petite.
And why do they put petite next to the Flffy sizes? - that has always struck me as mean, or at least thoughtless.
Wow, I did not think I had so much to say about a department store!

Our Famous Barr became Macy's too. I rarely shop there. Don't hate it or love it, I guess I am indifferent.

Hate it, hate it, hate it. Too big and too spaced out. I don't shop by brand names so their layout doesn't benefit me any. Just give me a variety of tops, pants in one section; dresses in another and I'm fine.

Don't shop in boutiques either. Lately it seems to be department stores that I prefer. And I'm a mannequin shopper. Give me the entire outfit that's on display because I have no patience in matching things up.

Awww...but if a Macy's were near by

I would LOVE to shop at Macy's.
They have many things that catch our eye, and the prices are good especially with coupons.

But we don't.

My husband and son cannot get sleeve lengths long enough. All four of us can't find inseams long enough.

There is very little, if anything at all, for tall people.

When Macy's bought Marshall Fields they stopped carrying a lot of the good stuff Fields carried exclusively in the area like EARTH shoes and Bobbie Brown cosmetics. They started carrying a lot of junky stuff. Every thing is disorganized in the store. The clerks never know the merchandise and act put out. Some of the departments are rented spaces so you can't have a bunch of stuff all rung up at one register. (Even though pantyhose and sunglasses are right next to each other you have to to to two registers to check out.)

The styles of everything from furnishing to clothing are so out of date and the quality is so poor. The store is decorated so bad. Parking is bad. I have no reason to ever go there. Everyone misses Marshall Fields.

I have not bought anything at Macy's....They took over Bon Marche in my area which I loved..I spent countless dollars in the childrens/baby section when my oldest was a baby (16 years ago) and I also purchased quite a bit in their professional womens section and lingere dept back then.

Mrs. Marv summed up my feelings...

"I used to love Macy's...when it was the cream of the crop...he flagship store on 34th Street was the place to shop. When they first expanded to the suburbs they met the standards of the original store, both in quality of merchandise and service.

They have 'dumbed down' their products and their help. Gone are the days of spotless departments, organized merchandise, salespeople who were attentive and gracious, selection of items beyond compare, unusual and trend-setting windows decorated for the holidays, and the feeling of actually having a 'shopping experience'....sigh.

...Now, thye slap their sign on a building, and call it Macy's. Not."

Now "Macy's" is a glorified, over-priced Wal-Mart/Target (without the garden centers) and does not offering anything special, extra-nice, or exclusive.

Another American Legend gone the way of the China-produced dollar.

Our Macy's took over our Foley's and I have the same complaint about both. They're dark!!!! As in not enough light!! I can't tell black from navy. I go there to buy Estee Lauter make up, but only when they have the bonus. It's not as nice as our Dillards.

I always used to love shopping at Macy's in NYC. It was always around Christmas so it was crowded but the sales were good and it was sort of a tradition. Years ago shopping was better in the city but lately you can find everything everywhere.

Macy's bought out something here, Hecht's I think, and I was excited but when I went in, it was basically the same store it has always been, only the name changed. There was none of the magic of Macy's that I remembered.

When I lived where there was a Macys I always loved to shop there but the nearest one is about 250 miles now.

We have a new one here and I haven't been yet, but I will when I need something they have. I watch the sale ads and they have great deals on kitchen stuff--Cuisinart food processors, pots and pans sets, etc. Don't think I'd shop for clothes there. Just can't see paying the prices--maybe after Christmas when the really big sales begin. In the meantime, give me Steinmarts for my clothes.

I've loved Macy's for a very long time, still do even tho we don't have one here in our town. But about once every other month or so I am able to get to one! I shop for specific things like Marissa Christina sweaters, Anne Klein or hit handbags for Dooney & Bourke or Cole Hahn, so I don't find that the merchandise of poor quality.

I used to shop at Davison's. Then Davison's was bought by Richs and then Richs was bought my Macy's. I seldom go there and rarely buy when I do go. Prices are too high and I can get the brands I like at Goodys or Peebles.

Linda

I have shopped at Macy's since the store opened in our area. I liked their petite section for my daughter, who is hard to fit. I like their style selection for women and men. It was my top choice for department store. Then daughter got engaged, and she needed several cocktail dresses for all the engagement parties, especially those given by his family and their friends in the deep south. Since she is hard to fit, I shopped for her the day she was to fly in and brought home 8 to 10 cocktail dresses in the hopes of buying at least 4. She wears a 2P, and that night we were surprised that all but 2 of the dresses were too big, and the store does not carry size 0 Petite. So the next day we returned the rest of the dresses.

That same Christmas, I bought numerous clothing items for my 2 twenty-something sons at Macy's. I knew that they could be returned if they hated what Mom wants to see them wear for dates and social occasions.

They hated the choices, so it all went back. I was not happy after all my hours of shopping and decision making.

That January Macy's wrote me a letter about all our returns. So I quit shopping there that year. With daughter's wedding being planned, we did not register there, did not select bridal wardrobe there, did not select bridesmaids or MOB or MOG clothes there.

The next Christmas, I tentatively bought a shirt for one son and a jacket for the other at our Macy's. They did not like them, so I told them to return the gifts with the gift receipts themselves and pick something they did like. They both live in metropolitan areas that have Macys. Both stores refused the returns with the gift receipt. I had to mail them the sales receipt for the returns to work. Even then one son had a problem.

So now I just don't shop at Macy's. I like their lines, but I just avoid them. They don't want me as a customer, and I am sorry that is so. We have turned to trips and theater tickets, electronics and even cash for our sons' gifts. We shop at other department stores and avoid Macy's.

I use to shop at Macy's 30 years ago for all my work clothes. It was a very nice store then and I didn't mind paying the higher prices because you received quality items. It started to decline about 20 years ago and that is when I stopped shopping there as much. Now I find it very expensive, especially considering the quality of the items. I don't even window shop there much anymore. I sometimes check out the Christmas sales, but that is it.
Clare

I love Macy's !!! I have two grandchildren and have bought them both beautiful, high quality clothing at a great price. But...now that my grandaughter is wearing a size 3, I am very disappointed with the selection. I have been unable to buy her anything at Macy's since her size change. I rarely buy myself clothes at Macy's as I feel some of the quality is poor and the prices are way too expensive, even with coupons. I like their kitchen, bath and bedding departments.

Used to love Macy's, but the one here has gotten bad.

Not enough sales people, have to wander all over the
store to get help. And, they use the "bait and switch"
method during sales. Put signs on racks, then say,
"Oh, that just applies to one side of the rack".

Hardest store to buy something in around. The cashier
desks are never manned.

No Macy's here, and none in the area I lived in Cal.

Our Macys used to be Kaufmann's and I liked Kaufmanns way better. I don't care for the clothing, and don't feel the sales are that great. I do buy clinique at the makeup counter though.

Doreen

i've never been.

Tamara,

I'm not sure who your 'advertiser' is but I hope someone shares these responses with Macy's corporate headquarters. I know I'm showing my age (I'm in my 50's) but I remember when shopping at a fine department store was an enjoyable experience- even if the only thing you purchased happened to be in the notions department. What's that you say - a notions department? Yes at one time you could buy thread, zippers etc. in department stores.

Unfortunately Macy's has joined the ranks of all those other nameless, look alike, sell the same thing, stores that proliferate in malls and suburban America. Oh how I long for the good old days of shopping excursions to John Wanamaker in Philadelphia or Kaufmans or Hornes in Pittsburgh or the Macy store in Herald Square. It seems now that the majority of the items Macy's sells are of lesser quality (certainly not of lesser cost). The higher priced merchandise is sparsely stocked and available primarily in small sizes (8 and under). Many of the sales people are poorly informed about the merchandise and uninterested in assisting shoppers. I hate to say it but Macy's is only slightly above JC Penney.

Fortunately my area will have a new Nordstrom's within a few months and if I'm feeling adventurous I can always drive to Neiman Marcus, Saks 5th Avenue or other boutiques if I'm seeking some special gift or article of clothing. It's sad to see the demise of the once grand department stores.

I loved buying clothing for my baby GD at Macy's. Twice a year I'd go and really load up on adorable baby girl clothes. But after the toddler sizes, the sweet outfits came to a screeching halt. I was horrified to see what they thought was appropriate clothing for a kindergartner. Overly sophisticated, tacky, tasteless junk that I wouldn't allow a 15-yr-old to wear, let alone a 5 yr-old. It just smacked of attitude, and left me wondering what in the world their buyer was thinking?? I went back about a year later, thinking maybe the selection would be better, but it wasn't. I'd rather shop at Walmart for children's clothing, and that is saying something.

Our Macy's is hard to maneuver around.
And I am a PLUS size, and clothes are put way back in back of the store. Hard to find, what little they have.

Target is a better shopping experience than Macy's. Clean. Bright. Well lit. Roomy aisles. Organized. Contemporary. Quiet. Convenient locations. Wide parking aisles. No waiting at checkout.

The Target stores do not man their departments with personnel BUT when you do find one wandering around and ask a question they KNOW the answer or try to find out the answer or stick with you until the answer is found. I like that. I noticed that when they talk on their walkie-talkies to each other they whisper.

I like how they have models of everything out of the box so you can get a feel for the product and play with the ergonoics. I want to KNOW how heavy a hair dryer is in my hand. I want to KNOW if the buttons on a phone work with my nails. ECT.

Macy's should become more like Target. Department stores are dinosaurs. People know how to try on their own shoes. They already know what size they wear and are smart enough to know if they fit or not. No one needs a whole makeover every time they just want to pick up some mascara. No one needs the free beach bag that comes with it. No one cares about overpriced junk jewelry. Most people use the internet and already know more about the pots and pans, electronics, lamps, and whatnot, than the clerks do, and resent having someone thirty years younger than them tell them what they should be buying to improve their life or not have a clue about the stuff on the shelves.

If anybody remembers Target 30-40 years ago, it was a pretty crappy store on par with KMart, and similar to what Walmart is today. They kicked it up a notch and nobody laughs at Target anymore. KMart tried to follow suit when they saw themselves being left in the dust, but missed the mark a bit.

Macy's should follow the Target model and appeal to the young urban dweller but tweak it to be a bit more upscale than Target. No orange shopping carts. More clothing for the business professional. Furniture that does not come in a box. Leather shoes. Department store brand cosmetics that one can try on without having to wait for a clerk to hand over the sample and offer to apply it. (Some department stores have gone to this selling style with cosmetics already.)

When I think of Macy's I think of my Grandma and even she doesn't shop there anymore. Gone are the days when women "dressed" to shop Macy's and made a whole day of it, before going home to fix their husbands dinner.

It looks like everyone pretty much summed up my opinion of Macy's. The only thing I can add is their interest rate is too high. When I pay off my balance I will be closing my account.