Registry Frustration!

d_smith79 · January 2010

I got an upsetting phone call from my Mom last night. Apparently she went to Macy's and they were out of several of our registry items including our dishes, flatware and glasses. I was shocked! My Mom said there were bare shelves all over the store.
Apparently in anticipation of a bad Holiday shopping season retailers did not stock their shelves like they normally would. They are also not in a hurry to re-stock either. When my Mom talked to a Sales Associate she said they weren't even doing inventory for another week.
I had previously read some news articles that late Holiday shoppers were finding bare shelves but it didn't even occur to me to think about our registry.
I had been looking online and there was no indication our items were out of stock or unavailable.
We are going tonight to practically re-do our registry a month before the wedding!

angstocker22 · January 2010

That is so frustrating! I'm so sorry to hear that!! It's obviously too late to change it too. I am doing Macy's and Bed Bath & Beyond.
Good luck!

d_smith79 · January 2010

That is who I'm registered with as well. BB&B has been great. This is the second issue we've had with Macy's. A month or two ago I noticed (online) all the bakeware I registered for had an asterisk where the price should be. Supposedly the manufacturer put new UPC numbers on all their items so we had to go in and re-scan all the items. Macy's didn't notify us at all. If I hadn't noticed those items would have just been unavailable.
A word of advice, keep a close watch on your Macy's registry. I'm hoping my experience is not the norm for them.

Tygirljojo · January 2010

Hmm, wouldn't have thought about that. I know a fellow Knottie is quite familar with the Macy's registry system, but she's been an OMH and MIA for a while. I'll see if she might be able to pop on and answer. Either way, hope it all works out for the best!

angstocker22 · January 2010

I wouldn't have thought that about Macy's. It's just a large company. I love bb&b too! They've been great.

Now I am wondering if I should cancel our Macy's reg & find somewhere else... It's not too late for us. We haven't even sent out std's yet. (trying to). Wedding is in 6 1/2 mos.

thanks for the heads up!!

d_smith79 · January 2010

Maybe ask other Macy's registry KNotties their experience before you totally cancel. I really do hope both my issues are not normal. Obviously if you aren't getting married close to the Holidays you won't have the problem I have right now.
We knew when we registered they do change their stock often, especially on things like causl dinnerware patterns. We had been keeping an eye on the plate pattern we registered for and hadn't seen a problem. But that is probably true for anyplace you register. They could potentially rotate out something you choose.

amylbell · January 2010

We didn't choose Macy's for that reason, as a guest they were out of several items I've wanted to buy for friends weddings...major bummer and I know that doesn't help...we're doing BB&B too...are you going to delete/change it?

karebear219 · January 2010

I know I have had a great experience with Macy's and haven't had any issues at all... I also know if someone is looking for a paticular item that is out of stock in store the sales people will check to see if it is in stock else where and either ship it to the bride and groom or to the purchaser if they which. Also I would work with a larger Macy's store. For example I am not too happy with the one in Redmond, but that is mostly because it is so small they don't keep much there any way. Plus you can always order items online

d_smith79 · January 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_washington-seattle_registry-frustration?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:104Discussion:8fd4f267-de58-4330-bf85-49c9d18f4cc4Post:735ff349-9225-4fcd-a947-bc771b4b5851">Re: Registry Frustration!</a>:
[QUOTE]We didn't choose Macy's for that reason, as a guest they were out of several items I've wanted to buy for friends weddings...major bummer and I know that doesn't help...we're doing BB&B too...are you going to delete/change it?
Posted by amylbell[/QUOTE]

I think at this point we are just going to change it. The word is out on where we have registered and I think it would just confuse people if we deleted it so late in the game.

d_smith79 · January 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_washington-seattle_registry-frustration?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:104Discussion:8fd4f267-de58-4330-bf85-49c9d18f4cc4Post:eee8ec86-8852-4766-9c71-c7e98c225c92">Re: Registry Frustration!</a>:
[QUOTE]I know I have had a great experience with Macy's and haven't had any issues at all... I also know if someone is looking for a paticular item that is out of stock in store the sales people will check to see if it is in stock else where and either ship it to the bride and groom or to the purchaser if they which. Also I would work with a larger Macy's store. For example I am not too happy with the one in Redmond, but that is mostly because it is so small they don't keep much there any way. Plus you can always order items online :)
Posted by karebear219[/QUOTE]

I'm so glad to hear you have had a good experience. I know the Holidays stock issue is not a normal situation. I suppose it's a sign of the times.
I've been using the Macy's at Alderwood Mall and I think that is a pretty good size store? You can order many of our items online but sadly the dish pattern we had chosen was in-store only. We really, really need the dishes so I suppose we will just have to find another pattern. *sigh*

amylbell · January 2010

good luck, keep us posted!

ladydoveisangelarose · January 2010

(For the love of Gawd...please exuse the fact that my siggy is a huge billboard at the bottom of the page, I can't find where to fix it anymore on the new boards, where's the clicky smiley face button to edit that? I miss the old boards...sigh!)

I was dispatched by TyGirl to come and shed a little light on your situation. I have been MIA lately as I have been blissfully married for the past 4 1/2 months.

Do not despair or worry! Please, please call your local consultant if you are worried as there is nobody better to calm your nerves at this point. (Or better yet, call the Olympia Macy's Registry..I can't say why but I can guarantee great service from that store!) But in a nutshell let me clarify a few things:

Right now, Macy's is preparing for their inventory next week, therefore no new product will be re-stocked until after then. Once the inventory is done, the shelves will be full again. No worries! This will be in time for your upcoming wedding,

Fine China and crystal and flatware are slowly going to "display only" and will need to be ordered just like other stores such as BBB. Unfortunately this is the way of things to come. The only Fine China and crystal that will be stocked will be the top selling patterns, and even that will be few, "on-hand." Casual China by bigger high end vendors such as Villeroy & Boch, Mikasa, Denby and Lenox should stay the same and be replenished as it sells. Housewares Dinnerware, the kind of patterns that circulate with the season will also be replenished as normal, but do remember, they are only there for a season, 2-3 months and then clearanced out.

Stock did indeed fly out the door this year, and Macy's was left with barer shelves than usual, but the turn around is very quick after the inventory is over, don't despair. Please keep in mind that the Registry Consultants are there to use to make life easier for you, they will call any of the local stores for you and your guests to find what you need. If you end up getting many gift cards instead of actual registry items, you will be able to buy the missing items with the completion discount.

It would help to know what patterns and items you selected to give further insight, but for now, contact a consultant and see what she has to say, and the PP were correct in saying the bigger stores do have a larger inventory and perhaps the stores surrounding your local store are possibly carrying your pattern. Also, there are many patterns online that are not carried in all of the stores, if there is an asterisk on your registry, it either means that item has already gone to clearance, or it is only available to order in a store. If an item has been chosen online and is still available online (even if it isn't IN store) and you have not gone into a store yet, Macy's would not notify you of a pattern not being available in store. Only if an item is being discontinued entirely would you get notice of it being unavailable and to please select a new item.

-Someone mentioned their bakeware being discontinued, I believe this would be in reference to Anolon Sure Grip bakeware. Anolon redesigned that particular bakeware and the new bakeware is now on the shelves. All associates who see that would direct the guest to the new line and let them kow that it is the same thing, just reconfigured.

After this long-winded explanation, the only important thing I should really say is please, please call your local store and have your consultant fix your issues, in most cases it's an easy fix and they are more than happy to do it for you!

d_smith79 · January 2010

Thank you ladydove and tygirl for contacting you! I feel much better. The Sales Associate in the store was not helpful at all. She just said what was out is all they have and they didn't know when re-stocking would happen. As you can imagine that hit a panic button being I'm only a month away from the wedding! Hopefully it will all work out in the end. *fingers crossed*

KST_ · January 2010

I'm I evil for being a bit sad that LadyDove is happily married? Only because that deprives us of her.

carrieoz_76 · January 2010

kst - I was thinking the same thing.

Tygirljojo · January 2010

I always get a bit sad when a fellow Knottie gets married - means they'll likely not post much anymore.

Angela - thanks for hopping on and answering that!

ladydoveisangelarose · January 2010

ahhh shucks ladies, I miss you too! Are we still planning a rendevous in Seattle after Valentine's Day? We can meet in Pike Place...let me know! Now, where is the button to change your siggy now?

D_Smith79...I'm glad you are feeling a bit better. Seriously, please call the Olympia Macy's Registry if something else comes up question wise...I'm sure I..ummmm THEY can help you better than the associate who made you nervous! Or if you'd like, contact my personal e-mail, angelarosestolz@yahoo.com...and I'll "foward" the information along for you! Registry should be the easiest thing you do in registry planning, if it isn't than be sure to make it that way with a few questions!

sarack · January 2010

I miss you too! Thank you for making me feel better, d_smith's post almost made me change my mind but you changed it back.

BrandyL10 · January 2010

I'm coming late into this, but can't guests order these online as well? I believe the shelves will be restocked in time, but if some of your guests are internet friendly, they can just order them off your registry. I think that should put you at ease as well! I have a Macy's registry, and a few things are in store only, but I keep an eye on it. You'll be great girl! Don't worry! My gosh! You're so close to your wedding now! Crazy!

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