5 Things You Should Never Ask An Old Town Employee
If you live in Fort Collins, you are probably aware that Old Town is the epicenter for arts, culture, shopping, food and more.
As a shopper you think there is nothing more irritating than missing a sale at your favorite local boutique or walking 3 blocks before you can find a public restroom. When in fact, the most irritating thing is having to solve problems and answer questions like these as an Old Town retail associate.
What you should never to ask an employee in Old Town:
“Do you give a CSU student discount?” Unless advertised or posted clearly somewhere in the store, your chances of convincing an associate that you deserve a discount because you’re a starving student is low because the chances are, so is the employee.
“Do you have a coupon?” First off, an easy way to score a deal in Old Town is by signing up for emails or subscriptions. I know the idea of giving out your email or phone number is an annoyance and a risk of clogging your inbox with junk but these businesses might have you make an expection to this rule. If a store offers some form of email subscription, it not only helps you drop that shoe price $10 but it also helps the store continue to build a community. These ‘sign ups’ will only notify you will a coupon code or sale yet will never exploit your personal information. So don’t be afraid to sign up!
Another way to score a deal is if you’re an Old Town employee. Almost all the shops downtown offer a discount on their products for fellow neighborhood workers. This discount depends on the business but can range anywhere from 10–25% off products or services. In my experience with this, bigger chains and food establishments tend not to offer this kind of deal but it never hurts to ask.
“Do you have a bathroom?” The only restrooms open to the public in shops downtown will be in resturants. There are, however, many locations of public restrooms not associated with any particular businesses. One is accessible through Muggs, HuHot Mongolian, and other shops on the corner of College and Olive. Another, which conviently can be found on Google Maps, is called Oak Plaza Restroom. Lastly, this public restroom can be found in the intersection of Whitton Ct Alley and Trimble Ct. It’s in Old Town Square and is one of the only bathrooms on the south end of the down town area.
“Can I return this?” or “Why can’t I return this?” For some reason this question bothers me the most, maybe because I wonder who is shopping in Old Town boutiques and small businesses if they don’t want to keep the products? Clearly, it depends on the store but in my experience all shops will tell you their stores return policy upon check out, have it posted near the register, or printed on the reciept for you. So please don’t try to return the skirt you wore to your sorority ball last Friday or the fanny pack that you specifically bought for that one day at the X-Games.
“How late are you open?” This simple question is so frequently asked to employees I don’t know how everyone in Fort Collins doesn't know the hours Ragstock or Topo Designs is open. Every business, including chain stores like Ace Hardware, has their store hours printed on the door for your viewing upon entry. I understand that if the door is proped open you might not be able to read it but another great source to find things like store hours, websites, and reviews is Google.
So the next time you’re shopping in Old Town, finish your coffee and realize you need a restroom asap, just remember you read a list on public bathrooms located all over down town and that no retail store is going to have one. Or the next time you purchase a very outlandish accessory for that one rager but don’t want to keep it anymore, keep in mind that your receipt will tell you everything you need to know about that store’s return policy.
