My husband bought me a Kate Spade tote and wallet in late October 2010 as a Christmas gift for me. He was leaving for a 12 month tour in Afghanistan in early November and wanted to make sure he made the purchase while he was able. When I received the gift for Christmas, I found the the strap on the tote was too small and decided to return both (the wallet matched). After spending $17 to send the package back to Kate Spade, I heard nothing for 3 weeks until I came home one night to find the box and items returned to me. It seems they have a 30 day return policy.

Upon calling, I was told there was nothing they could do and the policy was inflexible. When I explained that my husband was overseas serving his country and was being pro-active in getting my christmas gift, I was told that he should have waited until November 15-December 24, as Kate Spade extended the return date for all items to the end of January 2011.

I was dumbfounded. I had just been told the return policy was inflexible but that they had changed it arbitrarily for the holidays. When I reminded the rep that my husband's purchase had been for the holidays and that he couldn't buy the gifts in the aforementioned timeframe because he was IN AFGHANISTAN I was still told there was nothing she could do. I asked to speak to a supervisor, was put on hold for 10 minutes, and told that no one was available but I would be contacted "within a couple days."

A week later and no return call, I called back and got a supervisor on the phone who said my issue had gone "up the chain of management" and had been denied.

So now my husband is out almost $500, all because he had the temerity to volunteer to serve his country and buy my Christmas gift 2 weeks before Kate Spade's arbitrary extended return policy went into effect.