This Belk used to be the best place to go and shop about 30 years ago, when my Granny worked in the girl's clothing section and the babies' section. I remember her actually helping people find what they liked and were looking for and help them get the best deals. It's nothing like that anymore. A few years ago, I went here to shop for the first time in at least a year, and had at least $5,000 in my wallet to spend. I had actually even grabbed a buggy and was putting all kinds of things in it, and when I got closer to being ready to check out, I started going through my buggy and was trying to decide what I didn't necessarily want to get that day, and was setting it to the side so I could go put it all back where I got it from. An associate walked up to me and asked if I needed help, so I told her no thank you, that I appreciated the offer but I had it under control and explained what I was trying to do. That's when she went and got another associate to come ask me the same thing, in which I gave the same response. They both started getting pretty crappy with me and rude and moments later a city cop was walking up to me as well and all 3 were then harassing me. I've since heard that the officer was probably the same one that everyone always sees sitting in the Belk parking lot who dates or is married to one of the associates. I went in this store excited and happy to be able to go shopping for the first time in a long time, and ready to get an early start on most of my Christmas presents for my friends and family. But I left out, empty-handed with the same amount of cash I had before. I came to believe that even though this was 2 whole hours before Belk was supposed to be closing, at least one of those associates could've more than likely been planning on getting off an hour early than closing that evening, and they were probably thinking I was going to make them put whatever I wasnt getting back on the shelves or racks. They were completely incorrect, as I normally try not to make store employees have to restock my items I don't get and I usually just do it myself like I was telling them I was trying to do at this time. But because they treated me the way they had and had me crying in the middle of the store while all 3 stood there wrongly harassing me together, I pushed my buggy with every single item id picked piled in it right over to the 3 of them who were huddled in a group I supposed discussing me afterwards. I played a whole Julia Roberts "Pretty Woman" Rodeo Dr. scene out and told them that I was prepared to spend a lot of money in there that day and was even planning to put whatever I didn't buy back where I'd gotten it myself, but because they seemed to have such a problem with it and lacked the customer service skills and patience to actually listen to what I had to say and try and help please the customer, instead of ganging up and upsetting me, I wasn't going to spend one single dollar now and they could just put everything back up for me anyway after all. Then I thanked them for nothing in a nice way, and I turned around and walked out anyway. I've heard many complaints that this same store has accused multiple people of trying to shoplift with no evidence to support their accusations. Also, the last time I went in here, I was told by the girls working the Clinique counter in the makeup department and by her store manager that if I applied for a credit card, that it wouldn't affect my credit and it would only help the associate if I would apply and if I was accepted, I'd get a store credit or discount. So being convinced that I had nothing to lose by just trying, I applied at checkout in efforts to help the associate and hopefully help myself with my purchase price. Later on, I checked my credit score, and this was a hard hit against in showing "BELK" in the description, and was also turned down. This still shows against my credit this very day.
This Hartsville location of Belk as a whole is deserving of only two stars, given their extremely small selection of clothes--especially workwear, suit separates, and fine brands that are normally available at other locations of Belk such as Florence and Columbia. However, I had to add more stars simply because of the warm, outstanding customer service I received from Teleia at the fragrance counter. She was friendly, patient, and smiling the whole time that I took to select a new fragrance I had never worn before. She generously offered free gifts with my purchase, and overall made me feel like the most important client she had ever assisted. Teleia is a true asset to Belk and simply a kind and beautiful soul.