Shopping At Luxury Stores

[Cicciolina]

Another one of the best SA experiences I had was in the Louis Vuitton on Champs Elysees in Paris. Not only were they really busy - it was around Christmas time so they had throngs of tourists gawking and buying only monogram Anyway I was after a bag which at the time was pretty hard to get hold of - the SA found one for me, and looked in the database for other colours so he could get it couriered to the store if I'd prefer them, plus when I wasn't sure he let me put it on hold for a couple of days, even though there were customers who came up to me the whooole time saying they'll buy it straightaway if I didn't want it.

 

[fashionista-ta]

Well I was considering a new topic altogether because I wanted to know others opinions on the cosmetics department of these luxury stores. Barneys, Bergdorf's, Saks, Neiman's, Bloomingdale's..which one has the classiest and most elegant display for their cosmetics area? Definitely not Bloomingdale's. I think that Bergdorf's has a beautiful downstairs Cosmetics area, and I've been dying to go back since they now have the only US Natura Bisse spa. Neiman's varies from store to store, Beverly Hills is beautiful, SF is beautiful, the one in Bellevue, WA will be brand-new and gorgeous, but ones I've been to on the east coast (ATL and NY-white plains) were tacky.

I love Barneys. Everywhere I love Barneys. I love Seattle. Love SF. Bev Hills and Madison Avenue. They have minimalism in their cosmetics area. And the rare brands that not even BG has, so, they're my favorite.

Of all the stores here, I'd say Saks is the most beautiful ... all gorgeous Deco wood fittings. I haven't been there in ages, though, because all the same people I'd been dealing with forever suddenly grew these gargantuan attitudes in their new surroundings Give me service, every time, and for that, it's not Barneys or Neiman's, it's Nordstrom.

 

[xdieselx]

I do most of my luxury shopping in HK and I must say I love the SAs and the service in Joyce (Central). I don't like a nosy and an aggressive SA. I prefer looking at an item without worrying if the SA is peering over my shoulder. The SAs I've had experienced in Joyce just know the perfect timing on when to come in and help. Their men's department is so cute as well. I like riding the small elevator.

 

[eunhe]

i've noticed that sales people are much nicer all around with the bad economy. Couldn't get the Barney's sales people off of me last week.

 

[Snow-White]

^hey that's true. I hate it when I go into a store and the salespersons start hounding me but its even worse being ignored.

I went to Armani with my boyfriend and it was a little before closing time. We were looking a pair of pants. The sales person came to us and pointed at her watch - she started saying oh its time to close now and she said that in a realllly rude tone.

We were seriously going to buy the pants and were about to walk away .. then my bf just got really annoyed and gave it back to the salesperson. After all he really wanted to get the pants.

It was only after this that the salesperson realised what an idiot she was being and started being nice to us. UGH. horrible horrible.

 

[Snow-White]

My old wealthy and cranky aunt taught me to shop, I used to accompany her when I was 5 or 6 (bored to bits). She always entered a shop and made herself confortable, did not look to any SA, instead she found a confortable chair first and the SA would come to her... if there was no chair she would ask for it .

Hilarious! I have an aunt like this ... she shops alottt. So once when I was with her and said I'm hungry - she tells me dont worry we're going to etc etc store. Apparently she was a regular there so they got me food to eat

 

[Guessgirl96]

I consider it an accomplishment if I can sneak into sephora without anyone asking me if I need help

Living in cleveland we have very little high end here so I always thought it would be amazing to live some place like new york where everything is right at your finger tips. However I've been flying to new york every few months to visit a freind recently and I realize online shopping is more for me. I've run into some very rude SAs and some ones but regardless I never really feel comfortable in those stores. I feel guilty trying things on and not buying anything and a lot of those stores will be mostly empty so I feel like all eyes are glued on me. I'm constantly checking all the online stores I know so that I dont buy something, then find something else I like more tomorrow and regret the purchase, but thats harder to do with physical stores. Also, there is something about the SA staring you down and the thrill of taking a piece home right away that makes me buy things that I otherwise may not. I also like to wait a few days after I find something before I order it to make sure it's not an impulse buy, and thats more of a hassle in store. As nice as it is to try something on before you buy, the whole environment just screams impulse buy for me.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Oh I love the aunt and the chair Unfortunately I'm too impatient for that.

Recently I was at Barney's ... my alterations weren't done correctly, so I had brought them back to be done over. When I got there on the designated day, I found that they hadn't done anything since I was there last, and neither had they called me. Perhaps needless to say, I was rather irritated. (It's an hour and a half round trip for me.) I was going to have to do another fitting, it was well over 100 degrees outside & I was really thirsty, and I thought it would do me good to have a few minutes to calm down. So I went to Nordstrom's to the lounge, got a cold bottle of water, and came back. A new SA was all snotty--"We've been waiting to fit you!" I said that it was extremely hot, I was thirsty, no one offered me a drink, so I went to get one--"God helps those who help themselves." She went on to get snottier--I was rather amazed. At that point fortunately she disappeared--I'd had quite enough of her. Maybe she'll self-destruct between now and my next visit

 

[marylauda]

I was at Saks a few months ago with my boyfriend and sister (I am 20 and my sister is 15). I wasn't feeling my best-- a little sluggish and bloated-- so I was just wearing a tshirt, shorts, and teva sandals. I heard one SA mutter to another "They won't be buying anything, don't bother with them..." as we walked past. So... I didn't!

I have had the most varied experiences at that store... I have found that the male SAs and the younger women are the nicest.

 

[BerlinRocks]

Prada in Paris - ok that was long time ago - ... they were a** ! ... Pretty rude and laughing on peoples' back ... I could observe them as while my cousin was shopping I was seated waiting and looking after her baby ... Only one woman was nice and very sweet !!! Ask if I needed something etc.

Louis Vuitton - everywhere in France - are perfection ! Best service !

YSL - everywhere in Paris - really nice and helpfull ...


I could go on ... But seriously in France service isn't the best imo ... I think now everytime you enter a shop (even AA !!!) sale people look at you very arrogant if you are dressed 'normaly' .... If you don't correspond the aesthetic of the shop, or yr look don't scream "I am a Fashion people and I have +1000€ to spend" the sales person would look arrogant and rude !

My best recent luxury shop experiences were in the Middle East !! People welcome you good, are really nice ... And you cannot be scared of trying the whole shop on because they are happy to help you ... Well ... I don't know I feel more confortable overhere than in Paris ... But I guess it all depends on shops and sale persons personnality ...

But in France some of them often forget they are here to sell and not to pose ! especially the young ppl !!! Prefer an oldest sale person to a young and beautiful one !

 

[LetThemEatCake]

Some of these SA people are SO nasty-acting. I just want to say to them, "You're a Sales Associate, the clothes you're wearing you got for free practically, you have no idea of how much money I'm going to spend in here, so kindly fcuk off and go back into the employee break room." This only happens to me when I'm trying/looking for clothing, when I am at a Cosmetics counter (where I probably know more than the SA) I get my service right away because only the other day @ Bloomingdales I was looking for something at a Shiseido-Cle De Peau Beaute counter and the woman said, "Oh and we have men's skincare too." I probably glared at her for a good 15 seconds before saying, "I dont use skincare targeted towards men. Besides its the exact same, just in different packaging."

I bought something and the girl was so aloof she put the wrong product in the bag! Hello! Pay attention! I might have spent more money if you didnt wander off. Ugh. Some people dont deserve these jobs.

If I could work in Cosmetics I'd be so happy to have the job and I would dote on anyone that comes by, no matter what they look like. A LOT of people shop in comfort clothing, its no reason to ignore them or whisper that they're not going to buy anything.

 

[*k.a.t.e*]

Harvey Nichols - Always lovely staff, especially in the handbag department. No matter how you're dressed or if you're just browsing they'll offer to help and won't glare at you the second you touch anything like in Selfridges!

 

[Aurelle]

I don't really have any horror stories with SAs, but it's genuinely nice when you enter a store and they sort of just leave you alone, after so many times when they seem to coyly follow you around

 

[michyed]

If I could work in Cosmetics I'd be so happy to have the job and I would dote on anyone that comes by, no matter what they look like. A LOT of people shop in comfort clothing, its no reason to ignore them or whisper that they're not going to buy anything.

You deserve to have the job! The skincare advice you give on the forums is always amazing- and much better than anything I'd ever hear from an SA.

 

[helmut.newton]

Here in Australia the luxury stores have pretty good service.

Prada - all the sales assistants are intimidating but after you have a browse, they are very nice and leave you alone in peace.
One thing about Prada is that there are probably more staff than necessary. Once I counted more than 10 staff for a store with two or three customers!

Burberry - the nicest service; SA's are very helpful and have good knowledge of current collections.

Louis Vuitton - There was only one time when I was mistreated there, because it was busy and they were selling a lot of bags - I think I interrupted or something!
But other times, they were very helpful and offered us drinks and a catalogue to browse through.

Chanel - I've only been there once with a friend but they were very nice. They only treat people badly if they go into the Ready-to-Wear section. Once you go there and you don't have the intention of buyinga anything - be prepared to experience the wrath of the Chanel SA's!!!

Gucci - absolute WORST. The SA's are so so so bitchy and they treat you condescendingly. I felt like saying "Who buys Gucci these days? It stands for bad taste!" but I held my tongue!
They are SO arrogant there, and they know nothing about the collections or aesthetic of the label. Very clueless staff.

 

[LagerfeldBoy]

^ I kinda agree about the gucci people but only because of my last visit there. i was looking at the mens shoes and asked this old guy working there if they had the fall collection or were going to recieve the fall shoes and how he answered was very rude. He kept on telling me "umm sir those are the fall shoes". I kept on thinking in my head " look you idiot, i'm talking about those FALL 09 shoes from the show with the colored neon lining etc etc".

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ I was utterly unimpressed with the Gucci store and its SAs the one time I've been in it. I believe I wrote about that experience earlier in this thread

 

[saann]

I found the best service in Beijing, the staff was always very helpful, even if you didn't buy anything.. actually everywhere I went there was good service so it wasn't only the luxury stores that had great SAs

the service in stockholm is rather mixed, you have to be able to ask for help to receive it.
MaxMara definately has the nicest SAs.. very friendly and helpful.
I definately agree with everyone saying that the younger ones are nicer. probably because they still have the will to live

 

[hautechild]

Harvey Nichols - Always lovely staff, especially in the handbag department. No matter how you're dressed or if you're just browsing they'll offer to help and won't glare at you the second you touch anything like in Selfridges!

Really? I've never had a problem with most of the SAs in Selfridges. Most of them are nice (especially one guy who works in womenswear on the second floor who is always so helpful and friendly). Only one time I had a pushy salesguy in Selfridges who was practically in the changing room with me, but aside from that I love shopping there!

Dover Street Market are notorious for their unfriendly sales staff though...I think it's more because there's usually more staff than shoppers in there.

 

[lollicandy]

I found the best service in Beijing, the staff was always very helpful, even if you didn't buy anything..

Hm, I find them just ok. In the beauty centers I can find them too cloying, pushing things on you. "Just browsing" is a concept they don't do here. It gets very annoying, very quickly. As for clothing in luxury stores, sometimes I get nary a word or look, which is odd. The best was Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc Jacobs where the SA actually welcomed me and told me to take my time and "look around" and didn't bother me after that. Perfect Once at a Chanel boutique got briefly followed by a security person which was kind of hilarious. The Lane Crawford here was nice and more low key (but it is always dead and completely empty), although when I was looking for a specific candle brand, I heard that oft replied refrain, "But...this one (dress, candle, beauty product, whatever) is really good, it's from (France, America, Spain)!!" I'm sorry but I really don't give a flying poop about where it came from, I want what I'm looking for and nothing else. I only laughed because the SA at Lane Crawford told me this and a beauty SA at Watson's (a drugstore here) had just used it on me, "But this nail polish (Rimmel) is really good, it's from Spain!" I think this phrase should die a quick death.