Shopping At Luxury Stores

[EdK]

ah did you copy and paste what someone else said? I didn't read the post aove 333

 

[Pastry]

^it's an article from the new york times

 

[ShesElectric]

Usually when I want something from a high fashion label I go to the department stores or do my shopping online as I am not too big a fan of Bloor Street for similiar reasons but also the very "fake" atmosphere. A few months back, after saving up to get the Chanel Cambon Ballet Flats (as I only work the average Part-Time job), I headed to the Chanel boutique on Bloor Street.

I walked in dressed in a pair of jeans distressed at the knees, a black blazer-like/trench coat, and a cute crocheted hobo type bag I bought at a small private boutique elsewhere downtown. Right when I walked in, I felt inferior to the other customers with their illegally parked Mercedez outside. Not only did the (hot) security guard stare me down until I felt emotionally raped but I was snubbed, ignored, and given the silent treatment by unoccupied employees. I literally stood there next to two emplyees repeating "excuse me, excuse me, excuse me" before I got fed up and left. I didn't end up getting the flats. In fact, I went from having an obsession with those flats to having something against Chanel for a while. ANYONE who walks into ANY store should be treated with respect. Do the boutiques train these employees to treat you like crap if you don't look like you've spent a million bucks on your hair?

 

[Diorling]

. Do the boutiques train these employees to treat you like crap if you don't look like you've spent a million bucks on your hair?

You get treated like crap even if you're carrying a croc Birkin with the reciept attached to it, there is no way to guarantee good treatment in a shop, though being gay and/or asian helps.

Whomever said that thing about eagle eyes, it's because we don't know you and we don't know what your intentions are with our merchandise, it's crazy that you expect them to do any different. I cant stand shoplifters, because you're taking a pair of sunglasses that I could sell to someone who will gladly pay for them, and that's a loss for me.

With some customers it's like they have to prove something by being rude to you...Uhm, ok, what exactly and who exactly are you proving something to? It's really crazy how customers get, it's like highschool.

 

[ShesElectric]

Well why is it that other stores, even just main-stream franchise stores have employees being watched like hawks to make sure they treat customers with respect yet at a high label store it shouldn't be expected. It's come to the point where people are intimidated to enter. That's just crazy if you ask me. If anything, when I walk into Chanel or Gucci I expect to be treated like royalty or at the very least RESPECTED. I mean, esspecially if I'm considering purchasing a two thousand dollar bag or five hundred dollar shoes. I know you SA's arent psychic and probably do have the annoying teeny boppers coming in to gawk at what they wish they could buy and loading you up with questions but as an SA you should be able to deal with that. If you have to tell them to please hold on as you help someone else with a purchase than that's fine but at least you arent snubbing them. The fact that you guys arent psychic should be the very reason you treat everyone with the same amount of respect as you never know who will buy what.

 

[ShesElectric]

Personally, if I had a customer being obnoxious and yelling I would treat them like crap or equally as bad as they are treating me. I'll live without the 2% commission but I won't be able to sleep at night knowing I let that person talk to me that way. But unless they do something like that I would be equally as kind to them all.

 

[Pastry]

^ very, very good arguments SE!

 

[ShesElectric]

Thank you

 

[justinelm]

I used to think that sometimes sales people at a luxury retail stores think they belong to that caste of upper-upper-rich people the store caters to. Kinda like the president's driver who would think he's part of the government. It's a professional distortion I would say. Because really, I think most of the s.a. mostly make ok money (I guess?) but not really enough to casually shop at the store they work at.

But lately I just think it's part of their job to make the ultra-rich consumer feel very special --therefore treat the others in some sort of bad way.

 

[ShesElectric]

But lately I just think it's part of their job to make the ultra-rich consumer feel very special --therefore treat the others in some sort of bad way.

They will never be able to tell who the "ultra-rich" consumers are when they walk in that door unless they have some out-of-this-world ability. Everyone should be treated equally. I am not ultra-rich but when I want something, lord knows I will save up if it mean I'm eating noodles all month to get it. Basically, if I have the money to purchase what I want from that shop and that shop alone - then what's in my bank account is nobody's business and I should be treated like a loyal costumer because that is exactly what I am whether I walk in wearing a DIY tee or a fur coat!

 

[djork]

if you want bad service, go to neiman marcus.

 

[Diorling]

if you want bad service, go to neiman marcus.

I always get good service, although they know my Mom and sister by thier first names, that must help.

Im not psychic in any means but after being an SA for so long I can pretty much tell who and who can't spend racks of money. Of course some do throw you for a loop, but for the most part I can pick them out. All I have to say is, dont waste our time.

And, our store is within walking distance of like 4 private highschools, after three 15 girls in plaid skirts and uggs come in and ask soo many questions and maybe one of them will buy a $38 mini skinny, but we all know that eventually one of them will have a birthday and thier parents will buy them something. The boys are a little better, because they come in expecting to buy something, and actually one of my top clients is under 16.

Customers make a lot of assumptions one being that SAs dont make any money, and that one pisses me off. A custome grabbed my own personal bag out of my hand and have gone through it...I nearly b*tch slapped her. Such crass, and she didnt even buy anything!!

 

[Guessgirl96]

I sometimes feel so pressuerd to buy something, I ask them to put it on hold while I "think about it" when I know I'm not actually going to buy it...

 

[BoscoBJGD]

I was at the Saks in Beverly Hills last weekend and was given extreme attitude by this older woman at the accessories counter. First she completely ignored me, then when I finally asked for some assistance she said "there are people ahead of you, you're going to have to wait" even though she was just standing there fiddling with the mirror. My mom then very politely asked for her name and told her that she was quite rude (and she had been rude to my mom on another occasion). You can bet the first thing I did when I got home was call Saks and file a complaint.

 

[sgaotw]

Saks. Beverly Hills. Diane. Hate. Her.

 

[viva_la_vogue]

People are so rude these days...I'm so sick of it. We should all give attitude back to them the next time this happens to us. Shooot, we're there to buy merchandise from your store! Be grateful for that. Ugh.

 

[Diorling]

People are so rude these days...I'm so sick of it. We should all give attitude back to them the next time this happens to us. Shooot, we're there to buy merchandise from your store! Be grateful for that. Ugh.

Ok. Because you absolutely know noone else will buy it. Please, we're letting you in our store, we're giving you good service. Please realize, you're not entitled to anything, it sounds crazy but customers think thier entitled to things...uhm, you're getting nothing we don't have to give you (I.E. you will get the receipt, but being nice is not necessary).

And for the most part, most associates arent rude to you without good cause, why would be rude to you for no reason? Unless we had nothing better to do. Also, associates who just got done with a b*tch could still be prickly because of that.

In reference to Guessgirl, on more in demand pieces I personally do CHARGE holds, which means you will be charged and that sh*t will happily be sent to your home. Without a credit card on file, there is no guarantee that the item will be there tomorrow. You cant just hog bags, if it's our last one that's on hold, you best believe we are selling that sh*t happily!

 

[tinuvielberen]

Are SAs taught to compliment customers on their outfits? Today I got complimented on my bag, my scarf, my skirt, etc.

 

[Keya]

Personally, if I had a customer being obnoxious and yelling I would treat them like crap or equally as bad as they are treating me. I'll live without the 2% commission but I won't be able to sleep at night knowing I let that person talk to me that way. But unless they do something like that I would be equally as kind to them all.

Actually, if you did that you can bet your grandma that the rude customer would call your manager and complain, and you'd probably end up losing your job.


I sometimes buy stuff I don't even want just because the SAs are staring at me like I'm some sort of street thug

I find that it's gotten better now that I've started dressing more elegantly and snobby, though. The distressed denim phase wasn't good for luxury shopping

 

[belletrist]

You all give me the impression that shopping outside france is terrible
In france i have always been well considered, when i was 14 i walked into the 24 faubourg Hermès shop witnhout any pb and last week i was very surprised, i was waiting into the Marseille's Hermes' shop, was dressed like someone in holiday, nothing special, a dior jean, converse, ralph lauren polo and a bolduc twilly on my neck, and asked for a H bucke belt, and while waiting for theim to call another boutique to see the stock (and without having bought anything, nor having any shopping bags in my hands) they asked me to sit on a sofa, offered me tea (!) and told me that i was authorized to have a phone call, which i did because i had a friend to contact...
they told me the belt wasn't in stock (so i hadnd't bought anything), they took my phone number, make me incredible smiles, opened me the door, and called me the day after
So in france, everything have always been perfect i don't understand why that's different abroad