Stores / Websites with the Worst Customer Service

[Psylocke]

^Yes, I totally fell for that yesterday, too. The SA in some annoying store complimented my shoes when I walked in and I seriously thought it was a genuine compliment since the shoes I was wearing are pretty damn cool (the Chloé Susan knock offs) and I get compliments for them a lot. But I realized the was talking BS when she said they were so fitting for the season, since they were so sparkly! Err, what's supposed to be sparkly about autumn? She then went on to show me everything they had in store even though I told her I just wanted to look around. I wasn't looking for anything and whatever she'd show me I'd tell her I hated, but she would just no give up. It was so annoying. I actually felt bad for her because I know she has to do it but I sure as hell will never go back into that store again!

I actually thought the SAs in the Oxford Circus Topshop were really nice. As a tourist I obviously spent hours in there and everyone was friendly and ready to help. The SAs at All Saints were great, too.

Zara and H&M seem to have bad customer service worldwide. I'm sure it's not entirely their fault but they really never know anything about their stock and where to find something. It can be quite frustrating.

 

[CosiDiModa]

^^that's quite funny you say that about Topshop in Oxford Circus because when I was complaining to my friend (who lives in London) about the SAs in my Topshop (I think the guy was very rude to me), she told me that she was really surprised because loves the SAs in Oxford Circus too!

And, at my work, even though we get told to approach customers we don't get told that we have to pay compliments. If I don't like what someone's wearing I just stay quiet and offer assistance but I do pay genuine compliments to customers if I like something they have on

 

[Desi]

omg I forgot about h&m! Their SAs are actually worse than Topshop! Sooo unpleasant. And I remember asking one of them about the designer collaborations coming to the store and she was confused as hell. I knew more about their stock than they did! Must be said though, I find male SAs nicer than the girls.

that is bound to happen, you post on the internet. To be honest I don't check the new releases on my job's website everyday nor do I work every morning when they go over what is new from shipment that day.

On the other hand I knew the exact week the buy 2 get 1 free on videogames was going on in Toys r Us and the employees in the game section didn't know two days before it started. Power of the internet.

 

[Jenna-maria]

^Yes, I totally fell for that yesterday, too. The SA in some annoying store complimented my shoes when I walked in and I seriously thought it was a genuine compliment since the shoes I was wearing are pretty damn cool (the Chloé Susan knock offs) and I get compliments for them a lot. But I realized the was talking BS when she said they were so fitting for the season, since they were so sparkly! Err, what's supposed to be sparkly about autumn? She then went on to show me everything they had in store even though I told her I just wanted to look around. I wasn't looking for anything and whatever she'd show me I'd tell her I hated, but she would just no give up. It was so annoying. I actually felt bad for her because I know she has to do it but I sure as hell will never go back into that store again!

I actually thought the SAs in the Oxford Circus Topshop were really nice. As a tourist I obviously spent hours in there and everyone was friendly and ready to help. The SAs at All Saints were great, too.

Zara and H&M seem to have bad customer service worldwide. I'm sure it's not entirely their fault but they really never know anything about their stock and where to find something. It can be quite frustrating.

I had same experience at Oxford circus TopShop!
I actually was actually lost there and they helped me to find way out hahah

yes, Zara and h&m theeeee worst!!!!!!!!

 

[Lapin de Lune]

I work at Next and we get told we have to approach customers on the floor etc. It annoys me too because I hate being hassled when I'm trying to shop. Even when we were getting assessed, I was told by my manager that the only reason I wasn't given the green light was because I wasn't approaching customers enough on the floor. So now, yes, I have also become another annoying member of staff

I had kind of guessed this, so never really blamed the poor staff

nowhere is worse than the BodyShop for this, actually. I'm almost scared to go in there now: if you're not extremely assertive, they literally force you into purchases that you wouldnt have even thought of. Pity, because I love that store, and this weird attitude really ruins the otherwise ethically conscious element for me.

 

[CosiDiModa]

that is bound to happen, you post on the internet. To be honest I don't check the new releases on my job's website everyday nor do I work every morning when they go over what is new from shipment that day.

On the other hand I knew the exact week the buy 2 get 1 free on videogames was going on in Toys r Us and the employees in the game section didn't know two days before it started. Power of the internet.

Don't get me wrong, I don't expect the staff to know everything. It was more of the fact that she didn't care to answer me or try to find out. If someone asks you a question regarding your products and you don't know the answer, I think the least you can do is attempt to ask another member of staff who may know. Her response was more 'errr, I dae ken'.

 

[á la Balenciaga]

Michael Kors in Santa Monica!
I went yesterday to buy my boyfriend a watch.
The staff was rowdy and playing around.
They were throwing things back and foward, finally
I was hit on the back on my neck. I was soo embarrassed
and upset. I asked for the girl's name who threw the object at me.
she was trying to bribe me by giving me free Michael Kor's bags.
I refused to accept any gifts.

I reported her to corporate and the the district manager.
Monday i'll be reporting the incident to the Better Business Bureau.

Luckily, everything was on camera.

 

[impossibleprincess]

Topshop Oxford Circus - depends on who you get, but it can be awful. E.g. for the black crystal sweater I just bought, I needed to ask the Information desk to get me a ten. There were none out. After a very bitchy dude slagged off his colleagues in front of me for not doing it themselves (they had sent me to him), he then eventually conceded that he would run down and get it (gee thanks, seeing as I'm paying the store for the top, not just walking out with it for free), and told me to come back in 15.

15 minutes later, I approach the desk. Bitchy dude says in an annoyed tone: "I haven't even gone down yet! I'm going down now!" Ok, I think, I will just shop around a bit more. 5 minutes later, he still hasn't gone down, I can see from the corner of my eye. So I walked out, and left it. Well done, Topshop, you've just lost my money! I eventually bought the stop from the Strand.

They act like they're so damn special at Oxford Circus, but the job application process isn't even hard - I know, because I did it, and was offered a job, when I was 18. You do a phone interview, a group interview (in which you style a mannequin as a group and a few other activities), and a one to one. If you know and enjoy fashion, this is not difficult at all.

If anyone from TS is reading this, he was on duty at the Info desk a few Sundays ago, 2-3pm ish.

Having said all of the above, sometimes I come across some lovely SA's. Like a girl on the lower ground floor the other day who was apologising profusely for the long delays in the queue, etc. Awww!

 

[LondonisFlawless]

I have had good experiences in Zara, i just can't stand the staff in Hermes on Bond St. They need to get over themselves, they don't own the company.

 

[ultramarine]

Zara is the worst .. hands down .. and in here .. the girls at Swarovski and Benetton especially are a darling!

 

[Yonni]

I have had good experiences in Zara, i just can't stand the staff in Hermes on Bond St. They need to get over themselves, they don't own the company.

It's the exact same at Hermès Paris at the Faubourg Saint-Honoré ! Does Hermès only hire arrogant staff ?! Also, the Repetto store at Rue de la Paix in Paris is even worse ; some don't even bother looking at you and prefere ignore you totally !
Aww seriously, I hate that, it makes me think of this movie with Julia Roberts, Pretty Woman. I assume they sometimes meet "bad" customers (I mean, in high fashion stores, many customers are rich and often arrogant, that's a bit cliché, but sadly it's true) that's why they choose to act like that

 

[Pstcho]

Zara

I agree re: customer service at Zara. Every store I have been in has had terrible customer service. The worst is the branch in Ibiza Town. Last time I was in there a female customer was undressing on the SHOP FLOOR and prancing around in front of the mirrors, the staff at the counter kept giving her more clothes to try on and completely ignored the huge queue waiting to be served. I have never been so shocked in my life.

My mother bought a top at Zara in Scotland recently, the sales assistant said 'You're daugter will love that', the top was actually for my mother. When my mother said it was for her, the sales assistant laughed!!!!

 

[Snow-White]

zara zara zara

i have stopped going into the store because of the disgusting behaviour they have displayed towards me

i would rather buy fewer things than shop at theirs - no matter how much I might want to own something in there. they lost me last summer.

i now buy from COS during their sales or what I can afford durin non-sale times

 

[Snow-White]

I agree about Zara, their sales people are ignorant and rude. Almost every sales associate in London was unfriendly too, only the MAC MUA was an utter sweetheart. Okay, it's a big city, you get a lot of tourists, I get it - but still, does a smile or just saying 'hi' really hurt that much?

Welcome to London, darling ! I've lived in the Netherlands a few months and the culture is totally different there. People smile at you!

I am sorry that you had such an awful experience. But you learn to make polite conversation, be pushy but in the most subdued way and learn to get around eventually. Oh and smile all throught it xx

 

[beduina]

Christian Louboutin concession at Selfridges Oxford Street. It was busy at the time, they were only 3 sales assistants so i waited a little bit for it to "die down" as i don't expect SAs to approach me straight away when is that busy for them.After a good 15 minutes i decided to approach one of them myself to what this SA said (as she was walking towards the cash desk, not even looking at me"I'm sending more staff up, we're busy now, wait" Not only she was rude but, she didn't even apologize for the wait or anything as she saw i've been in there browsing for a good amount of time. Shame cos she missed on a nice commission, that's how i see it.

 

[tigmeg]

I agree re: customer service at Zara. Every store I have been in has had terrible customer service. The worst is the branch in Ibiza Town. Last time I was in there a female customer was undressing on the SHOP FLOOR and prancing around in front of the mirrors, the staff at the counter kept giving her more clothes to try on and completely ignored the huge queue waiting to be served. I have never been so shocked in my life.

My mother bought a top at Zara in Scotland recently, the sales assistant said 'You're daugter will love that', the top was actually for my mother. When my mother said it was for her, the sales assistant laughed!!!!

I shop quite regularly in Zara in Edinburgh and found the staff to be pleasant enough, however I recently returned quite a few items at the same time and manager who came to authorise it was incredibly rude and I actually felt uncomfortable as she sighed numerous times while checking the items over. It was quite disheartening and I think I will just shop in the Glasgow store in future.

 

[luisa]

Christian Louboutin concession at Selfridges Oxford Street. It was busy at the time, they were only 3 sales assistants so i waited a little bit for it to "die down" as i don't expect SAs to approach me straight away when is that busy for them.After a good 15 minutes i decided to approach one of them myself to what this SA said (as she was walking towards the cash desk, not even looking at me"I'm sending more staff up, we're busy now, wait" Not only she was rude but, she didn't even apologize for the wait or anything as she saw i've been in there browsing for a good amount of time. Shame cos she missed on a nice commission, that's how i see it.

OMG YES! i was there and a youngish blond girl was the rudest person ever. it was the same situtation for me. i hhad waited a while so i went over to her to ask her for the shoes i had ordered and she didn't even look at me. she seemed to have taken valium, seriously. she was just like the whole time. she just did the hand to me (!!) and said "i am busy with this customer here. i'll come to you when i'm finished with her" and she wasn't even assisting the other customer just standing in fornt of her!

 

[CarolineRose]

I went into J .Crew in Century City yesterday . . . I normally never shop there because I think it's overpriced, but I gave it a try yesterday. First, FOUR salespeople asked me if I wanted a room - I didn't, I like to hold on to stuff so I can remember what I'm already trying on. I know it's their job, but it's a small store, couldn't they at least try to keep track of whether I'd been asked already? And they all said the same thing, too, obviously reading from a script. Although that was annoying, I know they're just doing their job and it wasn't a big deal- until the 4th lady, an older woman with a bob. When she asked me, I said, "no thanks, I've already been asked a few times and Robert is helping me" because I didn't want the first guy to lose the commission when he'd helped me first. She literally made a face and said, "oh, well then, never mind", and then walked away. When I went to the fitting room, she was standing there with two other salespeople and said to them in front of me "yea, I told you, she was like, 'everyone has asked me'!". it doesn't sound like much, and I'm just venting here, but her expression and tone were horrible and when she was imitating what I'd said, she spoke in a bratty little girl's voice. I was just shocked . . . I was really polite to her because I work in retail and I know how annoying it can be. My voice hadn't been rude at all! And, nothing was cute, so, definitely no more J. Crew for me!

 

[lucy92]

sometimes i purposely start listening to my iphone/ipod while in stores, even if the sound is turned off. it can ward off annoying sales people. i suggest you try it...

if they persist and speak to you while you are listening to your ipod, you can make a big show of removing the ear buds and say "i'm sorry i couldnt hear you, is something the matter?".

if i'm approached and i dont need any assistance i usually say "i'm already being helped" at the same volume they question me. it usually causes the other sales assistants to turn around quickly and see whats going on as they think the salesperson might be trying to poach their customers!

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ We need a new thread, Semi-evil shopping strategies