Pretty Woman Moment

DM had that experience in a BMW garage - DF had died young, leaving her a fairly wealthy widow. She dresses neatly but not flashily, and had two young kids with her (us). She needed a new family car to replace DF’s company car (which had obviously gone back), and was in her small runaround which was probably a Micra or Fiesta or something.

The BMW salesman told her “he only deals with organ-grinders not monkeys, and to come back with her husband”, and refused to serve her.

She went across town to Audi and bought an A8, and has been a loyal Audi customer for thirty-odd years - always buys new, always gets her services and MOTs there, they must have made a fortune out of her over the years.

The BMW garage shut down.

I once went to test drive a convertible car and the car salesman told me it wasn’t really suitable as you couldn’t get a buggy or much shopping in the boot. I told him my kids were grown and a man delivers my shopping and walked out. I contacted the manufacturer, who arranged for me to see a much more sensible sales person elsewhere and I bought the car. Which I loved.

Absolutely email them and complain. That kind of bias is ridiculous.

Its interesting about the car dealers. Shortly after my husband died, I went to buy a new car. We had been discussing it but he never got to go with me. I wasn't my usual sharp self but I needed to change the car. Sis and i went out on a sunday morning to just do an initial look around at the local Toyota dealer. There was only one staff member there and honestly he could not have been nicer. He offered to look over my car to give me a trade in price (and it was a fair price, I checked) and generally sorted out whatever I needed including a test drive, visits to measure up for a dog cage, nothing was too much trouble. I bought a new car there for cash. It was the same when i went back for services and repairs and I'd still be going back there if they hadn't stopped their service pick up and return service. The place is a swine to get to and the parking is dreadful. Seller behaviour DOES matter.

I recently went into Boots straight from my allotment in dirty torn clothes and a cap. I was looking at the fancy skincare and a sales assistant assertively asked if I needed any help- it was clear she’d marched on over assuming (understandably) I was a shoplifter. I was very impressed with how quickly she pivoted when I explained I was after a retinol serum, she could not have been more helpful- clearly I only look dodgy from a distance…

"The Homebuilding & Renovating Show, is the event for anyone who has a home project - big or small. Brought to you by leading Homebuilding & Renovating experts, the show can provide you with free expert advice, inspiring sessions and access to 100's of brands all under one roof. What are you waiting for?"

As someone who works in the construction industry the only time we would be looking at something like a bespoke door would be for an individual domestic client. This is not the type of product that is bought in bulk for housebuilding. The clue is in the name, bespoke.

It was the home building and renovation show:

”The UK's go-to show for anyone creating their dream home!”

Not a trade show.

This thread makes me so upset and frustrated that people are still so judgemental and superficial. I have had a lot of different jobs and I don’t think I probably fit in any box people might want to place me in. I doubt many of us are so straightforward that we could be judged at a glance.
I had one of these moments when I went to buy a car and was asking about its performance when a salesman literally laughed and said it was a nice colour! I obviously bought a car elsewhere from someone who understood that women could be knowledgeable about cars and didn’t patronise me.
One of my sons was also treated really badly when he was about 13 and was looking around a local shop that sells antiques and vintage clothing. He was wearing a pretty tacky tracksuit and the sales lady followed him around the shop. It was so sad as he had saved his money and had always loved going there. Their loss as he now earns more than I do and none of our family will ever buy from them again.
My dad always used to say that you never know how much money people have. Whilst that’s obviously true, surely sales people should be polite and respectful anyway. I’m sure a lot of customers are annoying and waste time but dealing with them is literally their job.

Years ago I went to mothercare to buy (then) small toddler dd a new buggy

I had cash in my bag and wanted a bugaboo with all the trimmings

45 minutes I stood there trying to get the attention of anyone who worked there-every single person walked past me,making it clear I wasn't someone to bother with (I admit I didnt look the smartest as it was pissing down outside and I was soaked)

Gave up and went to toys r us over the road and bought a slivercross with all the trimmings (drink holder/foot muff/raincover/parasol etc)

Still pissed off as I had my heart set on that bugaboo buggy and she was my last chance at having one (no more babies for me!)

They went bust a year or so later

I'm a chemistry PhD that's why I did!

Oh yes that will be part of it l'd say, we are Irish and l think it's presumed she is from the local travelling community, who are basically blamed for everything around here. Either that or passes for Eastern European, who, ditto, preconceptions are made about them.

You are aware that many businesses nowadays are fronts for criminal activity? They don’t actually want customers for their legitimate business. They have a showroom but they import the bespoke goods, that doesn’t make sense. You dodged a bullet.

Not quite on topic but I had similar assumptions with a van and a random bloke who'd come round for some social drinks I'd put on for a birthday (he had tagged along with a mutual friend). Someone had mentioned that my van had an issue at the time and RB said he knew a lot about vehicles and would happily have a look at it the following day but 'I'd need you here mate' to my then DP. I asked why and he said he'd just be more comfortable with DP being there while fixing 'our' van and if it needed to be driven anywhere. I promptly told him that that was MY van, and that DP didn't as much as hold a driving licence at the time.

This has happened to me twice in my 20s and 30s when I was renovating. Not sure if it was because of my skin colour and because I was wearing denim. Once at a kitchen showroom and once at a blinds place both in Essex. I was so angry but my husband told me to let it go.

DH went into the local land rover showroom dressed in his usual jeans and tee shirt. He was treated with complete disinterest. He walked out drove Forty miles to the next nearest showroom, was treated with courtesy, got a better price and ordered two.

The sweet revenge was the local dealer had to do all the services for them. 😁

deffo on the rude and judgemental side then

I used to shop there years ago (mid 80's) and always found them very friendly and delighted to take my money. I mean I never spent thousands in there but they had a fair chunk of my money.

So: racism. In fact. Not classism.

There are too many Nobels for people to care, I think! In academia they are a dime a dozen.

Glad to hear things may have changed in Harrods!

My Dad had the opposite experience - he went into Mercedes to buy a car and they were so unhelpful and snotty (he was wearing jeans and t-shirt) that he went next door into BMW and bought a car there instead. He has bought BMWs ever since, for the last 40 years.

Literally might as well have done. 🙄

Back to our regular contact at Audi we went, he’s absolutely brilliant though so I have a feeling we will carry on there for many years to come! He deserves the commission, bless him!

I’m very surprised to read this about Harrods as their training very specifically says not to make assumptions on customer worth. Maybe it’s changed but they would give examples of very wealthy account holders and how they don’t all wear bling / even shower daily / brush hair etc. Cartier had some corkers of stories.

I’ve not really given the full story here (it’s too boring really)… I am forrin and some people decide I must be really thick because I speak with a foreign accent and sometimes phrase things a bit oddly. In this case I think the woman really was unable to answer my question, but I do sometimes get brushed off because people assume I’m stupid. “Middle-aged immigrant woman, waste of time dealing with her!”

I also think there is a difference between someone who could be got to do a good job with a little coaching and someone who is rude and judgemental

That’s bizarre - as if you’re going to want to buy a car that could be scratched by someone looking in the window 🤣 He should have just said, shoo, peasants!