Pretty Woman Moment

I genuinely hope this isn’t true. What a humiliating way to treat his employee!!!

I was, however, once told that I could not arrange an appointment for a new front door (or shutters possibly, may be misremembering this part) unless my husband was also going to be present, which absolutely blew my mind. And they wouldn’t budge on it.

My husband couldn’t care less what front door, flooring, furniture or anything we have so I haven’t a clue what value he thought he needed to add. Needless to say, I did not order from that company!

A very wealthy friend had a similar experience, in his wife’s car (still nice though) in his usual jeans and tee. So incensed by the staff he went and collected his floor cleaner from his factory, dressed him in a top end suit, shirt tie aftershave expensive shoes. Sent him to the car show room to ask for a test drive…which he got.
His employee then called his boss with his verdict and told the sales staff they had lost a sale. His boss then arranged for the employees bicycle to be dropped off for him to cycle home.
The employee got to keep the clothes

I agree with this.

I WFH and look homeless at least 80% of my waking time. I’ve bought a six figure car looking like I’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards, joined a very exclusive spa health club type place looking the same…. Bought my watch, various other jewellery, turned up to view my house on a total whim (large new builds, drove past, walked in and asked what they had available of the largest plot and house size). I do a lot on a whim, without thinking, planning or dressing ‘appropriately’ because I have a chaotic job, crazy busy life and a perimenopausal inability to forward plan anything.

I’m sure in all of the above scenarios, I’d have been judged as not being able to afford it but nobody ever reacted like that - polite and courteous throughout. Probably behind my back wondering why I didn’t brush my hair more often but their faces never gave it away!

In the film Julia Robert’s gets snubbed in a high end dress shop…

I get the impression that some wool shops are run as paying hobbies, to be honest, a place to invite your mates round for coffee and gossip twice a week. There was a get together like this going on in one shop I visited recently, I walked in and round, looking at yarns and none of the half dozen people sitting round a table chatting so much as said hello. So I left and bought what I wanted elsewhere.

I worked in investment backing many many years ago in the 80's, and after 6 months I knew that the more shocking the appearance of both men and women, the greater the investment that would be made. Many were farmers investing hundreds of thousands. In the very smart bank, the very smary staff were super professional and respectful.

I remember many years ago going in to the first class carriage of a train and a woman looking at me and saying ‘This is first class’. I told her I hope so, because that’s what I’ve paid for. She smiled awkwardly and sat down.

Buying new front and patio doors, I get a double whammy of assumptions..

1 - I can't possibly be able to make decisions because I am... a woman.
2 - but how can they ask for my husband, when I am a fatty in a wheelchair and very obviously cannot have a MAN in my life...

I point out its MY house, not my partners and then roll out and got my windows at the third place we went to (was out shopping with my sister, DP is bob useless at aiding in sensible decisions!)

Buying an iPad and apple pencil, I checked Currys actually had both in stock before I went.

Arrived there to be told no... no they couldn't let me TRY the apple pencil before buying - I sent him to check with the manager as I had been told I could, and that was why I was buying in person. Total disinterest and very obviously the assumption was that I just wanted to play with it on my nice day out and van drive (all disabled people love a van ride you know) and wasn't buying.

Sales assistant finally reappears, but by this point DP has stopped drooling over cameras and told me the lad had just hidden round the back near the tellys having a witter with his mate and hadn't gone to find a manager at all.

So when he gets to me, I said 'I can't try the pencil can I, because instead of asking your manager, you've just hidden round the back near the tellys for ten minutes ignoring me. I'll buy it online thanks!'

The manager was walking past and heard this, so tried to change my mind (I'm sure they don't think £1200 of my money is particularly important, I suspect he was fearing a complaint email to his head office) but I told him he could try hiring people who WANT to sell things to customers, rather than those who want to put customers off!

Not normally that on point with my retorts but I had had ten minutes to think about it!

DH friend multi millionaire wears old jeans and a checked shirt always. He went into a car dealership ready to spend a lot of money on a new Bentley. The sales people ignored him. He was amused.

Went through something similar years ago and always wished I said something - I really can't understand how people can judge just off appearances alone for something like this.

I got engaged and was offered my now husband's family's heirloom engagement ring (we think it was made in 1800s)and 22ct gold band (both of which I loved). But sadly, they were both too small and I needed them resizing.

Went into a very expensive high end jewellers near me - the kind with security on the door. The weather was atrocious and I was in Jeans, trainers and a high street winter coat that day so not dressed up to the nines.

Talked to a snooty sales lady and she looked down her nose at my rings whilst I explained my situation. She kept saying it was going to be really expensive to resize and I should speak to my fiance first - she kept repeating this to me and didn't seem to want to give me a price. Never mind that at the time my financial position was better than his. She never asked me for my budget but I assume she looked down on me because of how I was dressed.

At the same time, she saw a man in a green gillet and then she went off and was all over him and basically left me alone so I could 'call my fiance'. I ended up leaving and going to another local jeweller who was lovely, complimented the rings and he was immediately given the business.

I get that I wasn't buying a new ring from the posh jewellers so she wasn't going to get a big commission - but she could have just dealt with me quickly and moved on.

Joke was on her though as the other customer didn't end up buying anything either.

The guy who came to fit a window told me I couldn't afford to have a different type of window out in in another room. I wish I could remember what I said back to him but karma. As he was very rude to me when he thought I couldn't hear, I told a neighbour who was thinking of using him and then didn't.

If you want the door I would email the company, they might give you a discount.

This happens to me from time to time. I tend to be fairly scruffy outside of work (lots of dog-walking), so when I stop by expensive clothes shops to get stuff for work, they ignore me or try to get rid. I just go somewhere where they are nicer. Of if I really want the item, then I insist they serve me properly.

It's less about being pretty, and more about an assumption on your socio-economic position.

Try buying a motorbike. You'll see.

Eh? You were all trying on shoes, but it was “obvious” that you meant business while they’d clearly just come inside to get out of the rain… 🤔

Watch the film.

I used to work in a bank and back then staff got loans on a lower interest rate. (It was the 80s and interest rates were about double what they are now so it was a good perk).

My manager had to approve the loan. He knew we had the money for the deposit, knew what my DH earned and what I earned and could see on our joint account statements what our outgoings were.

He turned me down because I mentioned we were looking to buy a Volvo (from a friend of my parents). He drove one and suggested a Ford Fiesta would be more appropriate and even got a newspaper out to show me secondhand Fiesta ads at local garages.

I wish I’d been able to have a Pretty Woman moment at that time, but I do enjoy a wry smile every time I buy a new (to me) car.

We had this when we were looking to buy a house once (25 years or more ago, so a lot easier). We were quite young but we were well able to afford said house. Estate agent took one look at us, made her mind up and suggested we look for something more suitable. Twat.

If it's any consolation op I often get the opposite. I dress really well often wearing a suit etc because I like to look smart. But I am the tightest person in Christendom and begrudge spending a penny. If I go into a shop often the assistant steers me towards the expensive items! When I want the cheapest!

Then these 'trade shows' need to make it obvious to customers before they think of attending these trade shows so they aren't wasting customers time!

Indeed. Really annoying sonetimes that mumsnet don't offer a block option...

So far 27 people have responded with the same thing. I think that poster gets the message now.

Lots of people are still confusing customer service in a shop with a trade show. OP was at a TRADE SHOW for building and renovations. These are typically extremely long days with the goal of finding new partners and business contracts. The goal is not selling single items and there is usually zero incentive or commission to do so.

Anyone who has done trade shows knows that the main objective is to filter out visitors based on their magnitude. There are big fish, small fish and time wasters. The big ones are international retailers, developers, investors and people who can bring 6-7 figures to the business. The smaller ones are maybe distributors or smaller retailers who want to purchase 5-6 figures worth of products. The very small ones are just private individuals having a mosey around the event for their own enjoyment. These are very low down on the priority rung.

The selling dynamic at a show is also very different to a shop or showroom. There are 10 hour days standing on your feet and talking non-stop for 3-5 days. It's not like a shop floor where you come in fresh, finish you shift in a few hours and get to go home. Trade shows are more brutal and at some point people need to conserve their energy. If they can tell that a potential visitor is not a big fish, there is honestly no point giving the whole pitch. OP was clearly fobbed off because they weren't interested in just selling one single door.

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