to be disappointed about luxury store customer service?

[yolofish]

My DD1 has just turned 21, so today we went to vv expensive, luxury shop to buy her possibly the 3rd cheapest thing they offer - agreed pressie, actually not too expensive in the scheme of things.

We were both reasonably dressed - possibly more so than the tourists wandering around - yet we were not treated that well. Apparently the system is you give your name at the door - no one asked us that, so we wandered around until I found a sales lady who said she would add our names to the list.

20 mins later we were then served by the most incredibly sullen youth I have ever come across. Absolutely no interest in us - slapped the chosen item on the counter, didn't bother to point out any its features or why it would be so desirable. No kind of "is this a special purchase" or any interest at all actually. The packaging was eventually lovely, and hopefully she will get beautiful emails from the store in question and maybe the odd glossy brochure in the future after we'd filled in all the inevitable details.

I feel mugged!

We still bought it, because she'd set her heart on it, but she was disappointed by the whole experience because of the way we were treated. She loves the present, but the experience was such a bloody disappointment!

Oh, ffs, her own dd is a youth. Clearly she does not hate youthful people. It was a description of the man who served her - young, sullen and unhelpful. If anything, it lets him off the hook for being too inexperienced to have learnt he is expected to schmooze, yet. If you see deliberate offensiveness there, you are seriously trigger happy and looking for an argument, WhatToDo. .

roundaboutthetown Nope, I'm not looking for an argument. I'm just pointing out the OPs use of language as she attempted to insult someone for their age.

I think it just epitomises customer service in this country which in many places is dreadful.

Example that happened to me the other day - went to an expensive spa. Had specifically chosen it for my birthday treat with friend because of a treatment. Get there they do not have ingredients for chosen treatment no apology just get told to choose something else. Then sat by outside swimming pool man starts mowing the lawn with ear defenders on next to the spa guests!

I don't think of sullen youth as an insult. It makes me think of James Dean or Marlon Brando before he got really fat and loopy.

It could be a positive if LV were thinking of rebranding as a one-off indie record shop. However, they are an international purveyor of luxury goods and it sounds as if he fell beneath the minimum standards required in all reputable retail outlets.

PS I don't think James or Marlon would have been cut out for a career in high end retail or an ice cream van

I bought a dress from Dolce & Gabanna it was expensive even in the sale. The shop assistant was vile I just laughed with my friend about what a tosser he was it didn't spoil my day and didn't give it a second thought. The staff in Chanel have always been very pleasant. Harvey Nichols staff are generally very welcoming.

It's also the mark of someone who's really good at their job - any job - to notice when someone stands out from the ordinary.

The sales assistant may well deal with people spending tens of thousands in one go. He might want or need to spend more time on those people because of commission or company policy.

But that shouldn't affect his core professionalism and just basic decent human nature. I don't work in retail but you can say I work with customers. What makes me smile is helping people who weren't expecting that much. It doesn't matter to me. I'm just doing my job anyway. It passes the time in a good way.

So if the Louis Vuitton sales assistant couldn't spot a 40-something woman and her 21-year-old daughter shopping for a special trinket and then managed not just to make their time a mediocre one but made it actively unpleasant, then he's not much of a salesman and a bit of an arsehole. My husband, who does work in retail, would be on his sorry arse.

oh limited I love you!! just for the 40 something bit, as getting past the mid-fifties bit actually!! age is a descriptor in some ways; as a sullen youth perhaps he didnt realise that mums buying things for their daughters was a thing. (I hate to throw this in here, but he was also French!!) disclaimer: I have worked closely with many French people for the last 20 years, it's not a French thing at all, but since French customer service has been mentioned on the thread...

"It does look like the kind of thing you'd buy for £3 in a market though"

This, along with the pp who said the op was ONLY spending 150 are really shitty. Hope you both feel nice and superior now, clearly that was your intention. You obviously lead shallow meaningless little lives.

as a sullen youth perhaps he didnt realise that mums buying things for their daughters was a thing. (I hate to throw this in here, but he was also French!!)

Wtf?

OP let it go and move on there are plenty of awful staff at high end shops it's not just you that has been treated badly.

If you were spending more, they'd be a LOT nicer to you. Promise you that.

Wankers then. Hate this crap.

It really doesn't matter what you're buying - customer service should be exactly the same if you are buying the cheapest item or the most expensive. I would name and shame the sullen youth in a complaint email. I would expect, sadly, given that he had that attitude to begin with, that they don't give a fuck about their customers, but perhaps the email might land on the correct person's lap and the youth is spoken to about their behaviour. There is no need for rudeness. If you work in retail, you treat each person like they matter. If you can't do that, don't bloody work in retail.

I hope your daughter enjoys her gift, OP, but I would be telling the store that they are a bunch of wankers and I'm glad you've named and shamed them.

Amandaloux .. perhaps now you've 'secured your graduate job', you'll learn its 'bear in mind', not 'bare in mind'.

Never mind, hun

I had guessed Vuitton before you said. Hideous customer service. It is no better in Their outlet in Selfridges.

I understand fully that your daughter would have loved the special attention. Oh these places are hideous.

I hope your DD is enjoying her present despite the poor customer service you both received.

In a luxury shop I would expect a high level of customer service. I've had some horrible experiences in high end stores over the years and I believe the common link is my disability, the lady walking in with the crutches gets ignored whilst people entering in after me get served without a problem. Sales staff in Dior were unhelpful until they found out I was going to a wedding at St Paul's and then two staff members were very keen to help, seemingly the wedding venue was the magic words for decent customer service.

My best experiences have always been in Harrods and they have inspired brand loyalty, I live in the North so not a regular customer but whenever I need something special I'll go down to the store.
My best experience was with a sales assistant In The Louboutin section, he spent so much time with me and found me exactly what I needed, was interested in my needs and was just lovely and helpful, he will have earned extra commission as he took the time and effort to help me, rather then ignore me, and I bought a pair of killer wheelchair shoes as well.

I'm on the 2nd page but I want to put my vote down ; Louis Vuitton , Key cles/pouch for £125. The name on the list thing is annoying but useful !

I bought a pair of Brandy glasses at Mappin & Webb in London about 16 years ago. They cost £30.

I was taken to sit at a little table behind a screen to pay (confusing). The SA took the glasses out of their box and told me a bit about them. He said I had made, 'a very fine choice'. He was lovely to me.

While I was there I overheard the guy behind me paying £24000 for a watch. There was no difference at all in the way we were treated.

My SA seemed very comfortable with himself. He was quietly confident and sort of commanded respect. I think that's key. People who don't know or particularly like themselves tend to treat others in the way that the youth at LV treated OP and her daughter.

OP when she starts lusting after the LV Neverfull direct her to the Saint Laurent tote. It's nicer, around £200-300 cheaper and it's made of calfskin.

Not canvas/vinyl for nearly a grand.

It's consumerism gone mad. That people are willing to pay £150 for a tacky little purse. And I saw a key ring on one of those websites for £150 that looked like something out of a Christmas cracker. It's sad that people are falling for this.

My Friend is an English teacher in France and some of her clients are students doing a degree in luxe- the course, in a private "school" costs a fortune. The goal is to get a shop assistant's job in Chanel etc. Blows my mind.

Actually this reminds me of buying a present for my dad in Galeries Lafayette in Paris years ago. It was expensive as it was a big birthday but the saleswoman wouldn't gift wrap it. I had my card in the machine ready to pay and then said I'd changed my mind. Such a small victory, had to start over elsewhere though.

It literally doesn't matter at all how much you're spending in a shop. The level of care and attention and service given should be exactly the same.

Some absolute dickhead responses on here

I suggest you write to them and tell them how you feel

Years ago a friend and I went into LV and were treated just as you describe. I had planned to buy DH a wallet and had saved for ages so knew I could afford it but we were so disgusted we left and bought something different. I complained, had a telephone call from the store manager and was sent a letter of apology and a small gift.

When the manager rang me he said they impress on staff the importance of treating everyone with equal respect so it might be worth sharing your experience with them

Well OP that's you told - you don't spend enough on purses and you spend too much on computers. You are also anti youth and don't understand how rich people live. And you've never sold advertising space to a bakery that mashes your bread up into balls and puts it in tiny bags so frankly you know nothing of French high society.

OP...... Define a 'beautiful email'