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!

The wealthiest people I've known haven't cared one bit. Stains on tshirts, kids running round with felt tip pen marks on clothes and faces, hair not done. Nothing to prove and better things to do, no interest in fashion and a sense of security probably explains it.

I can't stop being a twat Puffpaw. I've tried but I enjoy it too much

I'm going to be such a toady now. Look away if you hate that kind of thing ...

limitedperiodonly You always make me laugh - and I say that, having been on the receiving end of your wit on occasion.

poshpaws I know what you mean. You've a slightly unforgiving way of saying it but, yes. I'd add that it makes me sad: we're a rich nation; I think it's inexcusable that access to health is income limited in this country and that the effects of that are written on the body (most clearly in life expectancy).

However, I totally agree with limited . It's just a bit pants to be treated like something negligable, worthless and ignorable. It just is.

negligible

(That irritated me.)

I say that, having been on the receiving end of your wit on occasion.

I'm sorry about that Cat and a bit ashamed. I like you too. goes a fellow toad

Don't feel too ashamed, limited , you had a good point at the time.

I've had brilliant an appalling service. I had amazing service at Victoria Beckham where I did buy a dress but far from the most expensive one and I rocked up there in my Primark best. They were lovely even before I opened my mouth, I don't know if I looked like I was going to spend money or if they just have good service. I also go quite regularly to a restaurant which is very hard to get tables at and which is always full of celebs. I don't know if it's because we go there quite often but they always find me a table, and we always seem to sit at the same lovely table. Maybe loyalty pays off? I don't know.

Blimey op, I've only skimmed but you seem to have come in for some horribly unjustified criticism from some on here.

I hope you now know that this was your own fault for having high expectations, spoiling your daughter, naively falling for clever marketing tricks, haughtily describing a sullen youth as a sullen youth, buying wholeheartedly into the black underbelly of consumerism, having a bit too much money to spend, having no taste in leatherwear and not teaching your dd that she should instead be asking for a handknitted hemp sack and be grateful for it.

In the real world most people have spent over the odds to please a child with the gift they want for a special occasion, even if it wouldn't be our own choice. At 21 she chose an item and hoped for a nice shopping experience. You should expect decent customer service anywhere. I find twitter very effective for complaints.

Incidentally, should you be in that position again I find that the way to get a bored, underpaid sales assistant onside is to tell them it's a special purchase/occasion/gift.

The level of pretentious from some people on this thread 😂

As an account manager for a premium cosmetic brand, everyone gets treated the same. From someone who buys a fifteen pound eyebrow pencil to someone who spends hundreds. Just because someone isn't spending a fortune that day, doesn't mean they won't in the future.

Many of the cosmetic girls would have no time for teenagers or youths. I always did. Because one day they will grow up and remember the treatment they were given when they have their own money to spend. And as it happened many of them would send parents in for Xmas presents etc.

You can't judge a book by its cover either. Any sales assistant who doesn't treat all their customers with respect and equally, shouldn't be in sales.

The yoof in the store doesnt care about long term customers. They just see it as a stepping stone to meet a rich guy or "get discovered" and become a model and just want the most commission.

Op have you had these beautiful emails yet?

gottogetmyfinger you are really proving the point though aren't you.
As an account manager for a premium cosmetic brand, everyone gets treated the same.
And
Many of the cosmetic girls would have no time for teenagers or youths.

thecatfromjapan yes it makes me sad too. And I'm puffy, not posh

limited well at least you've tried. I'm glad you're having fun.

All this nonsense about sales staff being able to tell who has money to spend and who doesn't is confirmation bias, as well as a self-fulfilling prophecy:

1. Somebody comes in who the snobby employee pegs as poor. Snobby employee treats said person with indifference or contempt. Person leaves without spending money. Snobby employee congratulates him/herself on having wonderful perception.

1. Someone comes in who snobby employee pegs as a big spender. They get attentive service. They buy things. Snobby employee congratulates him/herself on having wonderful perception.

I've worked with all sections of society, and you can tell the difference. One of the richest people I know walks his dog on a string and dresses like a tramp, but the year round (real) tan, the expensive, albeit threadbare, clothes, excellent shoes and teeth give him away. That's before he opens his mouth and his education and confidence make it very clear this is a man of some means. If you can't spot the difference then you are lacking in observational skills.

I think it is rather harsh to call retail employees snobby. They are working in a system that rewards them for the highest value sales. Of course they will try and assess which customers are likely to become an ongoing source of commission.

What about all those cockney dot.com millionaires from the 90’s and their ilk? People from very humble origins can make a hell of a lot of money very quickly (or they could back then), it didn’t instantly confer class.
Would you have indentified any of them as rich without a glance at their bank statement?

DD has always wanted to buy a pair of louboutins with her first pay check. She had a summer holiday job from University but couldn't bring herself to splash that much so I offered to go halves with her for her 21st. We went to Selfridges on the day where tbh I felt a bit sickened by the hoards of shoppers and the sheer mass of expensive stuff. Once we got to the boutique within a boutique it was wonderful- lovely excited for her assistant, unpushy and wrote down what she'd tried on posh little cards (i.e. didn't think he'd get an immediate sale) no upselling, just a perfect experience.
I completely understand where you're coming from OP. A snotty assistant would have ruined what turned into a really fun experience.

Yes, I know several, they tend to be very proud of what they have achieved and even if they are in a tracksuit they are likely to be wearing a big watch, limited edition trainers. Having said that most dress prettty sharply!
Being rich has very little to with class, much to the aspiring middle classes chagrin.
But happiness is not found at the bottom of a LV. Handbag, it is just a big con.

LV's customer service is notoriously shite, Mulberry, Chanel, Hermes and some of the others are great but LV have always been surly and miserable. I walked out after choosing £3,000 worth of stuff and the sales assistant asking me if I wanted a drink but make sure it wasn't a hot drink as she didn't want to make one
I was LIVID.

Puffpaw, no I'm talking about how I personally treat customers as someone who works in retail and believe they should be treated. I thought that was clear.

I never suggested being rich had anything to do with class, Puffpaw, quite the opposite. You claimed you could immediately identify the wealthy by how healthy their skin and teeth looked; now you claim you can tell the more recently wealthy (including those who may have grown up very poor) by their big watches, even if they happen to be wearing a tracksuit...
What rot.

Out of curiosity, those that have received poor service from a store, do you ever write and tell them how much money you didn't spend with them as a result?

Guess you don't know many rich people then greyhound
This is what I originally said People with access to great nutrition, a healthier lifestyle which often goes hand in hand with wealth, good dental work, hair etc still look wealthy even in a tracksuit. They will give clues with their confidence, their manner, the trainers they are wearing etc etc. People are very good and often very accurate at assessing spendibilty based on hundreds of subtle cues, rightly or wrongly, and they do look
I said there are hundreds of clues, not any one defining characteristic.
What is your point exactly because I am really not clear? Do you genuinely think it is impossible to tell who is rich and who is not? Do you really think sales people are not going to try and maximise their earnings?
Is that a good thing? not in my view, but it doesn't make it any less true.

Do you genuinely think it is impossible to tell who is rich and who is not?

Yes it is impossible to tell who is rich and who isn’t, some people don’t want to need/prove they are wealthy by wearing nice things.