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!

or yes you/one/they could also bear in mind that 'retail is detial..."

OK OK OK. I know you're all right!!!!

Actually, I was thinking that 'you' are right.

ffs DETAIL!!! yes, I get the irony...

I agree with JW13 it might have not been the most expensive item in the shop but could be the start of a long and very expensive journey for you daughter with the shop.

You can't beat Selfridges for giving a good shopping experience. I purchased an 'add on gift’ for a friend's main pressie from there for around £20. It was packaged so lovely I had to explain to my friend it wasn't her main pressie.

As they were so lovely and didn't rush the purchase, even though it was for a small amount, we got talking and I ended up buying some very expensive Japanese whiskey as a pressie for myself with repeat business for it!

I always wonder how people that treat customers like that ever get employed in the first place! There are some bloody miserable people in the supermarkets near us - it doesn't take much to at least exchange a few words, talk about the weather, whatever. I used to work at Tescos & really enjoyed the interaction on the till. Some folks that came in barely saw anyone all week so were happy to chat. I got my regulars, which was lovely, and I treated everyone the way I would want to be treated. Surely you enjoy your job more if you put more in?

Send a complaint and leave a review on Google.

Yolo I'd email them to say how disappointed you were with the service of the sullen teen, and you expected at least a smile and friendly service for your Dd's 21st special birthday present. Doesn't matter what you bought, they should give the best service for the prices they charge and the reputation they want to maintain.

'Bare in mind retail is just retail,'

Bear in mind it's 'bear in mind'.

It's on occasions like this that I really wish there was a Like button.

Dh and I wandered into tiffany on bond street last month. We both had our backpacks on, I was wearing my metallica shirt. They could not have been nicer. The lady was chatty and lovely and told dh he needed to bring me back for my birthday. He did buy me a necklace whilst we were there.

I hate places that judge like that, just because I don't walk into a store dripping with gold and carrying designer bags doesnt mean I have no right to shop there.

I actually feel sorry for the two apologists on this thread. They are actually showing how little they value themselves if they think people should be treated in accordance with how much/little money they have.

Simples- take you custom elsewhere!

In my early 20s I was in Tiffany in New York. They were charming, helpful and so nice to me I felt I had to tell them I was poor and just in there for a nose around.

The assistant said "You may not have money to spend today ma'am, but when you do I want you to think of Tiffany".

Sadly I'm still waiting for that day...

Yolo. I get why you're disappointed and I think some people on here are being mean for the sake of it.
I would drop the store an email because they do care about customer service.
Try not to dwell on it though. It was a special treat so just remember the nice bits of the birthday. :)

No kind of "is this a special purchase" or any interest at all actually

You wanted to tell him it was your dd's 21st birthday present. I get it.
But ultimately, I don't really get it. I just go into a shop to buy stuff.
I hate when people gush at me, or pretend they are interested when I know they are actually not interested at all. I cringe when retail staff fawn over me when I'm browsing super expensive handbags.
I just like looking at them.
I nearly bought a £300 handbag once, for my 20th WA instead of a precious stone, because I don't care much for jewellery. But the sales staff more or less chased me off by being over-attentive. Just leave me a-fucking-lone, to look, for goodness sake.

Nope. On this occasion, I really cannot say that I know where you're coming from. I come from the opposite direction entirely.

I think this was the present

I thought these high end shops were all about the experience, and the service, and the lurrve and all that shit

Fuck the experience and the lurve. Getting the same thing for a fraction of the price on ebay gives me the best fuzzy warming thrill.
And no shit.

Three times during this thread you've referred to her as a "sullen youth".

Why do you think it's acceptable to mention her age range as though it's an insult?

Sorry to hear about your experience, OP, and sad to say that I’ve had a similar experience in LV. Others of their stores hadn’t operated the ‘put your name on a waiting list’ thing, so after we’d looked around for 10 mins or so and then spent another 10 mins trying to get the attention of a SA, this was not welcome news - especially when the waiting list was 25-35 minutes!

Ridiculous. Rude and unhelpful staff. I left after a brief conversation with the store manager without making a purchase.

I had another odd LV experience when looking to buy a small and a large version of the same bag, only to be told it was company policy not to allow that. Surely that’s utter nonsense?!

Online is the way to go with LV, I reckon.

I agree with Selfridges being fab! I sought out a present at Cartier on Bond St - but was told as it was one of their lower value items they didn't stock it but I could probably find it at Selfridges. So off I trotted and the service there was great and was a special memory for me. Wrapped and presented beautifully. No one can make you feel a certain kind of way, only you can do that.

Money is money, designer shops don't have a minimum spend like hiring a fucking bar!! So not really sure what you're wittering on about Loyalty

I got this last time I was in Debenhams.

Rocha by John Rocha ain't what it used to be.

I can tell that you don’t regularly buy luxury items, but the service offered to you was standard for a very small purchase.

you have GOT to be kidding! What a horrible attitude.

Small purchase, large purchase - if you work in a supposedly 'luxury' shop, you damn well treat everybody the same. The person spending £125 today might be the person spending £5k in a year's time. Walk into Fortnum's and spend £2 and you get the same treatment as someone maxing out the credit card.

You should have done 4ever’s suggestion- hilarious!!!!

Oh I see 4ever sailed right over my head did that one :)

YANBU OP, I'd have been dissapointed too. I've lived in a few countries and I think that sales staff in the UK are generally the nicest and friendliest. I'd be dissapointed to receive sullen service regardless of what I was buying.

I once went window shopping in the jewellery department in Harrods. Even though I was just looking most of the staff were charming. I thought that was really professional of them. If I win the lottery I know where I'm heading to buy my diamonds.