To absolutely HATE New York

[GreetingsFromVenus]

Dreamed of going there for many years. Thought it would be amazing. Everyone seems to think it is.

Here now and I hate it. Extortionate prices, rude ignorant locals, so many aggressive beggars. mentally ill people shouting in the street. loads of homeless people. The subway stations are disgusting and feel very menacing compared to London.

I find it really depressing actually and feel that the way Hollywood has portrayed New York is all smoke and mirrors. It is nothing special at all IMO. In fact it has a LOT of social issues and it made me feel quite sick to be spending $100 just for a mid range meal for 2 (no dessert) while there were people asking for food outside.

Central Park - pffttt!

Cannot wait to get home next week and will never complain about London prices again!

Anyone else felt the same?

Except for ten days in London, I haven’t been more than one hundred miles from home since 2013. That was to New York. John Lewis is wonderful; it reminds me of Jordan Marsh and Filene’s long extinct. Macy’s has carts now, and virtually no customer service. Their quality is poor, and selection limited.

It's good to do a little research before you go on holiday, especially a city break. That way you don't walk into Macy's expecting it to be like Liberty.

@Ericaequites

Except for ten days in London, I haven’t been more than one hundred miles from home since 2013. That was to New York. John Lewis is wonderful; it reminds me of Jordan Marsh and Filene’s long extinct. Macy’s has carts now, and virtually no customer service. Their quality is poor, and selection limited.

Out of curiosity what customer service did you want? When I’ve been to Macy’s I selected the items I wanted to buy and made my way to the till where they were scanned and payment was taken along with a bit of friendly chat eg oh these are lovely/where’s your accent from/rubbish weather isn’t it. That’s sort of what I’d expect? I mean it’s not a high end boutique so you don’t be met at the door with champagne and have someone help you try the clothes.

I enjoyed visiting NY, but prefer London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Barcelona, Ghent, Bruges, Hamburg, Berlin, Milan, Boston, Tokyo....

Even if I thought it easy the best city on Earth though, YANBU not to like it. It's extremely densely packed and busy, very rough around the edges, and there's plenty of poverty and misery there.

There's no reason it should be universally liked.

Bloomingdales is a lovely store, but I haven't been in one in a few years. Neiman's is really posh. When DH and I were first dating I needed a new coat and we went to Bloomies and he bought me a lovely wool one in dark green.

Macy’s is all designer stuff. It’s all Tommy Hilfiger, Louis Vuitton and Gucci. The escalators must be the original 19th century ones, wooden and extremely worn. Bloomingdale’s has exactly the same stores but looks much posher. I was hoping for some bargains but $150 for a cardie on sale! The WTC exactly the same shops as well. I have no idea how New Yorkers live and shop there. They had a H&M which seemed to very busy though.

@NotANewYorker

Macy’s is all designer stuff. It’s all Tommy Hilfiger, Louis Vuitton and Gucci. The escalators must be the original 19th century ones, wooden and extremely worn. Bloomingdale’s has exactly the same stores but looks much posher. I was hoping for some bargains but $150 for a cardie on sale! The WTC exactly the same shops as well. I have no idea how New Yorkers live and shop there. They had a H&M which seemed to very busy though.

The same way people live in London or Rome. They buy their clothes where they can afford. Not all Italians will be shopping in the via del corso. Londoners won’t all be shopping in Harrods.

New Yorkers will be buying clothes online, shopping at gap, H&M, supermarkets which generally have a good selection of clothes, outlets etc.

It isn’t Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, or wrap yourself up in bin bags. And even Macy’s does have reasonable priced items, some of it is designer but stuff like adidas, hippie rose, champion etc is not very expensive.

Forgot good old TJ Maxx! Not sure why that would be confusing to you. Of course $150 is expensive for a cardigan. Of course not everyone in New York can afford that. There are quite obviously other places to shop.

Macy’s is all designer stuff. It’s all Tommy Hilfiger
In what universe is Tommy Hilfiger 'designer?

I went there many years ago but only for 5/6 nights and to be honest the best thing was Broadway and getting really good seats to see La Cage aux Folles ( Bird Cage) so you can guess it was nearly 20 years ago but I did all the sights and went on the horse and carriage in Central Park and went to Tiffany’s and Trump Plaza and Macy’s etc
I always remember a great little all night store, selling fresh pasta, bread, fruits etc it was called Del Monico near the Waldorf Astoria it used to be.
I’d love to know if it’s still there?

I don't like shopping in department stores, but why is it bad that Macy's has its original wooden escalators? Isn't that the kind of detail one might actually think of as rather quaint? Personally, I love finding odd, interesting architectural details in buildings. This is the first time I've heard anyone complain "The escalators were too wooden."

@Contactmap

Macy’s is all designer stuff. It’s all Tommy Hilfiger In what universe is Tommy Hilfiger 'designer?

Lol

Yes I agree with you but for some reason Tommy Hilfiger( hope I’ve spelt it right) and Ralph Lauren is huge over there. Lol

@aweebitlost

I’ve never felt so unsafe anywhere else in all my life.

Sorry, I haven't RTFT, but I am also an NYC hater so couldn't resist clicking. Obviously I'll say YANBU. I found this comment of yours really interesting and it does suggest a big change as a result of Covid. I lived in NYC in the 00's and only once felt very unsafe - in Chelsea, in the small hours, because someone was following me - but I found San Francisco absolutely terrifying. I couldn't wait to leave. I also found it incredibly sad; lots of homeless teens. I wonder what it's like there now.

I've heard exactly the same about SF. I used to seem like somewhere I'd like to go one day, but I've gone completely off the idea.

@aweebitlost @SeeMyLanyardAndWeepBitch

It’s 4 years since I’ve been to SF, I love it and there’s still a great vibe but the number of homeless people was quite startling and driving our towards the airport some of the neighbourhoods look so depressing, if had definitely gone downhill. I wonder if it’s worse now.

I now want to go to New York thanks to this thread!

@Kanaloa- I don’t expect champagne or chats, but do expect a good selection of stock, clear aisles, and classic well made clothing. There should be no sexualized clothing for children, torn jeans, or self serve shoes. Quite ordinary department stores had bra fitters on staff, but that’s long gone.
American supermarkets generally don’t sell clothes, but WalMart, Costco, and Target do. Target had several stores in NYC, and many stylish budget items.

[quote Ericaequites]@Kanaloa- I don’t expect champagne or chats, but do expect a good selection of stock, clear aisles, and classic well made clothing. There should be no sexualized clothing for children, torn jeans, or self serve shoes. Quite ordinary department stores had bra fitters on staff, but that’s long gone.
American supermarkets generally don’t sell clothes, but WalMart, Costco, and Target do. Target had several stores in NYC, and many stylish budget items.[/quote]
Walmart, Costco, and target are supermarkets. The three major ones actually. And all sell clothes.

I personally didn’t experience sexualised kids clothes, just normal kids outfits. And I wouldn’t really see torn jeans/self serve shoes? As a customer service issue. I mean aren’t most places self serve shoes? Same with clear aisles, I’ve never found Macy’s a messy store in any way.

Perhaps you went to a bad Macy’s? In the town where I live if I say I’m going to T.K Maxx my sister always asks ‘the good one? Or the one in town?’

There are variations even in chains!

But yes I like the target clothing too. Especially the accessories and pjs!