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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel uncomfortable in Harrod’s?

360 replies

Chocolattay · 08/03/2022 20:05

I went in with my mum and baby recently on a day trip to London. I obviously knew I wouldn’t get very far with my measly £200 spends but I thought I could at least get earrings or something for baby.

Goodness me, I was very quickly humbled. I immediately felt insecure. Staff buzzing around me constantly and when I said “Oh I’m just looking around” they stared me down and walked off.

I just felt very unwelcome and inadequate the whole time. We did have a meal in one of the restaurants which was nice but I couldn’t get away quick enough afterwards. It didn’t help that we ended up getting lost for half an hour trying to find the exit, and the area with the escalators etc made me claustrophobic.

I breathed a sigh of relief when we got out. Then I went and spent my money in the nearby Zara instead.

All my friends say they love snooping around Harrods but I hated it. Anybody else?

OP posts:
anotherbrewplease · 09/03/2022 05:20

I cannot believe that 11 pages in people are still commenting on @RewildingAmbridge's post.

The Moment has gone now folks!! It was a throwaway comment and no one actually gives a shit.

Just sayin'

Rosieposie101 · 09/03/2022 05:23

@RewildingAmbridge

Round of applause OP £200 to spend on baby earrings in Harrods....
What a bizarre comment Confused She also never mentioned the earrings being for the baby?!
Landedonfeet · 09/03/2022 05:49

@RewildingAmbridge

Round of applause OP £200 to spend on baby earrings in Harrods....
A poster like this must be on the bones of their arse and in a very dark place or just a deeply unpleasant person!
Landedonfeet · 09/03/2022 05:52

@RewildingAmbridge

Call me a cynic
You’re being very kind to yourself there
Brefugee · 09/03/2022 07:13

Sounds as though, aside from Harrods, you had a great day out, OP. That's good because it's often a bit of a lottery with a baby.

At one point, not sure how it is now, they used to turn obvious tourists (shorts, bucket hats, backpacks) away at the door at Harrods. I'll be in London soon, maybe I'll have a shufty, i always did like the food hall.

a system of carnations depending on your level of seniority
Oh do spill! this is the kind of stuff i want to know about Harrods!

PonyPatter44 · 09/03/2022 07:17

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Quotes deleted post

Bluecatsalltheway · 09/03/2022 07:17

When I used to work in central London I used to shop in there.
Poor as church mouse I was but my credit card took the load.
I remember still my purchases there..
Burberry hat and jumper and I Clarins perfume gift set.
But I did not like it there much, it was more like boredom for me to there on the way from work and spent some money on a whim.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 09/03/2022 07:44

It’s not somewhere I’d really consider going.

When I was a teenager I remember going for a mooch about and having a milkshake in the food hall. It was priced like a fancy ish coffee house for that but not madly expensive.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 09/03/2022 07:45

Nobody treated us make anything though, good or bad. We didn’t really have staff coming up to us.

Rubyupbeat · 09/03/2022 07:49

Just remember Harrods staff are shop staff, no different to shop staff in Primark etc... My friends niece was a staff member in a Gucci shop and oh my she was so stuck up about it.
I am definitely not saying being shop staff is in anyway anything to look down on, but I hate the way some of these higher end shop staff really can make shoppers feel uncomfortable.

BuanoKubiamVej · 09/03/2022 07:54

For enjoyable Harrods browsing:

(1) know in advance that you are not going to buy anything. Unless money is in such plentiful supply that you don't care, there's nothing there that's affordable that you can't get as better value for money elsewhere.

(2) the fun is in the fantasy. If money really was no object, what would you get? How would you equip and decorate yourhome using what is available in harrods? What would your life be like?

(3) don't say to the assistants that you are just browsing or that you don't intend to spend anything. You don't have to tell them anything, you don't owe them anything. Be polite to them obviously but you can just say "thank you, I will let you know if I need help. Don't let me distract you from your other duties"

(4) if necessary, you can always say to whoever you are with something like "I really like this but I feel I need to take a second look at the similar one we saw in that little boutique earlier before I decide" then you can make an exit.

Landedonfeet · 09/03/2022 07:57

Those staff will hardly be above minimum wage Grin

SleepOhHowIMissYou · 09/03/2022 08:34

@Lovelteers

Harrods is for tourists, and full of overpriced tat. And as for the staff, they work in a shop so I wouldn’t worry too much about what they think, they aren’t any better or worse than you or anyone else.
They work in a shop so they don't matter?

What a nasty, judging sneery attitude you have.

Shame on you.

ScoobyDoo80 · 09/03/2022 08:45

So many judgemental comments!
Wow! It’s a shop!

Don’t think anybody IRL would describe my daughter and I are “chavs” or nouveau riche for enjoying The Food Hall!

OP was only ever making observations based on her experience. Crikey!

Copenhagenoffice · 09/03/2022 08:46

Thewiseoneincognito

Could you honestly be more patronizing with your horrible posts.

Ohyesiam · 09/03/2022 08:47

The last time I went to Harrods it was grim and tacky.

HRTQueen · 09/03/2022 08:49

I love the food hall and the amazing fish display

But then to some on here I am a chav (I was a young child with pierced ears Shock)

pinkyredrose · 09/03/2022 08:52

And as for the staff, they work in a shop so I wouldn’t worry too much about what they think

HmmShock

MotherofAutism · 09/03/2022 09:18

@AppleNo8

Did your infant really really want earrings from Harrods? Yabu.
FFS! 🤦🏼‍♀️
CounsellorTroi · 09/03/2022 09:22

I bought a couple of Christmas tree decorations last time I was in there. I like to buy them when I’m on holiday. I just found Harrods a bit of a laugh tbh.

SleeplessInEngland · 09/03/2022 09:26

Harrod's is an expensive but naff tourist trap. It's a department store for people who think Dubai is height of sophistication and glamour.

Multicolouredsequins · 09/03/2022 09:33

Horrible place. I remember going in the 80s with my family. We popped to the Ladies loo. There was a cleaner wiping the seat after each customer left their cubicle. She was so rude, knocking on the doors, telling people to 'hurry up in there' 😳 Never went back.

ScoobyDoo80 · 09/03/2022 09:40

Well, the thought of Dubai makes me shudder, though I can see why others would enjoy it.
What a snobby lot!
If my family would be considered any kind of “money”, it would definitely be “old money”!

We enjoy Harrods for a bit of fun, just as we enjoy Primark! Some really judgemental people here. I had never even considered that others may look down on us for having a bit of fun. So odd!

Blueeyedgirl21 · 09/03/2022 09:43

Prefer a mooch round Liberty! Got a lovely photo frame for an engagement gift for £25 and some lovely lip balm and hand cream for about £15

Brainwave89 · 09/03/2022 09:47

Never liked it. More a place for wealthy tourists than anything else. If I am hosting people to go to London I would certainly do Selfridges, John Lewis, Fortnum and Mason and Hamleys but I would rarely got to Harrods.