To feel uncomfortable in Harrod’s?

[Chocolattay]

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?

Can’t believe the people on here who lack primary school reading comprehension, christ.

Earrings OR something for the baby. It’s not hard.

A friend of mine worked in Harrod’s for a brief period of time. She quit when a small child CLICKED HIS FINGERS AT HER to summon her over

Harrods is either…

A) a tourist experience
B) a one off ‘special purchase’ experience (not dissimilar to A)
C) a ‘I could buy the store, the land it’s built on and pay all the staff from my personal bank account’ experience.

I’d rather head to Heals, Fortnums or Liberty London.

@RewildingAmbridge Log off for the night.

Can’t stop giggling about the baby earrings, nothing much to say about Harrods.

It's just a shop. They sell normal things there alongside the crazy expensive stuff too.

I'm there most weekends because my DC do activities near there and I mooch around Elan and Carpo a lot (the cafes opposite) while I wait around for them.

Get that chip off your shoulder.

@RewildingAmbridge

Round of applause OP £200 to spend on baby earrings in Harrods....

I too noted the 'earrings for baby'. It's hardly surprising the op felt out of place in Harrods.

I agree, used to love wandering around selfridges though, I used to go in on payday when I lived in London and would choose something- still have all of it over a decade later! Never been a fan of harrods though.

@SantaHat

Do you still have to pay to use the toilets in Harrods?

Didn't have to pay for the loos when we went 2 weeks ago. Or the hairdryer in the loo for that matter

I love Harrods! Yes it's extortion but you don't have to buy you can just look at the fancy clothes and the art gallery is wonderful .

Unlike when I first went 20 years ago the staff seemed less up themselves and realising it's a tourist trap so our very helpful.

I went in years ago, and only bought a Harrods biro! Someone standing in front of me was buying a brevllle toaster. I wanted to tap them on the shoulder and say it would be half the price in Argos.

@Chocolattay

The half hour where me and my mum were lost was horrendous. I was so desperate to just see some sunlight

I remember a time like that: it was in a huge new shopping centre in San Diego & we'd gone right up to the top, not realising that they make it easy for everyone to get to the top, but to get down you had to walk the length of each floor, go down one floor & walk the length of that one, etc - & we had to get on transport outside at a set time!

@Bromse

Read the fucking thread.

God.

I’m logging off, I can’t be bothered with this.

I’ve got to get my baby’s bedtime Gucci earrings out to put her to bed in, anyway.

Yes, sorry op. My bad.

(Christ should have a capital 'C', it's a proper noun.)

I think it's an overpiced, underwhelming, run down hell hole.

I really don't understand what the fuss is over it. I used the toilets there and the toilet roll holder was held on the wall by sellotape

Hate Harrods. Give me a trip to Liberty any day. The people watching in Harrods is excellent though 🤔

I haven’t been there since I had to buy school uniform for my little darlings.
Best big shop experience was buying louboutins at Selfridges. Genuinely warm and fun assistants who were shocked when we bought- they’d gone away to write down what we’d tried on. Walking out with bags was like walking through a souk with the Dior, Chanel etc. assistants practically grabbing us.
We went to Fortnum’s when last lockdown ended and bought macaroons- now that was heavenly.

Meh I went there for one specific thing in November around Black Friday, intended only to spend £50, they all couldn’t have been nicer and also v chilled out at me browsing, trying on foundation etc. I preferred it to my last visit to Selfridges which had so many staff on hard-sell that it was impossible to browse.

Harrods is quite claustrophobic though, I do know what you mean, Selfridges apart from the manic ground floor is probably easier to navigate with a baby and has an easier high-street up to high-end range for me to get my head round!

@bluepeacock

I love Harrods - especially the tacky replica Egyptian bits (wish I could've seen the statue of Diana with doves or whatever it was too before it was removed!) We've have taken the dc's a couple of times and they loved it too - especially the food hall. Also managed to buy several things around the £50 mark both times we've been (a harrods teddy bear, Lego, art stuff, nice chocolates, macarons and teabags etc in the food hall).

The staff were lovely and friendly also - especially in the toy department.

Oooh, I remember the Diana thing!!!

I love a pootle around Harrods too, and nope I NEVER feel inadequate there. never feel inadequate anywhere actually. I don't think anyone is better than me. I don't think I am better than THEM but I certainly do not think anyone is better than me. I don't give shiny shit how much they have or how much they are spending on something.

I couldn’t find my way out the last time I went, it was like being in Harrods purgatory. That was the worst part for me!

No charge for the bathrooms, the staff are always nice and I like the food hall. And I usually only buy tourist stuff like a Harrods tea towel, pen, coin purse, etc for friends and family overseas.

The staff in there are usually so nice, shame you had a bad experience. Between the toy department and chocolate room my 4YO absolutely loves it.

I used to mooch around Harrods quite a lot and always found the staff to be very pleasant. Possibly because they can never be sure you aren't a mystery shopper. They can be a bit full on though.
I like the food hall. And the toy department. And the tacky souvenir bit. And looking at diamond encrusted phone cases!
Selfridges was more accessible I think.

@PandoraP

Oh noooo they have removed the Diana memorial?? I loved it. So so tacky

Feck off it was pure class.

@7thHell

So glad to hear somebody else got lost in there! Though I’m sorry you went through that

My idea of hell would be eternally trying to find my way out of Harrods except the exit doesn’t exist. Being chased by staff.

I love the food hall, but can't stand the gaudy decor. It's like someone asked a child to draw a shop where rich people go............

I feel uncomfortable in smaller shops so I know what you mean, but browsing is perfectly acceptable in a huge department store! But if you're not enjoying it then you did the right thing leaving.