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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:
TheGoodEnoughWife · 08/03/2022 21:39

@AppleNo8

Did your infant really really want earrings from Harrods? Yabu.
Is reading tricky for you?
Xoxrtox · 08/03/2022 21:40

Lived in London for over 20yrs and been to Harrod’s once. This thread has inspired me to go back!

borntobequiet · 08/03/2022 21:40

Never mind, now all the oligarchs have been sanctioned Harrods will become far more welcoming, even to those shopping for bargain baby earrings.

Cindie943811A · 08/03/2022 21:40

Years ago while visiting from overseas I was in London during a really hot summer. I found I could revive myself in the restaurant and then use the receipt for a free entry into the restrooms.
I confined my other purchases to Small souvenir items to take home for friends..
I agree with another poster that baby clothes are a stupid price as it’s pointless to spend big money on garments that will fit for a few weeks.

Luredbyapomegranate · 08/03/2022 21:43

@RewildingAmbridge

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

The OP said earrings OR something for the baby. And she said she brought 200 spending money not that she was planning to spend it on one thing.

So direct your mean spirited twattery elsewhere.

MrsLighthouse · 08/03/2022 21:45

Harrods is awful …Selfridges is much nicer !!

Original poster
Chocolattay · 08/03/2022 21:45

People clearly read it as “Earrings or something, for the baby”

But I actually wrote “Earrings or something for the baby.”

OP posts:
TristramBrandy · 08/03/2022 21:47

I've just been on their website.

There are Westwood single earrings for £55 and pretty Weekend Max Mara brooches for £90. A cashmere beanie is £59 , Max Mara silk square scarves for £80 and Me&Em knitwear for £85.

Over half of all dresses for baby girls (up to age 3) are under £100.

The beauty and food counters have masses for under £100 as do the Homeware department

That's not including stuff on sale.
I'm astonished you couldn't find anything for £200. What on earth were you looking for?

PonyPatter44 · 08/03/2022 21:48

When I was a kid, back in the Stone Age, we used to go to the ice cream bar place at weekends, and refer to it as Mo's Mini-Mart...I love the tacky decorations esp in the perfume Hall. This thread has made me want to go and have a mooch round again (not buy anything- far too poor now!).

Might buy some baby earrings, though....Grin

CandyLeBonBon · 08/03/2022 21:51

@Chocolattay

People clearly read it as “Earrings or something, for the baby”

But I actually wrote “Earrings or something for the baby.”

If you'd have written "...earrings, or something for the baby" it would've been clearer. It was a bit ambiguous, tbf. It remind me me of that book, "eats shoots and leaves".

I guess the devil is in the detail! Grin

georgarina · 08/03/2022 21:52

I live in London and can count on one hand the number of times I've ever been to Harrods.

It's a tourist spot, it's not somewhere people actually go to shop...maybe next time do your hair and make sure you feel nice, but I wouldn't feel inadequate when you go there. 99% of the traffic are probably tourists.

ChicCroissant · 08/03/2022 21:53

@Toddlerteaplease

I used to love a mooch round harrods on a day trip to london. Not been for years but went last week. And was also disappointed. The pet department is rubbish now and all dog related.
I went recently and felt the same - did get to take my DD for a treat in the restaurant there, following a family tradition as me and my mum had lunch there.

Tried to see the statue of Diana years ago, couldn't get near it for people tbh!

Mamamia7962 · 08/03/2022 21:53

Love looking round Harrods. The best visit was when they had a lady singing opera to entertain shoppers as they were going up and down the escalators. You don't get that anywhere else!

Beeinalily · 08/03/2022 21:54

I once did a stocktake (with others) in Harrods, and they were so tight that they turned the lifts off at closing time, so we had to walk up 6 flights of stairs to the canteen for breaks. Just saying...

Original poster
Chocolattay · 08/03/2022 21:55

Just looked up the Diana statue and I feel awful but I snorted with laughter.

INNOCENT VICTIMS

OP posts:
JudgeJ · 08/03/2022 21:56

On the seemingly obsessive subject of baby earrings, when my first baby was born we were working in the Med and my colleagues at school were appalled that her ears hadn't been pierced in hospital as was the normal practice.

TheCatThatWalkedAlone · 08/03/2022 21:57

When visiting Harrods once years ago I tried to order an item for delivery. They asked for my home town. I said Sunderland. Harrods reached for their export book!

ShirleyPhallus · 08/03/2022 21:57

@TristramBrandy

I've just been on their website.

There are Westwood single earrings for £55 and pretty Weekend Max Mara brooches for £90. A cashmere beanie is £59 , Max Mara silk square scarves for £80 and Me&Em knitwear for £85.

Over half of all dresses for baby girls (up to age 3) are under £100.

The beauty and food counters have masses for under £100 as do the Homeware department

That's not including stuff on sale.
I'm astonished you couldn't find anything for £200. What on earth were you looking for?

I assume that the OP wanted to spend her money on something she wanted to buy, not just anything under £200
knittingaddict · 08/03/2022 22:02

I had my purse taken in Harrods, but it was a fascinating experience. I didn't feel uncomfortable at all, but it's a slightly surreal experience, which is the appeal of the place. The food hall is fun, but there was real fur on the accessories and real live puppies in the pet department and I don't think I could tolerate that so much now. The loos were incredible too.

NotYourOscarSpeech · 08/03/2022 22:03

Harrods is bloody awful, the tackiest of the London dept. stores. Honestly, I don’t even care how snobbish this sounds but the crowd is just vulgar. So please don’t feel bad/uncomfortable OP!

That said, I think if you wanted to spend your money in Harrods then you need to know where you’re doing. So, for example, not much point browsing the luxury handbag halls with Chanel, Dior, Hermes etc but there used to be a small escalator down (could be a totally different layout now though to be fair) which sold e.g Longchamp - and the Le Pliage bags are less than £100 and make excellent changing bags Grin

Also, the absolute morons on this thread who not only cannot read; but then feel the need to comment on “baby earrings” - which you didn’t even say!

Ponoka7 · 08/03/2022 22:09

I go to London to go to the theatre. For the last four years I've been very disappointed at the offerings from the Harrods food hall around Christmas. I prefer F&M.

Alwaystheplusone · 08/03/2022 22:11

Harrods is a dump. Is the Diana & Dodi fountain statue thing still there Grin

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 08/03/2022 22:12

Last time dh and I visited Harrods we enjoyed spotting what we used to call ‘Louis Faroukh’ style stuff when we lived in the Middle East.

‘Best’ example I remember was an ornate, gold plated tea trolley, with pink flowers flowers IIRC, for a mere £7k or so. 😂

TristramBrandy · 08/03/2022 22:13

@ShirleyPhallus

She didn't specify what she wanted to buy but bemoaned the fact that she couldn't find anything for her £200.

I went on their website, found a heap of stuff that was well under £200 and gave a very few examples of what was there. There are literally hundreds of things for far less than £200 and countless more for under £200.

So, I listed some examples, not a comprehensive shopping list tailored to her needs. I'm sorry you misunderstood and thought examples of things were things picked personally for a poster on the internet.

Odd but maybe you thought I should have listed baby earrings as you may have misunderstood that too.

sarahtalkstoomuch · 08/03/2022 22:13

@Brefugee

Harrod's have long been trying to stop being a tourist attraction in favour of having rich people spend their money there

(as an aside, does the word "spends" enrage anyone else?)

My husband’s family all say “spends”, and it drives him (& me) bonkers

Anyway, Londoner here. I go there anytime I’m down that way. The Food Hall is great & I like the restaurants. They’ve been refurbishing for absolutely ages, and it is difficult to navigate, completely agree. There’s loads that’s affordable. My dad buys all his shoes there - just standard, regular old man shoes, but he much prefers the service there