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?

I used to go there a few times a year solely to buy loose leaf tea ( and score some expensive perfume in my wrist) but got fed up of the ever increasing prices and indifferent service. I now find tea that’s just as good online, at a lower price. No reason to ever go back. It’s just there to service rich UAE tourists and oligarchs.

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

Brilliant example of why punctuation is really important.

I could get earrings, or something for my baby. That’s a completely different sentence.

We take my ds every year as he loves the place for some reason..... My ds has SN and makes his presence felt. The staff have always been lovely with him, im generally trailing behind not especially dressed up for the occasion.

The make up counters, toyshop and a few other ones are all normal prices. Ive had some good bargains in the sales too, even managed to bag some trainers that were cheaper there than they were in JD!

[quote TristramBrandy]@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.[/quote]
Nope, I didn’t misunderstand, I think it’s totally unnecessary to go on to the harrods website and list a load of stuff just to make a point. What a bizarre waste of time but you do you 👊🏼

Harrods is my worst nightmare 😂 well done for even venturing in op!

@ShirleyPhallus

No, I enjoyed it and ended up buying a couple of things for myself.

@RewildingAmbridge

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

Read. The. Post.

@RewildingAmbridge

Call me a cynic

Learn to read

I take my hat off to all the Lynne Truss wannabes on this thread.

Harrods isn't really a regular place, I don't think anyone should be surprised at being followed around by sales assistants.

Harrod’s has normal stuff?? Sounds like this is more about you.

Don't worry about it. Harrods is full of posers.

I follow a quirky lady on TikTok who walks around (also on a budget) filming herself talking very loudly saying "bitches like meeee darling, bitches like me in harrods darrrrling. Booyakasha!"

It’s just a department store with a slightly touristy exterior. The toy shop used to be nice and they had a fairly eccentric pets department before it became fashionable to put a jumper on your dog, but I suppose the internet etc has sort of democratised those things so it seems less note worthy nowadays.

I don’t really like that part of London though, and find it’s quite a soulless shit hole. I work in Kensington and I’m always so glad to get on the tube back to north London!

[quote Chocolattay]@RewildingAmbridge

If you’re accusing me of being a troll, I’m pretty sure if I wanted to troll I’d choose a more interesting subject than an anecdote of a time I went to Harrods and didn’t really like it [/quote]
And you'd have twin babies.

Haven't been for ages but did enjoy snooping around food hall

Harrods used to be much better, when it was hushed and not such a Tourist attraction.
I used to love the Fourth Floor with the old toy department, and the kids hairdresser next to it that had a large rocking horse in it .
One of my earliest memories is being lifted hiiiigh onto the back of that horse and rocking - or having him rocked for me- by dad.

All hail the Oxford comma. But I understood you perfectly, OP.

Can I hijack your thread for a moment please OP? It seems to be full of people who know Harrods well, so a good place to ask.

My mum wants one of their little porcelain dishes for used teabags.

Next time I'm in London I want to pop in, make a beeline for the dish thingy and get out, without becoming lost and stuck in there forever like OP.

Could anyone tell me where to find them and the quickest route in/out? I'd be very grateful.

Sorry OP. Back to your baby's earrings

I think Harrods reputation as somewhere to go dates from many years ago. Knittingaddict mentioned the puppies which reminded me that I read that Harrods used to have its own exotic pet department! I'm not saying that's a good thing but it must have made people more tempted to visit the store when there was less concern about animal welfare. The food hall was also more tempting when supermarkets stocked very few luxury items. Going back to when the store was first built, it must have been amazing to visit. Apparently customers were offered brandy if they were apprehensive about using the escalator!

It's actually a poor reflection on the store that Chocolattay did not enjoy her experience. A couple of years ago I bought a small make up bag for myself in Aspinal. The assistant spent ages wrapping it and putting it in a box even though I'd said it was only for me and didn't need wrapping beautifully.

I agree that Liberty might be a better bet next time Chocolattay but I don't know if their baby earrings department is up to scratch

Op didn’t want earrings for her baby, she wanted earrings for herself, and something different for her baby.

😂😂 I know the one

I can see why you didn’t enjoy your visit from what you describe. Maybe you’d enjoy it if you went back another time? As others have said though, it’s only a shop, doesn’t matter.

We really love Harrods, but just enjoy it for what it is, if that makes sense?
My daughter is a real foodie (family of chefs) and spends agggges in the Food Hall.
We also go up to the Toy Dept and enjoy watching magic tricks and taking part in anything interactive.
We don’t tend to spend much. The things we have bought over the years range from Charlotte Tilbury make up, fancy teas/coffees/choc for Christmas presents, arty birthday card, Harrods teddy, v small Christmas decs and macaroons.
We do sometimes like to choose something to eat in the Food Hall and sit on the high stools watching the world go by.
My daughter also enjoys “celeb spotting”, which we tend to do well at as we have often been in on week days.

I have a friend who years ago bought a Persian cat on total impulse from Harrods pet dept.

He said the cat was probably taken from his mother far too young.

Were these the sort of things you were looking for OP?

Live in London for the last 10 years, never had a single thoughts of spending my day in Harrods. Couldn’t think of a more boring and useless place to go. OP, there’s nothing wrong with you.

I love it in there! But staff NEVER intimidate me