to never buy anything from this store again?

[Cupcakemum79]

Last weekend my husband, daughter and I went shopping for winter coats. I was really looking for a nice trenchcoat or ideally a woollen winter coat.
We walked past a luxury brand store that is known for really nice coats. Husband knows I love their coats and suggested we went inside. Normally I wouldn't even consider buying such an expensive clothing item, but husband insisted that I try on the coat I liked. He wanted to treat me if I ended up loving it, as he said it was a timeless item and he wanted to buy a nice Christmas/birthday gift that he knew I'd enjoy for years.

We asked the shop assistant for a size up in the coat I liked. It just didn't fit very nicely. Shop assistant then suggested I try on a couple of other (much more expensive[ coats. Those were really straight fitting coats though and I told her I preferred the other coat because it had a waist belt and didn't look so baggy.
She then told me "that coat maybe it was for you 20 years ago, now it's not for you".

My husband and I found this incredibly rude, but were too shocked to say anything. It ruined the shopping for me though, so we left immediately and husband told her that we didn't want a coat anymore. He was really angry. I am now 44 years old and tried the size 14, which fitted but pulled across the chest. Surely that's not incredibly old or fat to deserve a remark like that? Also what's with the '20 years ago' I really don't even look that old!

AIBU that I found this incredibly offensive and also I think that had I looked really rich she would never have said anything like that? Also I really don't want a coat from that store anymore...

Ergh. What a cheap, nasty and chavvy brand.

You can do so much better OP, that women sounds like a right bitch though!! She couldn’t even afford a coat!

Yeah Burberry is shite. You dodged a bullet, get a lovely coat from somewhere else.

I have a coat from their UK production, which is prior 1999, when they changed their name and approach to selling it seems! Leaves their current offerings standing in terms of quality of cut, material and production imo. I believe we should always report poor service but, on the flip side, we should never shy away from commending good too. I do hope the company responds and perhaps hitting someone further up the company structure might be the way to go with the complaint.

I’m the same age as you and she’d have got the short end of my temper if I was you.
My list 2 most lovely and special coats have come from Hobbs. Not sure what’s in store this year but might be worth a look.

Oh I always loved that scene in Pretty Woman!
Husband was really cute though, once outside he actually wanted to go back inside and ask for the manager. He told me he held back inside the store because he didn't know how I would feel about him getting mad right then and there. I was really hurt by the comment. I told him not to waste any more time on them. But today he was still fuming so he just messaged me that he sent an email to the store...My knight in shining armour!

Hmm wonder what they make of my 80 year old grandpa who one of their trenchcoats till the day he died. Not sure he would have passed for 20’s when he bought it.

I would have responded with "did you really just say that out loud?"
What a rude cow.

Well yes exactly... 20 years ago I could only dream of one day being able to spend that much money on one coat.. and it's still a large amount for me to spend on one item even though we both work full time.

It is ageist isn't it? Is this the start of the 'invisible middle age' for me? Also: would anyone make a remark like this to a male customer ?

Definitely complain OP. They have extensive training for retail colleagues on the understanding that they take pride in customer service and “embrace the ‘Mermerry’ experience” so you’d hope they would welcome feedback when this isn’t happening.

What a pity you can't do a 'pretty woman' on them. "Big mistake, huge!"
The shop assistant is an absolute, nasty bitch! Take her down!

Not only was she rude and unprofessional, but if your figure is anything like mine (the info you give suggests it is) then she also has a bad sense of style. I am size 14 but not officially overweight and in my 60s. I only wear belted coats as the loose look makes me look enormous. But because my boobs are proportionately larger than the rest of me I often have to size up to a 16 in coats and dresses, or else things pull across my chest, just like with you. I think the only real solution is to go back to made to measure clothes, especially if you want wool (I do too, don’t want a polyester coat). Standard sizes don’t fit many people well and snooty shop assistants need to wake up to that.

My search for a stylish belted wool coat ended at Jaeger where I finally found a lined wool coat with belt but still had to size up to a 16. Normally I would never have considered such an expensive shop but I couldn’t find anything suitable anywhere else.

Misogynistic and ageist.

You deserve a lovely coat from somewhere with nice service - get back on the shopping horse😊

This reminded me of Edina Monsoon...

My friend works in a Burberry in London and he is a delight, sorry you had such a shit experience

@Doggymummar Could you ask her for advice on what op's husband could put in a follow up e-mail (if he doesn't get a satisfactory apology and a small gift for the treatment op received)?

Horrible on the assistant’s part, but good on your DH for emailing them!

Don’t let it bother you too much, OP (easier said than done, I know) and I hope you find a lovely coat elsewhere!

Very rude OP-I'd definitely take this further.

And I love Burberry! And have a beige trench coat from there. Not sure why people are saying It's 'chavvy'? The Royal Family wear Burberry.

In the late 90s/early 2000s it was all the rage (and usually fake) amongst that demographic. Local market stalls would be covered in it.
I remember an early ‘viral’ photo on early days social media of the fully clapped out Vauxhall Nova painted in Burberry print!

It did damage the brand’s reputation but they’ve pulled through. It’s the reason a lot of the tartan items at the time were dropped with more focus on the plainer styles that have stood the test of time (eg. trench coats).

Sorry, that was for @TheBunnyLover!

Burberry isn’t chavvy any more, it used to be when the cheap knock off repros from a market stall were popular but they managed a shift back again which is extremely rare from a brand perspective

I have 2 trenches - one an absolutely classic which my grandma passed down to me, and a more modern one which I bought from an outlet sale a few years ago

i love them both and think they’re absolute classics, so if you do want one then try and get a sample sale one as it was way cheaper

the assistant was a rude bitch though, what a horrible comment

That's so rude but looking on the positive, your husband has shown himself to be an absolute gentleman.
My husband had a similar experience, dressed in his "tradies" he went to get me a mulberry scarf and the sales woman asked him if he knew how much they were as she would have to go downstairs to get one and she didn't want to do that if he didn't know how expensive they were. He replied of course he did and he wanted it to go with the bag he had bought from there last week. She soon scuttled off and got it. He would have left it but knew I wanted it so he bit his tongue. People are so judgey but you are the one who comes home to a partner who absolutely has your back. Winner. Sod the coat.

One of the first rules of retail is 'keep the customer happy'. Whether you, as the sales person, likes their choices or not, you smile and tell them it's gorgeous and point out all the pros. If they ask for your opinion between two items you point out pros in both and ask them which one will make them happier.

It's just that simple!

chavvy is a rude nasty word

I have no thoughts about Burberry one way or another but comments like that are unnecessary and unhelpful.

anyway that aside I don't use triumph for bras anymore (probably not even around now). I used to love their amourette. I went in to be measured and the assistant said I couldn't wear a balcony style because I had significant upper breast tissue loss! I mean come on there's ways and ways!!! Whenever I walked past the shop after I scowled at it

Maybe he can coach this shop asssistant then.. on the other hand as they probably get commission maybe not... let someone more polite get the sales..

I remember that! But as you've said, it was a long time ago. Didn't Daniella Westbrook have a coat, scarf and her child's buggy coated in the checked print?
I have a scarf in the same print. I thought the brand had recovered now.