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...

I had a different experience with this concession in Selfridges. They were attentive and helpful and we decided on the chelsea. I'm a size 8

I was annoyed with wrapped up in a big scarf when I was already boiling hot, because we were trying a cashmere jumper underneath too. Just trying to upsell that and show me 'new' ways to tie it!

Then they also lied and told me chelsea was not avialbe brand wide in navy longer length. Came home to see on website that it is, selfridges just don't carry it.

The shop assistant needs a bit more training, eh? How to lose a sale in 60 seconds! She could have expressed that 'advice' in a subtle, polite way and you might have considered it but equally she should just sell whatever the customer wants. There's no need to make the customer feel like shit = first rule of retail.

I honestly dont think her manager will be happy with that complaint.

When you work for a company like that you need to be telling people that it's timeless, an investment ect. If you looked awful, I might steer you toward another couple and let you choose. What she said is horrible. She lost commission and will probably get a warning.
your husband sounds lovely.

You should have confronted it at the time instead of stewing so much you had to post on here

No one ever does that, though. When you get verbally abused (and this was verbal abuse) you don’t quite believe what you’re hearing at first. Especially at this sort of sneaky put-down level, where people will be saying ‘oh, she was just saying it like it was…’

How awful and extremely ageist. You deserved to be treated with respect and she showed none of that. You definitely did the right thing to walk away.

I'm sure you are beautiful both inside and out, OP. ❤️🥰

Forget the snooty horrible sales assistant. She sounds very unkind.

Gosh that was very rude! And as pps have said, also ageist! Sorry you experienced this @Cupcakemum79

Reminds me (a bit) of a time when me and DH went to a menswear store that sold clothes for men up to 7 ft tall, and up to a 65" waist. (They also sold clothes that were fairly 'regular' ... 40" waist, down to 30" waist.) DH was a little bit overweight at the time - 42" waist... He is an average height for his age - 5 ft 10.

He only popped in as he liked the look of a scarf in the window. At the front of the shop were the regular sizes, and at the back were the 'bigger mens' clothes.

The woman at the counter on the way in said to DH 'I'm not being funny darling but you need to go to the back of the store!' Yeah he was a bit overweight at the time, but he was only going in to look at a scarf! He went flame red, and said 'let's go!' And scuttled off really embarrassed.

I was so annoyed and upset for him. I was going to go in and complain to the manager but he begged me not to. About a year later, the store closed down as it went into administration. I was not surprised. This rude offensive woman probably drove half the customers away!

YANBU.

I would be surprised if you are the first potential customer she has driven off with her standard of service. She's costing them serious money.

Out of curiosity I've looked at the website and their biggest size is a 12...

Thans you for all your lovely messages! I know it's a real first world post.. but she made me feel really small. I do look my age and I know I'm not a size 8-10 anymore but I am fine with that, it's just part of a changing body I guess.

Update: no reply from Burberry yet...

Don't you mean furbelly?

Buy from here instead...
https://www.hollandcooper.com/collections/trench-coats?gadsource=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA3aeqBhBzEiwAxFiOBmwAC5ACat33usl02nnXG2oIcRLc6DbaDippBRyJMj6JWFh05Pmy2hoCaacQAvDBwE

@Lifeomars @Miaminmoo that's horrible..no need for such nasty remarks..

I think it's low point was when Danielle No Nose Whatserface was seen in head to toe Burberry.

It is ageist isn't it. Yes and bloody rude

Yea. I was going to say it reminded me of this.

OP, go to the nearest rival shop and buy a whole outfit from there, then go back and strut around.

@SweetBirdsong poor man, I know how he felt...

@SiousieSoo it was a winter coat. Hardly a boob tube or rara skirt. Not much skin showing for your delicate misogynistic sensibilities. Unlikely to be offensive to even the most ageist person like you

Im quite surprised by this thread.... if only because their coats come up huge! Im a size 14 and would wear a 10 in their trenchcoats. Also i went in one of the london stores a couple of months back and if anything thought the sales people could sell ice to the eskimos (pardon the expression), it took all my resolve to walk away without spending money I didn't have.

@TabithatheTabbycat oh but dame Maggie Smith could pull off anything I think, a great example of still looking great when you get older.

Probably thinking of the commission she would get selling at this time of year.

Out of curiosity I've looked at the website and their biggest size is a 12...

No it isn't ive definitely tried on a 14 in there at least and it wasn't the biggest size

People who resort to spiteful comments like that are deeply insecure and miserable.
Maybe she was jealous of loving relationship you have with your husband?
It's their loss, they lost the sale, and l hope every woman on here boycotts them.

Well I did try on her suggestions at first, because I always assume sales assistents know their products and I am willing to listen to suggestions. I just told her politely that those straight styles felt too baggy and I preferred the other style. And this was her reply..
As an hourglass, even at my age I like to show I still have a waist , breasts, hips..Just a size or two larger than 10 years ago.. and I guess larger breasts are a problem when trying to find a more fitted coat.

The assistant was probably just jealous that she can’t buy one of the coats herself.

She’s a bitch, you have a lovely husband. Forget about her.