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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be upset and disappointed in the store experience?

144 replies

inthedrunktankk · 11/12/2023 20:34

Me and my partner went to Paris as a birthday treat and he said he would get me a purse in a designer store (I have like one other designer bag that I bought years ago when living at home so it was a very rare splurge)

We walked up to the store and the man at the door didn’t hold it open, so a bit confused we stepped back and a couple walked around us and the door was held open for them straight away.

We walked in behind them, I was looking at the glass cabinet when I was eventually approached and I asked to view one. He reluctantly got it out, didn’t talk me through it. A vast contrast to how the other customer was being talked to behind me regarding her purchase.

All other customers had drinks, instead I got the previous customers used water bottle and glass set down in front of me. I questioned why we didn’t get a drink and was told “I forgot”

We did buy it but only because I knew my partner had organised this and I didn’t want him to think I was hurt that they clearly treated me as different because I wasn’t dripping in designer and assumed I wasn’t worth the experience as their commission from me was meaningless.

Aibu to be disappointed?

OP posts:
Paperwhiteflowers · 11/12/2023 20:42

That sounds horrible, OP. They should treat all customers the same. When I was a teenager I went to buy my mum some eyeshadow at a department store for Christmas.I was in school uniform and the assistant couldn’t have treated me worse. I bought the eyeshadow but it made me feel rubbish and took all the joy of treating my mum out of it.

notlucreziaborgia · 11/12/2023 20:51

Chanel? Hermes?

I imagine the other customers were there by appointment, and/or had an established relationship with the SA.

tttigress · 11/12/2023 20:51

Name and shame.

To be honest it could be more the retail assistant rather than the brand. Working in such and environment can go to certain people's heads.

I know the luxury watch industry and there is usually a protocol "must greet customer in x, seconds", "must have initiated friendly conversation in y minutes", "must offer drink" etc.

The problem is certain employees just "go into business for themselves" and just literally ignore instructions.

Quite often these people are happy to be associated with the brand, but the reality is they may have been working in the french equivalent of Primark 3 months ago (not that their is anything wrong with Primark, but it is a different sales approach)

TheYearOfSmallThings · 11/12/2023 20:53

Yes name and shame.

I hate that you gave these arseholes your money - they absolutely don't deserve it.

WetTowelsWillRemainOnFloorWhereTheyHaveBeenLeft · 11/12/2023 20:54

Aw that’s a shame for you. Paris is infamous for its haughtiness. I wouldn’t have given them the sale though. You rewarded their nastiness.

Isseywith3witchycats · 11/12/2023 20:56

My OH bought me a tiffany bracelet from tiffany on the champs de lise we were obviously tourists in jeans and sneakers and they couldnt have been nicer and we werent spending half as much as you probably were i would email the companies head office and point out that even if someone looks ordinary then each and every customer of theirs should be treated equally, i personally would have pulled them up at the time

TwiddlingMyToes · 11/12/2023 21:05

We're you speaking french? And were the other customers? Just wondering if it was a language thing.

NorthCliffs · 11/12/2023 21:08

Please go back with Richard Gere and a load of shopping bags!

PeachBlossom1234 · 11/12/2023 21:09

LV is well known for this type of service, I’ll guess it was them. I had this treatment in Las Vegas Jimmy Choo after a large win, I wanted to splurge but I didn’t buy anything and left very upset. I’m a big fan of mulberry and have a few bags, the sales staff there are super helpful and I’m now on their email list so I get invited to preview events etc. I wouldn’t buy from any other designer though.

tttigress · 11/12/2023 21:11

Please don't gas light the OP. I live in Switzerland, it's completely standard for a watch AD to have a Chinese speaker on staff to take care of Chinese speaking customers. They would have been hired to be multi lingual. English would be almost assumed for high end brands.

HundredMilesAnHour · 11/12/2023 21:14

I'm still trying to understand why you didn't just open the door yourself rather than stepping back because it wasn't opened for you and 'being confused'. 🙄

SD1978 · 11/12/2023 21:14

So the standard Hermes' attitude? I seriously don't get it- it's a fecking store, selling an item.....and yet they seem to think they are doing you the favour. Sorry you had a crappy experience, but complaining will do nothing and get you nowhere- designer stores are renowned for their shitty behaviour if you don't have the right 'look' it's pretty woman vibes when you thought it was just a vaguely shite movie. Ignoring the crap experience.......show off the bag!!!!!!! I'd love to see it!

DuesToTheDirt · 11/12/2023 21:16

Reminds me of the film Mrs Harris Goes to Paris!

Original poster
inthedrunktankk · 11/12/2023 21:16

notlucreziaborgia · 11/12/2023 20:51

Chanel? Hermes?

I imagine the other customers were there by appointment, and/or had an established relationship with the SA.

Neither, YSL. Could be either, but no way of knowing, irrelevant I think though as they clearly allow walk-ins.

OP posts:
AgMaggy · 11/12/2023 21:16

Isseywith3witchycats · 11/12/2023 20:56

My OH bought me a tiffany bracelet from tiffany on the champs de lise we were obviously tourists in jeans and sneakers and they couldnt have been nicer and we werent spending half as much as you probably were i would email the companies head office and point out that even if someone looks ordinary then each and every customer of theirs should be treated equally, i personally would have pulled them up at the time

I had a lovely shopping experience in Tiffany's too, although in New York. I agree re: contacting head office. You may not get anywhere but it needs to be acknowledged.

Clafoutie · 11/12/2023 21:17

Paperwhiteflowers · 11/12/2023 20:42

That sounds horrible, OP. They should treat all customers the same. When I was a teenager I went to buy my mum some eyeshadow at a department store for Christmas.I was in school uniform and the assistant couldn’t have treated me worse. I bought the eyeshadow but it made me feel rubbish and took all the joy of treating my mum out of it.

Aw, that made me sad!😥

Original poster
inthedrunktankk · 11/12/2023 21:18

HundredMilesAnHour · 11/12/2023 21:14

I'm still trying to understand why you didn't just open the door yourself rather than stepping back because it wasn't opened for you and 'being confused'. 🙄

Because it didn’t have a handle? I assumed I’d got the wrong entrance. Irrelevant really.

OP posts:
Icopewhenihope · 11/12/2023 21:18

Awwwhh that sounds horrible OP. God knows you were spending enough. Dreadful to be treated like that.

Showmethesunny · 11/12/2023 21:18

Become a prostitute make a lot of money and show them their mistake

etmoiandme · 11/12/2023 21:20

tttigress · 11/12/2023 21:11

Please don't gas light the OP. I live in Switzerland, it's completely standard for a watch AD to have a Chinese speaker on staff to take care of Chinese speaking customers. They would have been hired to be multi lingual. English would be almost assumed for high end brands.

Have to agree with this. It would be very unusual for staff in high end stores in central Paris not to speak English. The haughtiness thing - sorry, but it really is no worse than London.

Sounds more like there was just confusion that you didn't just open the door and walk in, but it's a shame you didn't have a good experience, especially as it was your birthday.

HundredMilesAnHour · 11/12/2023 21:21

inthedrunktankk · 11/12/2023 21:18

Because it didn’t have a handle? I assumed I’d got the wrong entrance. Irrelevant really.

Show quote history

Not irrelevant at all. If you stopped and stepped back, the doorman most likely assumed you were a tourist gawker rather than a serious shopper.

Clafoutie · 11/12/2023 21:22

I had similar in the one and only time I went to Chanel (London) A sales assistant literally did the looking me up and down in disdain thing! It seemed so ridiculous, for all she knew I could have been a billionaire. It ruined what I hoped would be a special experience, and I left.

PuppyMonkey · 11/12/2023 21:22

Big mistake. Huge.

HundredMilesAnHour · 11/12/2023 21:23

PuppyMonkey · 11/12/2023 21:22

Big mistake. Huge.

Not really. The OP was buying a purse not half the shop. 😂

Clafoutie · 11/12/2023 21:24

PuppyMonkey · 11/12/2023 21:22

Big mistake. Huge.

😂😂 immortal line!