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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find it hilarious that shop assistants in these stores look down their noses.

274 replies

bleakmidwintering · 08/12/2025 09:22

I’m wandering about shopping in London. I’ve been into a couple of stores where the shop assistants have been off hand; one in Chanel, one in Occitaine. I certainly don’t look like I’ve got bags of money in my rain mac and trainers but I probably earn 4 times their salary. Are they trained to be off hand or is it purely their attitude? AIBU?

OP posts:
35965a · 08/12/2025 09:23

Sounds like it’s you looking down on them…

Fluffyholeysocks · 08/12/2025 09:24

Would i find that 'hilarious'? No.

NattyKnitter116 · 08/12/2025 09:27

Its lack of customer service/customer awareness on their part. The common erroneous perception that ‘rich’ people dress ‘rich’. But if you think about it, brands like Chanel are selling exactly this lifestyle.

UPFoff · 08/12/2025 09:28

I always suspect women in those shops work part-time and have husbands who have the “real job” (and earn ten times more than you OP).

Andromed1 · 08/12/2025 09:29

They may be snobbish but do you really believe that only well off customers should be treated politely???

LuckyNumberFive · 08/12/2025 09:30

Have you thought about spending a load of money elsewhere and then going back to these shops and telling them they've made a big mistake? Huge?

SparkleSpriteDust · 08/12/2025 09:30

I would apply the same rule as I would if a shop assistant was rude to me in any shop i.e. I would smile, thank them, wish them a good day and never shop there again.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 08/12/2025 09:31

I can’t be the only one who enjoyed the ‘shopping’ scenes in Pretty Woman!

And I seem to recall a scene in Ab Fab, where Jennifer S was in an art gallery with and assistant possessing that sort of supercilious attitude.
IIRC JS said, ‘No need for that attitude, dear, you just work in a shop.’
Or words to that effect.

SparkleSpriteDust · 08/12/2025 09:31

UPFoff · 08/12/2025 09:28

I always suspect women in those shops work part-time and have husbands who have the “real job” (and earn ten times more than you OP).

Oh, I think working part time in a Chanel boutique is most definitely a 'real' job! Well done them.

LancashireButterPie · 08/12/2025 09:33

I know, I get it too.
I was bought up quite poor, but did well at school, went to university, got a great job, saved, invested, inherited a bit, married a richer man.
We have plenty saved but still live quite frugally.
We are both a bit scruffy and genuinely don't care much about appearances.
I always feel that shop assistants in posher shops look down on me, whereas DH with his RP accent, doesn't feel the same way at all.
It is quite funny really, I could afford whatever took my fancy in their shop.
Some places do seem more tuned in, we quite like art galleries and they are no where near as patronising. Always feel more comfortable buying art.

FunnyOrca · 08/12/2025 09:35

UPFoff · 08/12/2025 09:28

I always suspect women in those shops work part-time and have husbands who have the “real job” (and earn ten times more than you OP).

Not necessarily! The pay in the boutiques is better than being a shop assistant in a department store and there is a structure to it, so people can “climb” and make more. Certain boutique locations pay more than others (same brand) even at “entry” level. Usually even the shop assistants for luxury brand boutiques will get some travel for training and invited to events. For people who like fashion and that world, it’s a seat at the table with decent wages.

PollyBell · 08/12/2025 09:37

Well it appears you can train them how to do it yourself your op is one put down on them, i prssume they are buy enough without giving me 2 thoughts personally

Happyjoe · 08/12/2025 09:38

Is that you Julia Roberts? 😃

Tigercrane · 08/12/2025 09:38

Isn't that one of the golden rules in sales.Never judge a book by it's cover.Don't judge customers on how they look they might have loads of money to spend on your product.Typical human mistake though I think, we all make quick assessments based on how someone appears.

user593 · 08/12/2025 09:39

Twenty years ago I went into Chanel on Sloane Street to purchase a 2.55 and the staff were so unpleasant I went to Bond Street (where they were better) to buy it. I was/ am a bit frumpy and it always annoyed me. I love my 2.55 though but I have never bought anything else from there for fear of the same experience again.

PermanentTemporary · 08/12/2025 09:40

I was thinking about the scene from Ab Fab for sure.

I always assume part of the job in those shops is to make those of us who spoil the view subtly unwelcome. And tbh I’m not even saying that critically - the entire vibe in designer shops is meant to be a total experience and me slobbing round in my trainers is just unpleasant, I do get it.

Am reminded of Victoria Wood - ‘We don’t like to let the size 14s into the changing rooms in case they sweat on the wallpaper’.

Mrswhiskers87 · 08/12/2025 09:40

Sounds like you’re looking down on them.

KilliMonjaro · 08/12/2025 09:40

UPFoff · 08/12/2025 09:28

I always suspect women in those shops work part-time and have husbands who have the “real job” (and earn ten times more than you OP).

Yeah that’s why they’re working in a shop! 😆😆😆

Sahara123 · 08/12/2025 09:41

Something I’ve learned from watching how people react so positively to my daughter is that if you look people in the eye and smile and say hello they respond in kind.
Ive worn down even the grumpiest of people just by being friendly.

TidyCyan · 08/12/2025 09:41

Some of them are trained to be standoffish because you can't just walk in and buy a bag in some of the brands. People spend months building up relationships with a sales associate who then "offers" them desirable models as they come in. Personally I think it's bonkers but there we are.

Chanel recommend you book a boutique appointment!

B1anche · 08/12/2025 09:42

They shouldn't look down their noses at any customers. What you or they earn is irrelevant and it says a lot about you that that is on your mind. If shop assistants look down their nose at me, I just go and spend my.money elsewhere.

B1anche · 08/12/2025 09:44

UPFoff · 08/12/2025 09:28

I always suspect women in those shops work part-time and have husbands who have the “real job” (and earn ten times more than you OP).

Good lord, what century are you living in?

Valentando · 08/12/2025 09:45

I've heard that this can actually be a sales tactic.

The less-swanky-looking customers feel aggrieved at being "looked down on" and want to prove that actually, they really do have the money to buy the posh handbags (or whatever). And they prove it by buying them.

Either that, or they get aggrieved and leave. In which case the shop keeps its exclusive, swanky vibe.

Either way the shop benefits to some degree.

SparkyBlue · 08/12/2025 09:46

To be fair if someone is working for Chanel than there is a good chance that their background is a degree in fashion design or something along those lines it’s not the same as working on a supermarket checkout (and I’m not saying that to be snobby I’ve zero third level qualifications myself) however I do get what you are saying OP and I find this stuff amusing as well as myself and DH are comfortably off but I find it rarely happens nowadays.

Bambamhoohoo · 08/12/2025 09:47

I think they are so super thrilled to be working for a prestigious brands (well, not l’occitane!) that’s they are under the misapprehension that they are not shop assistants on min wage like any other 😂

years ago I got this treatment in Selfridges so I went and got my dad who was waiting out back in his work van to come in, dusty and in in his donkey jacket, to personally pay for the mulberry bag (gift for mum) it was still one of my finest moments

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