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

[bleakmidwintering]

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?

I've never been in Chanel etc but found this attitude from fairly ordinary high street shops in my younger day. Dirty looks, dismissive service from shop staff who didn't think I looked the part.

The only time I got truly angry though was when a shop assistant in Oasis basically snarled at my wonderful sister, I took the stuff out of my sisters hands and finished the transaction myself, while giving a very hard stare.

So many shops basically drive their customers online by making entry to their brand so bloody unbearable in person.

I think it's a sales strategy. If you look like you can't afford it, they make you feel small, and then you're compelled to buy something to prove you're not as small as they think you are.

I think there is something in the stance that people give off & assistants wanting you to prove you can afford things. I used to feel out of place in these places and try and look like I could afford things if I went in. Now I don't care.

When dh was looking for a warm puffa coat recently he showed me one he like in Gucci. The assistant was all over us wanting him to try it on but I simply said, I'm afraid that is over our price range. In the past I would have been embarrased to say that but it was over-priced and more than I wanted to pay (and no where near as nice as the Moncler one he ended up buying. Granted we were both well dressed that day, I think we were both wearing Gucci shoes and I was wearing Loewe and Max Mara clothing.

I do always treat sales assistants with respect. Most are nice but I also recognise that they have to make a living and customers like me are not how they make their cash.

This. In spades.

The nineties were the heyday of this. I read in Elle magazine that Jamie Oliver loved the hoodies from a shop in Covent Garden called Fat something, can't remember the name.

Being an absolute hoodie and brand lover, I nipped up there the next time I was in London. I was so discombobulated by the aggressive shop staff that I was genuinely confused, and wondered if in fact I'd walked into an art exhibit or something, because it seemed that touching the piles of folded tshirts and hoodies was an absolute no no.

I walked out feeling very weird! Had similar experience in Benetton, Replay etc in Italy. The shop assistants seemed to be there to make sure that nobody gained any access to the merchandise.

First response nails it imo

splurt

That Victoria Wood quote is magnificent!

Edited: says a size 16.

I've worked in a number of department stores selling higher-end products. I find it VERY hard to believe that assistants would behave like this.

I imagine that you're projecting, OP. Or living in a little "I'll show them!" fantasy of your own.

Why don't you tell these "snobs" how much more you earn than them, and see what happens?

Hmm yes, if you feel you are getting looked down on in loccitane that’s a problem!

I’ve always found the selfridges assistants really fab and down to earth (Manchester) - Chanel, saint Laurent, Chloe and Tiffany.

I suppose as in real life some people are snooty whatever their job. It’s probably masking some deep insecurity!

Where do people get these ideas from?

No, shop assistants don't do that.

God, the fantasies that middle-class women will invent in order to feel victimised, sheesh.

Imagine using the phrase grown ass as an adult.

So am imagining it and I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be imagining ? What’s the inference?

It happens all the time. It's happened to me countless times, and not necessarily in the poshest of shops. I wouldn't have dared wander into Loccitane until I was in my thirties! As for the Clinique counter, I had to dash away and cry in private.

Crying over Clinique says a bit more about you than it does about the state of the world, I'm afraid.

You couldn’t be further from the truth. A lot of them work there in the hope a rich man may be willing to give them a leg up. It’s been a huge issue since the Georgina and Ronaldo thing. Op is right, they can be very snobbish and often for no reason.

I’ve seen recent videos where sales assistants have admitted that this is absolutely a tactic in some luxury stores.

I was in my first job and wanted to buy a particular product. The sales woman basically said I had to buy the three step skincare, and huffed angrily when I told her for the umpteenth time that I didn't want it. The product I did buy was thrown at me with a sneer. It was a truly horrible, belittling experience for a young woman to experience.

I have no issue with Clinique now, or any other sales assistant. But I'm 54 and don't care what they think of me.

Well good for you!

I have concluded that I give off poor person vibes. I know exactly what you mean and have experienced it, although more frequently in car dealerships than handbag shops. Our local Ford garage simply will not serve me. Instead of buying a kuga we went next door to VW and got a Tiguan - and helpful service.

I’ll openly admit, the last time I was in Harrods I found the wealth levels vulgar and was judging people a lot, so I guess they can do the same for me.

The Absolutely Fabulous quote jumped straight into my head.

Not that observant clearly. Isn’t it L’Occitane?

I am reminded of this joke:
The maid to her employer:" Madam shouldn't be so snobbish towards me. I know that Madam used to be a maid herself"
Madam ( harrumphing):"But that was in a MUCH finer house!"

The image they want to culivate is lots of rich people fashionable people in the shop buying stuff. Which encourages a lot of other rich fashionable people to come into the shop to buy stuff.

If you don't fit that image because of your cheap mac and holey trainers then it's not really that surprisng that they are going to want to move you on pretty quickly.

It's just London @35965a I've noticed that in service positions like shop & cafes, no one is friendly or makes any effort at all. You do get that sporadically in other parts of the U.K as well, but in London it's the norm. I feel like when I approach anyone they looks at me as if they're doing me this big favour, rather it being part of their job.

I say this as someone who's worked in positions like this for 15 years.

Also like@Bambamhoohoo, some people do have their weird better-than-you hierarchy thing going on. Some receptionists are like that too. As soon as they get to any kind of team leader position, it's as if they think they're the operations manager of the international space station. 😆

Doesn't aound any different from my local Boots tbh.

Quite a few years ago i had the same experience looking for a car me and my husband both clean and not scruffy had an inheritance, we looked at 3 big name car suppliers and received lukewarm responses ,we could have bought any car we wanted .
So tough shit we went to an independent garage got what we wanted with good customer care thrown in.
I don't want any assistant fawning over me but i expect good manners the same way i treat people in my job and life in general.
I wouldn't think twice about leaving a business even if it were for just a loaf of bread if i was treated disrespectfully.