Pretty Woman Moment

[JuliaRobHurts]

DH and I were at a homebuilding and renovation show yesterday as we're in the middle of an extension project. Specifically we 're on the hunt for a new front door and while looking around one of the vendors we had a "pretty women" moment.

We had a look at the various products on show before trying to get the attention of one of the representatives who appeared to be avoiding our gaze. Eventually she approached and I said 'hi, we're interested in bespoke front doors and quite like this one on show'.

Without asking our budget or any of our requirements she went into a spiel about how the doors were very expensive, how they were imported from Lithuania and the import charge was also expensive, all the while wincing as she was saying it. She then said we might be better off with a more mass manufactured door. I was absolutely stunned at her condescending tone. She hadn't asked a single question about what we were looking for.

I was so close to confronting her about her approach, but held back. DH calmly told her her sales pitch needs some work and we walked away, but I was fuming. We were both dressed smart/casually so the only thing I can think is she guaged our age (late thirties) and made an assumption we couldn't afford it (even though we can).

WWYD in that situation? I'm half inclined to email the company and provide feedback on our experience but I also don't know if it's worth the energy.

Would love to hear if anyone that's had a similar experience but DID confront the rude person as I'm still annoyed I didn't give her a piece of my mind.

If it's a homebuilding and renovation show this could be very different from a general construction industry event and it could be very much about individuals doing up their home.

You mean you don’t get it? I hope someone with more patience than me explains it to you 🤣. If you don’t get the ‘pretty’ bit do you think she’d been ‘womaned’ ?? 🤷‍♀️

Buying clothes from supermarkets isn’t looking like a hobo!!!

It’s not a disguise, it’s wearing comfortable clothes they’re happy in. Wasting money on needless shit and expensive items for show is why some can retire at 50 hugely wealthy having never had a or needed a mortgage and others are scraping together the money before bills whilst frittering money on clothes and beauty they don’t need.

I know which I’d prefer.

The other side of the coin… several years ago I was in Selfridges looking longingly at designer bags.
The assistant asked if she could help a d I said “Oh it’s ok, I’m only looking and I don’t want to waste your time. These bags are way out of my price range.”
She said that it didn’t matter and she’d be happy to let me try some out (holding the handbags, putting g the shoulder bags on). She treated it like it a little adventure and we had a few minutes fun.
I thanked her and told her how kind she was and how she’d made my day.
She was lovely.

You realise you're around the 47th person to explain it, don't you? You should have read the thread. I think that poster got the message 42 replies to her ago.

I know . And I did read the thread. And I don’t care. And why should you? 🤣

Sorry,

Plenty of posters have filled me in on what it means but as a 40 year old bloke I think i've only seen pretty woman once, so didn't really make the connection.

I've never seen the whole film...but when I first heard about it I was baffled as to why people seemed to think the premise was OK.

It hasn't aged well!

Snorerephron · 12/05/2026 14:08
CoffeeCantata · 12/05/2026 14:04
A firend of mine (very horsey) was always dressed in messy clothes, muddy boots and a grotty old Barbour jacket which had lost practically all its wax! She had an outdoor job, so never really got dressed up during the day.
She went to the local market town after work to a posh jewellers in order to buy her parents an anniversary present, and planned to spend about £1,000 - but as soon as she walked in the assistant fetched a big brush and literally swept the floor in front of her, edging her back out of the door. Needless to say, she didn't spend her money in there!!
I think that's a terrible story, she didn't show any respect to the shop by going in there all muddy.

That's a bit of an over-reaction! It was a country town - lots of farmers and tradespeople similarly popped into the shops during their working hours - it was the norm. This friend was just a horsey lady - not an uncommon sight at all there. And when I say 'muddy boots' - I simply mean riding boots or wellies which might have a smidgin of mud on them - not someone dripping clods of wet earth everywhere. Fgs - shops should be able to cope with that, in that kind of place. We're not talking Knightsbridge here!

I remember as a Youth Hosteling teen calling in at a souvenir shop en route to the hostel (hard tile floors) and getting very much the same reaction from the proprietor, who couldn't get us out of the shop fast enough. I think a broom was used on that occasion too! We were definitely NOT muddy! We just had walking boots on, and basically, walkers were the punters in that village. If you can't deal with walkers and their outdoor boots, then perhaps shop-keeping in that village isn't for you.

A few years ago dh was looking for a good quality used car.
We went to the nearest VW dealership and they refused to let him test drive a car because he wouldn't commit to buying it??
He was dressed casually (shorts, t shirt)
The next week we went to another dealership and bought 2 cars for cash...
I decided I fancied a new one, too 😀
I was SO tempted to email the manager of the VW dealership 😡

So you read the thread but still decided to write exactly what others said, around 20 pages later. Sure.... 🙄🤣

@Bleachedjeans that's so nice to read, and of course if you DO have a windfall and treat yourself I'm sure you'll go straight back to that nice assistant!

I never said that buying clothes from supermarkets is to look like a hobo. I had some fab things from George at Asda back in the day. I was referring to posters talking about how their wealthy acquaintances would shop smelling of shit and carrying taped-together plastic bags and looking (and smelling) like they might well be homeless.

Why, though? A sex worker and her client fall in love and become a real couple at the end, with the implication that they are going to marry. What's wrong with that?

Years back I went in to an estate agents to get a brochure on a house. The EA who I vaguely knew was at the reception desk and commented to the receptionist that I couldn’t afford said house. I was soo embarrassed.
Recently I was involved in the sale of a multi million euro property - advising re what estate agent to use.
We invited Mr.Smart Ass out to see the house, give a valuation (he was over a million off - he undervalued it) and pitch for the business.
We (there were a few of us involved) were never going to employ him because I wouldn’t allow it.
Revenge is a dish served cold. 😉

Brother and wife came straight from their yacht to an estate agent because they saw a new listing so thought they'd call on their way home. The estate agent said outright that they wouldn't be able to afford it. They were taken aback so went to another office. They did get it and were cash buyers.

It's the power he has, as opposed to her. She is very dependent on him for her status.

Oh yes, that's totally true. I see it now. I was being affected by the fact that Julia Roberts is an incredibly rich and famous movie star!

I disagree. There is a twist in the tale where he offers her the life of a "kept woman" and she turns him down. When he realises his need for her in his life , and comes back to her with the appropriate respect for her as a person, she "rescues" him from his shallow life of greed and selfishness. They each have something to give that the other needs.
Also, the soundtrack bangs.

There was a scene in the Cosby Show where the doctor father dresses up as a poor person to try to get a better price on a car.

Get over yourself and stop being so petty. Pretty woman moment indeed.

There are far worse things in life to get upset about.

Bad morning @FaceIt ?

I agree with you on this. It is likely some others on MN do too but don't want to put their heads over the MN parapet.

I had a pair of earrings that were a stud with a longer bit coming from it. The longer bit came off the stud. I took it back to the shop it had came from but they didn't do repairs.
I went to various jewellers who couldn't help. Including one who said " If we did it, it would be solid gold and YOU wouldn't be able to afford it". I had not mentioned any price.
I said " What do I do then? Do I throw them away? Is that the modern way?" He then suggested another jeweller. I took earring there and he fixed it for me. For nothing.
If I ever need to buy anything from a jewellery shop guess which one I choose?