Feeling nervous about going into designer shops (Chanel Burberry etc)

[feminazi]

Does anyone else feel this way?

Generally I just ogle online, maybe go into the 'duty free' department shops whilst traveling...

Whenever I see a designer shop, I want to go in, but feel like I'm not good enough! I have a good job, with a nice salary, but my working class roots make me feel like I don't belong there.

I guess it saves me money at least!

People who make you feel unwelcome in a shop, however high end that shop is, are shit at their jobs. Sometimes they need to be reminded

I hate, hate, hate going into designer shops too for all the above reasons.

I was browsing in Heal's and my dad called for a chat, so I was found a corner and tried to stay out of the way so I could talk to him. A security guard came and led me to the most expensive armchair around and mouthed "get comfy!"

I had a very unpleasant experience in the Manchester Harvey Nics, but it was about 10 years ago.

Stately, was it Matches in Richmond by any chance?

I was there with work a couple of years ago and had a similar experience.

(Disclosure: I buy from their website quite regularly but I live in the north so I can't usually visit their shops.)

I was the only customer in the shop. I said hello to the assistant as I arrived (in my northern accent). She proceeded to follow me around the shop, standing right next to me. I was really irritated; it felt as if she had placed herself next to me to stop me stealing the clothes (which weren't all that, incidentally).

I just walked out. I wouldn't go into one of their shops again.

My DH has this in Chanel where he went to buy Chanel Gardenia perfume for me - yes its only £200 to them & not £5K on a coat or something but its still £200 & if they didn't want you to buy it why sell it ?. Staff were snotty & rude. He sent a very pithy note to Head Office & received an apology & free samples. He did say to the staff on the way out " I cant thank you for your wonderful customer service because there wasn't any customer service at all. You were snobby, rude and extremely unhelpful and perhaps you need to remember that you are a Shop Assistant - maybe this isn't Poundland but you are a Shop Assistant & this is a Shop ",

Bea
LVMH's revenue comes primarily from fragrances and i would imagine other design houses are the same.

well done to your dad . those assistants sometimes need reminding that customers are keeping the food on their table.

Hermès have always treated me as if I spend tens of thousands there, when I only ever buy some of their cheaper items (the scarves), and then only once in a blue moon.

Nettle it was their Wimbledon store. It doesn't take much to make someone feel like they don't belong.....part of you wants to purchase the most extravagant thing in the shop and prove them wrong but you know the best revenge is to spend nothing and never to return...a bit of bad mouthing on social media helps sooth the feelings a bit too.
And to be fair snootiness is not a trait I often encounter in high end shops, it's not very profitable and for those sales staff who rely on commission...it doesn't make for a healthy pay packet.

Sales assistants are perhaps not sophisticated enough to know about psychology. They are not in a profession and have to compensate for their lack of education by attempting to belittle people.

*Caraspen
*
That comment is quite rude and ignorant. I worked in retail as a student, but I'm now doing a PHD...

Also many people here work in retail, it's nothing to be ashamed of, nor does it make someone unsophisticated.

I don't think having a Degree, MA or Phd means that you are better than someone without. People deserve respect until they prove otherwise - many a student works in retail to subsidise their meagre income. I have no idea what educational level the sales assistants had that made me feel like shit in Matches - to hell with qualifications - they lacked humanity, emotional intelligence and good manners.

I used to work in a fancy shop as a student.
I was treated fairly badly actually - some men thought I was a prostitute in my spare time! Perhaps that is where the attitude comes from.
I was never snotty but I did talk some rubbish about the products!

Heals - bloody lovely, will let you slob about on their sofas for ages. Also have the sense to know not everyone with cash, dresses like it all the time. Liberty's staff are very similar - know you may not buy now, or only a trinket, but if you fall in love with the store you will come back over and over again.

In contrast local Debenhams made me get up when I had sat down in their furniture department to wait for someone. It was 9.30am and the store was deserted.

Fair enough, I wasn't buying - but when I next am, it won't be there.

My friend was a SA in a posh department store when he was a medical student. He was great at selling shoes

Many luxury shops are intentionally intimidating. Scarcity and aloofness is a selling strategy. But I deeply dislike that.

Staff in Selfridges have always been lovely too, Debenhams looks like a discount store, it's a shambles, the chaos makes me itch. Harrods is too full of tourists and rules about bags and what not, security staff are hyper-vilgilent, it makes me feel very uncomfortable.

I go in with the attitude that strictly speaking, I could buy the stuff. I won't, because it's not how I choose to spend that money, but I could. And ultimately, they work in a shop. It's not like they're royalty. You wouldn't be scared of the checkout person at Aldi!

If they want to be snooty, it's their loss. Just reminds you of where not to spend your money. And you can get bad staff anywhere. Waft out with a "meh, nothing really takes my fancy today" air.

I get this, doesn't help that I look about 16 (I'm 21).

I walked in to -I think- reiss and was damn near chased round the shop so I left sharpish.

In selfridges though a lady at the burberry consensus ion asked me if I'd like to try on one of their trenches. I declined as if I put one on I would never ever take it off again . Burberry a actual shop is less comfortable and I was mostly ignored but I don't mind that as I could snoop.

Ironically, the only place I have ever been accused of theft was Aldi! The checkout woman had scanned something twice and was adamant she hadn't and that I must have hidden the second item around my person!

I don't want to be leapt upon the minute I go into any shop so quite happy to browse until I need help. I buy designer and high street and most assistants are very good. Only time I can think of being ignored was by the snooty staff on the make-up counters in Debenhams, 3 of them fawning for ages over 1 customer, then another 2 chatting and actually moved away as I got close!
It was late night shopping and hardly anyone else around.
How rude I thought and went straight to Boots where I was served by the first assistant I saw, she was helpful and friendly. Simple fact is Debenhams lost a sale.

I don't look in designer shops because I would probably keel over at the prices

However in harrods with my mum last Christmas in most the departments I went in they were very friendly ( I was literally just looking ) coming over saying hello etc I like to think they thought I looked rich or famous or something

Though There probably just nice to everyone ?

Actually Don't ruin this for me !!!

I went into the Vivienne Westwood store in Newcastle a couple of Christmases ago to buy my daughter some shoes.
I was with my DM who was mortified because we were carrying a load of Primark bags and looked like shit after a full day shopping.
The staff were genuinely dying to know what fabulous bargains we had picked up and I ended up emptying out my shopping on to the sales counter for them all to see !!!!

But I have no shame

Hermes London - fantastic. Hermes Paris - stuck up, snobby and snooty!!!! I have no problem with high end shops (as my handbag collection shows) but the Paris ones are in a league of their own. Buy in London.

Most of them - those without degrees - are bona fide shop assistants who are hardly being paid a huge salary. Just because you stand around, overly dressed-up and overly made up, does not mean you are in any way superior to your customers! Surely they are not stupid enough to think that?
As others have pointed out, many people would not buy the ludicrously priced stuff on offer, not because they couldn't but because they choose not to.