AIBU to think it’s strange you only get a sample if you buy a £300 perfume?

[Annmay]

I had an experience recently that I can’t quite stop thinking about, and I’m curious if this is normal now or if something has changed.

I was in a well-known luxury department store, exploring niche fragrances — just taking my time, asking questions, trying to understand what I might actually like on my skin.

I came across Maison Crivelli and was genuinely interested. The fragrances are not cheap (around £300), so naturally I wanted to test properly before making any decision.

At one point I asked if it would be possible to have a small sample — just to see how it develops over a day or two.

I was told I would only receive a sample if I purchased the full bottle.

What surprised me wasn’t just the answer, but how quickly the tone of the interaction changed after I asked.

It went from friendly and engaging to… noticeably colder.

I was there with my daughter, and she even asked me:
“Why are they looking at us like that? Can we go?”

And honestly, that stayed with me more than anything else.
Because I’ve had experiences in other places where you can take your time, ask questions and feel comfortable — and this felt completely different.

Here, it felt like I had to prove something.

I completely understand that samples can’t be given endlessly — that’s not what I’m expecting.

But for a £300 fragrance, is it really unreasonable to want to test it properly first?

It just made me question whether luxury today is about experience… or just transaction.

Curious what others think — is this normal now?

I’ve come across this before albeit online where you buy the bottle and a couple of samples come with it so that you can try it and then return unopened if you don’t like it. I guess maybe bricks and mortar stores are doing this to save on the samples as some people may go and get endless samples and never buy a bottle especially when it’s so expensive.

I was not being cheeky but confident to ask! It’s my right to decide properly !

Yes I’ve seen that as well and I understand why they do it that way.I think for me it was more how it was handled in that moment.I wasn’t asking for lots of things just trying to decide on one fragrance before spending that amount of money.it felt off when it was said like that (everyone wants sample and I can come and spray it everyday - it’s not standard of luxury )

Yes I do know this, the rest is entertainment podcast last week was very interesting!

fwiw I don’t ‘object’ to AI in all its forms as I think I mentioned upthread I use it and like it a lot for specific purposes.

we do have a point of agreement here, it’s not so much the OP using AI that annoys me it’s the generic rubbish use of it without any nuance or editing that makes her original OP pretty pointless.

Sadly I think they lump everyone together and she probably wrongly assumed that you couldn’t afford the fragrance and were just trying to scrounge some samples. You were probably just one in a long line of people asking for samples and the sales assistant was fed up.

But it's HOW you decide 'properly.' Most people would appreciate you don't ask for a sample of a perfume costing £300. You go back and try it, several times.

Can you explain how you asked for a sample at Harrods (supposedly) and were refused but you made snap decision to buy the perfume at another store?

Even though you'd just posted that you couldn't afford it, needed to save up, and needed to wear it for a day before deciding.

How do you even know that I bought the perfume at another store? I never said that anywhere. And I didn’t say I couldn’t afford it either.I said I’m careful about what I spend my money on because these are expensive perfumes. That’s a big difference.

This thread is hilarious. I suspect some top trolling by the op.

I was in a well-known luxury department store, exploring niche fragrances

Irrelevant extra detail - is there any 'luxury department store" which isn't well known?

And I don't believe a human would say "exploring niche fragrances"

A human would say "I was in a posh shop [a posh shop in London] looking for new perfume"

I was exploring niche fragrance not the mainstream fragrance!

How do you even know that I bought the perfume at another store? I never said that anywhere. And I didn’t say I couldn’t afford it either.I said I’m careful about what I spend my money on because these are expensive perfumes. That’s a big difference.

Because you wrote that! At least keep up with your own posts.

I think there’s been a misunderstanding — I wasn’t buying the bottle.
I was considering it, and to be honest it’s something I would have had to think about and save for.

This is also what you said- that you went to Harrods and then went to another store.

I actually went there just to try that brand and
after that I went to MFK got a small sample tried it outside and within 10 minutes I knew it was right for me so I bought it

I think there’s just been a misunderstanding and I probably explained it a bit messily in different replies.I didn’t buy the Crivelli one anywhere else I was only considering it and wanted more time before spending that kind of money.

I went to Harrods specifically to try that brand and when I asked about a sample I was told that everyone wants samples and that I could just come back every day to spray it which didn’t feel great to be honest so I left and after that I went to the MFK counter which is also in Harrods I already knew the brand before and the way I was treated there was completely different I got a small sample went outside tried it properly on my skin and within about 10 minutes I felt sure and went back to buy. next time please prepare yourself more for attacking me.
so it wasn’t about getting something for free it was just about being able to take a bit of time to decide and the way it was handled.

Do you want to see a receipt and the perfumes ?

I think they correctly assumed she couldn't afford it, given that she said she would have had to save up to buy it.

Yes that’s definitely an option as well.
I just prefer to try it properly before buying rather than having to return it later and not all places make returns that easy anyway but it’s nice to hear some shops are more flexible like that.

Presumably it wasn't £300 like the one you didn't get a sample for.

You did say you couldn't afford that, which is fine of course, it's a lot of money for perfume.

You're being pulled up on your posts because you aren't explaining things fully and posters think it's fake- that's all.

My general advice is if you want to be treated seriously OP, be genuine, do not pretend that you are someone you are not. This thread is a good example.

Yes it was £245 and I bought also because of the excellent service , opposite to Maison Crivielli

I’m genuine but the way some people reacted its really upsetting .

I do, I want to see if you got an MFK staff discount 😉

But hang on- 'excellent service' is not just about handing over samples to everyone who asks, is it?

Some brands offer samples, some don't. I've never even consider asking for samples of Chanel or Hermes (do they exist?)
Probably not your brands but they aren't cheap.

I found Hermes assts very helpful offering me various samples to try ON MY WRIST which I did and repeated.

I’m not connected to MFK or any brand. Why you accusing me? You’re overthinking man

I’m just a customer sharing what happened

Do you want to see a receipt and the perfumes ?

Yes please.

Maison Crivelli scents start at £90 for 30 ml. You don't need to spend £300.

You don’t come across as genuine OP and maybe that’s the reason you were not treated as a serious buyer but as someone who pretends to be one?

I live far away from luxury department stores and usually visit high end shops at airports. I like to travel with my school (30 years old) backpack as hand luggage and wear old hoodies and similar travel attire. I also have an obvious foreign accent in English. I’ve always been treated politely and shown various things because I don’t fake interest and I usually buy something. I definitely look like I have zero buying power.