Good Morning!!!
Reporting from a real computer for the second time in two days… things are looking up for us, Readers. It’s around 11 a.m. CST. My anxiousness to get a post or two in before heading out for the day delayed my trip to the Einstein’s so I’m “before coffee” as of right now. Ahh. But anyway, I’m on my way out the door. I have a lunch meeting and then I’m going to try and keep myself warm & dry for the rest of the day… Bloomingdales here I come.
Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of spending the days with My Girls! Meah, Jenna, Andrea and I hit up Mich Ave for a little shopping and then had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory… Cobb Salad my fave!
the Sig Kap Christmas Party was the night before… We were at Heather’s house until 1:00 p.m.!! You can check out Jenna’s recap here. I do not have that memory stick with me but will post the pictures in Picasa Web Albums as soon as I return home.
I love this picture of all of us!!
Here’s the quick dish on my terrible experience on 5th Avenue yesterday…
Walk into Louis Vuitton. Sales Woman standing behind the desk looking at a book (aka doing nothing). I walk up to the counter. I’m standing right in front of her. She doesn’t even pick her head up from the book. Finally, I said “Excuse me, I’m interested in this bag (the bag was already on the counter because there was another lady looking at it as well). Never spoke a word only when I asked her “What are the dimensions of the bag?” Her response, “I don’t know.” She pulls a catalog out from behind the counter and points to the page to where I can read it for myself. I asked her a couple of other questions (which I already knew the answers to but wanted to see how she would respond), she only nodded her head.
Walk down the street to 50th & 5th and enter into Saks Fifth Avenue. I wanted to purchase a pair of a leggings. The kind you wear as pants not as hosiery. Therefore, I go up to the contemporary floor. I see three sales people standing next to a table of denim – again not doing anything with the exception of looking me up and down.
*Side Note: I had on a double-knit black dress, black tights, black wool/cashmere plaza coat, hair in pulled in a low pony, black gloves, black patent Cole Haan pumps, Longchamp work bag and Gucci sunglasses (which I probably should have left on while inside the store and maybe people wouldn’t have been looking at me as if I was from outer space). I’m only tell you this so that you know I didn’t look like a homeless person. Even though it should NOT matter what I have on. If I’m standing in a store ready to buy something I should receive the same customer service as the next person.
Anyway, not one of them spoke a word. I walk up, say hello. No response. I kindly ask for my request. The guy responds, “I’ve never seen anything like that.” I went ahead and explained again since leggings might be one of the higher trends this season. He responds, “We don’t carry things like that in THIS store.
“Needless to say, I was on fire! I just do NOT understand this at all. I’m the customer – you are the sales person. I’m the one buying something that is ultimately going to affect your paycheck. I am still blown away by the terrible service.
On another note, my experience at the Apple Store on 5th was by far the VERY BEST service I’ve ever received at an Apple Store. Kyle was so kind and generous with the information he gave me. I wanted to buy my pretty white iPhone from him before I left but he advised me that wasn’t a wise decision with the fact I was traveling later in the day. How nice was that? Thanks again, Kyle and the Apple Store on 5th!!! What a lovely experience!!!
Good Day, Readers!! xx, Nina
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
You know what I would have said to the woman in the Louis store? “I’m sorry but I’m actually a total idiot and never learned to read ANYTHING. Do you think you take take 5 minutes from your INCREDIBLY BUSY schedule and read me the dimensions from the catelog? thank you’re a peach.” And then I would have given her a HUGE smile with my pearly whites
Miss you xoxoxoxo
I hope you send both companies a letter…or at least a link to your highly read blog.
I agree with Team Clancy…
Gotta love Apple though! When I worked there they really encouraged us to do what’s right for the customer. If that meant selling them an item that was way less than another item, then do it!
Hope your day is great!
Julie
How Pretty Woman of them!
I would also write a letter AND a link to your blog!
-E
I totally agree. I shop in NYC quite often… I am not in LV very frequently but I am in Saks alot and the customer service does suck on the floor. However, when your walking in and out the beauty dept seems to ask you 100 questions if you need anything.
I had the same experience at Saks when I was there trying to buy some Chanel sunglasses, Very rude!
I hope you had a great time otherwise
OMG I would have FLIPPED! I hate bad service and cannot believe that happened to you. I’m a big tights wearer, so I know what your talking about, Saks, what a bunch of…. Anyways, hope that you found some and have a great weekend!
Most definitely blog about this again with the store name in your title – with pics of the store and everything!!! I mean really. Remember when I was dissatisfied with Saks and they sent me that $50 gift card?? So that leads me to believe that they care?? Sometimes sales associates in the high end stores are the snobs! I mean what I am thinking when they act that way to me is “I’m the one shopping here; you’re the one working.” That makes me furious for you. And you are so classy!! Imagine how they treat other people!!! Yay for Apple. I have Apple to be the same way!!
oh my gosh, people can be so rude! It definitely sounds like they need to be in a job that doesn’t require ANY customer contact! Sorry you had such a bad experience!!!
Shopping in NYC is an EXPERIENCE. All of the stores on 57th street (aka Chanel, Burberry, LV, etc) are known for being super rude. Part of it is I think they get a TON of tourists but then there are those of us who actually want to buy things. Doesn’t matter if you are there to browse or buy, you should still get great service. I have a love/hate relationship with shopping here – some stores (Bloomies, JCrew, etc) are amazing, while other stores are horrible to you. And it has NOTHING to do with what you have on I’ve learned. If you are still looking for leggings check out american apparel online – they have tons.
Nina, I would call Louis corporate and Sak*s corporate immediately if I were you… they are usually great about reprimanding associates after the fact…
what crappy service! kind of sounds like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman:)
why are people so rude? clearly, being snobby is part of the job description at these particular stores. I’m glad Kyle redeemed your shopping adventure
I can not believe they treated you like that. That is just awful!! They should be ashamed. I think i would have went all “Alabama Redneck crazy girl” on them
I would definitely write a letter to each store letting them know that you received terrible customer service. It shouldn’t matter what you were wearing or how you looked, you deserve the same treatment as anyone else. It is their JOB!
I think if that happened to me, you would see flames coming from my head! Stories like that make me very angry.
Oh, Nina!! How tacky of them. I have definitely found Michigan Avenue to be way better than 5th on any day. In fact, I want to give a shout out to Marietta in Gucci at Saks and Tracy Silva, the make-up artist for Trish McEvoy at Saks. These two are the best. I don’t live in Chicago and Tracy emails me with new products and I can just pop her an email to order anything I want.
I used to lead workshops in Customer Service and it incenses me when people who *chose* to take a sales job act like it’s beneath them. I’ve even said to people, “You came here and *applied* for this job, it may not be the best job in the world, but it’s the job you chose to take.” You should see their faces.
Love your blog, Nina!!
WHAT??!!We are in a recession.. helllooo. just the fact that they have a customer should have sent them into a frenzy. you surely looked darling.. xoxoxo
I hate when sales people pull a pretty woman on me! If they do like working in retail…THEN LEAVE! Why punish customers, because you are uninterested in your work.
I was in the Tiffany’s in Bev Hills before Christmas (I didn’t look homeless, but not quite up to Bev Hills standards) and the security guard kept following me around. I got so annoyed (hubby was off buying my Christmas present) so I started messing with him. I finally pulled out my Law Enforcement badge when hubby needed something and flashed it at the Security guard. He finally left me alone.
Have a great weekend!
Nina, I am so sorry you had such bad experiences at both Saks and Louis Vuitton. I would certainly call or email both companies and let them know what is going on. I have shopped at both stores and I have never received such unacceptable service. Frankly, I get better service than what you got at my local Target. The staff at my Louis Vuitton are all super nice and helpful. Although the women who was supposed to call me about the iPhone case for the 3g never did, or my husband may have intercepted that call. Anyway, I am sorr that happened and I hope you have a fabulous weekend!
That is absolutely ridiculous behavior. When things like that happen to me, I am SO nice to them and almost ooze sweetness from me in a VERY sarcastic manner. This has worked for me, so maybe try that next time. Hopefully you will not have an experience like that again though. Louis Vuitton in Vegas was rude to me (well, the lady that was helping me) and I didn’t kill her with kindness, I was so mad that I almost bought the darn bag just to show her that I had the money to do it….but I didn’t want her to have the commission, so I didn’t buy it.
Long story short, I’m sorry BOTH places were rude and they should be embarrased for their behavior.
My blood is boiling for you.
Woops, had some misspellings….my blood must still be on fire.
I agree with everyone else – write both LV and Saks letters. In my experience letters work better than emails because the company knows you took time to write it, print it, mail it, etc.
My Mom’s best friend has a go to comment for sales people like that. “Last I Checked, I’m the one BUYING here, and you’re the one WORKING here! I’m sure if you had enough money to shop here, you’d want the sales people to be polite to you. I’m taking my business to ______”
This is why I hate shopping at stores like that (plus the fact I can’t afford anything!) – I feel like they always try to put you down. I mean you are the shopper and they are working for you(like Preppy 101 said). What happen to customer service anymore?