This is just an informal poll, but I had an experience at a BB store that really confirmed what I've been trying to dismiss every time I've gone into the store:
The sales associates are really big jerks, trolls, dicks, etc, especially the older ones.
For reference, I am referring to the Houston Galleria and La Cantera location in San Antonio, TX.
Also, I am a young male in my early twenties, a new college graduate. I dress to fit my slim frame, etc. I'm not pulling the t-shirt, flip flops look when I enter.
The following experiences have really solidified this impression for me
1) For instance, I go into the La Cantera store a few days ago, and I see a a rather portly young man trying on a blazer probably for the first time in his life. It's clear to me the blazer is slightly ill-fitting. A female SA is helping his family out, and she asks her male SA (who is probably a decade or two older) what he thinks.
He brusquely glances at them, and walks off dismissively, saying he has other things he has to attend to. After they leave, I notice the male SA mocking how awkward the blazer was making the man look, and told his SA that she should know better than to ask him questions like that.
2) I ask for help from aforementioned male SA regarding extra slim fit shirts. He says he has two and they are in the back. Then he walks off.
Doesn't ask if I want to see them, or goes the extra mile to bring them out to me. He just waited a moment for a response, then walked off to help someone else. He finally brought them out after I reiterated I was interested in taking a look.
I ask if he has any Golden Fleece shirts in-store ( I wanted to take a look, interested in gifting my father Xmas present) He gives me a look of sheer incredulity, repeats "Golden Fleece? Golden Fleece?" as if he can't believe I just said that. Literally he looks as if I've just asked the most ridiculous question he's ever heard.
Then says, "we have Golden Fleece polos, but shirts? Shirts?" Meanwhile the female SA asks me if I was perhaps thinking of Black Fleece (no, I am not, and yes I am sure). This goes on for a little bit. Finally, I say "Look, GF is supposed to be your top of the line shirts etc" Then he says, "oh well you'd hate them because they're so baggy" To which I told him I was shopping for my father.
Perhaps recognizing his mistake, he pats on me the shoulder, and says, "yeah, you're right, your father would probably like them, we don't have them in the store because they're so expensive..."
3) At the Houston location, I just feel like the SAs are very short and terse with me and just want to make the sale ASAP. Every question is answered with "Yes, no, or we don't have it." Any clarifying questions about products are usually answered quickly and unsatisfactorily. I know the Milano and Fitzgerald are slimmer, but can you really not tell me more? Can you not tell me that the Milano, not the Fitzgerald, is the slimmest fit?
I tried on a suit jacket, the SA told me it fit me fine, and asked me if I was ready to buy it. This was maybe 30 seconds after I had tried it on to gauge my fit. I felt it was a little tight, so I go up a size. "Oh, this size fits perfect (what about your previous recommendation??) Let's go ring you up"
i apologize if this comes off as whiny, but I'm perplexed that stores in such nice locations can have such crappy quality of service.
What have other forum members' experiences been like?
The sales associates are really big jerks, trolls, dicks, etc, especially the older ones.
For reference, I am referring to the Houston Galleria and La Cantera location in San Antonio, TX.
Also, I am a young male in my early twenties, a new college graduate. I dress to fit my slim frame, etc. I'm not pulling the t-shirt, flip flops look when I enter.
The following experiences have really solidified this impression for me
1) For instance, I go into the La Cantera store a few days ago, and I see a a rather portly young man trying on a blazer probably for the first time in his life. It's clear to me the blazer is slightly ill-fitting. A female SA is helping his family out, and she asks her male SA (who is probably a decade or two older) what he thinks.
He brusquely glances at them, and walks off dismissively, saying he has other things he has to attend to. After they leave, I notice the male SA mocking how awkward the blazer was making the man look, and told his SA that she should know better than to ask him questions like that.
2) I ask for help from aforementioned male SA regarding extra slim fit shirts. He says he has two and they are in the back. Then he walks off.
Doesn't ask if I want to see them, or goes the extra mile to bring them out to me. He just waited a moment for a response, then walked off to help someone else. He finally brought them out after I reiterated I was interested in taking a look.
I ask if he has any Golden Fleece shirts in-store ( I wanted to take a look, interested in gifting my father Xmas present) He gives me a look of sheer incredulity, repeats "Golden Fleece? Golden Fleece?" as if he can't believe I just said that. Literally he looks as if I've just asked the most ridiculous question he's ever heard.
Then says, "we have Golden Fleece polos, but shirts? Shirts?" Meanwhile the female SA asks me if I was perhaps thinking of Black Fleece (no, I am not, and yes I am sure). This goes on for a little bit. Finally, I say "Look, GF is supposed to be your top of the line shirts etc" Then he says, "oh well you'd hate them because they're so baggy" To which I told him I was shopping for my father.
Perhaps recognizing his mistake, he pats on me the shoulder, and says, "yeah, you're right, your father would probably like them, we don't have them in the store because they're so expensive..."
3) At the Houston location, I just feel like the SAs are very short and terse with me and just want to make the sale ASAP. Every question is answered with "Yes, no, or we don't have it." Any clarifying questions about products are usually answered quickly and unsatisfactorily. I know the Milano and Fitzgerald are slimmer, but can you really not tell me more? Can you not tell me that the Milano, not the Fitzgerald, is the slimmest fit?
I tried on a suit jacket, the SA told me it fit me fine, and asked me if I was ready to buy it. This was maybe 30 seconds after I had tried it on to gauge my fit. I felt it was a little tight, so I go up a size. "Oh, this size fits perfect (what about your previous recommendation??) Let's go ring you up"
i apologize if this comes off as whiny, but I'm perplexed that stores in such nice locations can have such crappy quality of service.
What have other forum members' experiences been like?
The guy in the shoe dept. was really nice.
We've gotten to know the manager a bit, and her store is a very well oiled machine. The men's store could take lessons from her and her staff.
