Going into luxury/high-end stores with no intention of buying anything?

jeff13007 · Feb 5, 2013

becnal said:
In that situation, I answer with "Not yet thank you" in a confident manner. I do not need to justify or explain my presence in a store to the employees. I'm a potential customer and dress the part, and therefore should be treated as one. Living in Germany teaches one to be polite but firm.

I don't really think its necessary to dress the part. You are there to buy clothes not to impress sales people with your fashion sense. As previously stated maybe it was because I've been really really lucky in the past and have not run into a snobby sales person as of yet but usually when i go to browse the high end stores I'm dressed like crap, i.e north face jacket, t shirt jeans and sneakers, and in the summer time I'm in shorts a undershirt and flip flops.

jeff13007 · Feb 5, 2013

othertravel said:
An SA at TF Madison pretty much gave me and my cousin the arched eyebrow look the first time I went there, even though I bought something from him.

I went back a few days later and started talking to another SA about TF Mtm options. When the original SA saw that I might be commissioning a suit with another SA his attitude became muh friendlier (offered me a beverage, all smiles, etc...).

The SAs at RL are much nicer.

Sorry to hear that. Usually the SA's at their madison store are top notch when it comes to customer service. Most of the older ones there are an absolute joy to deal with, when i still lived in NYC i used to stop by there sometimes just to chat with some of them sometimes even about topics as random as versace for H&M lol.

Veremund · Feb 5, 2013

Jeff, please don't misunderstand my post. I don't dress to impress the staff. I dress to present myself in a good light. I'd never wear sneakers or flip flops unless I was exercising or on a beach.

Bexcellence · Feb 5, 2013

about how much money are these SAs making at these luxury stores?

allysan1027 · Feb 5, 2013

I've had many experiences like that even at the not so high end places like BB, CT, AE, etc.

I'm 22 and work in a office so I've been building a business casual wardrobe recently.

It really annoys me when I walk into these places on weekends wearing a sweatshirt and jeans and the SA's give me this snobby look like I don't belong there, which is really ironic given what they do for a living.

csoukoulis · Feb 5, 2013

Man Of Lint said:
I ask if they are commissioned. If they respond with a 'yes' (most do), I ask for their card and assure them that when I am ready to purchase, I will deal only with them. This puts a quick end to the situation and stops other salespeople from even approaching as I flash the card of the first one who approached me no matter their internal politics. Sales people, especially where there are too many for the store, tend to be very anxious and even pushy. 'Just browsing' is often inferred as 'no sale for me and now they are fair game for the others'. By asking them for their business card with an assurance, this is inferred as a courtesy they are not accustomed to receiving from most patrons. The card now becomes a 'maybe', which I will honour if I purchase. It also frees them to pursue other customers as I browse, knowing they haven't lost a sale. Anyone who has worked in sales knows the anxiety and pressures to sell and the unpleasant task of approaching potential customers. It is not an easy job for them. My procedure takes all of this pressure off both parties and I am left to browse at my leisure. I believe we had a thread years ago about rude cutomers and rude sales people but can't remember the thread title.

A tip to sales people, when they say 'just browsing' offer them your card and assure them that you are happy to assist when they are ready. Customers will love you for this.

hit the nail on the head.

Greggers · Feb 5, 2013

I am a sales associate in a luxury department store. What Man of Lint posted is awesome. If everybody just did that, we'd be living in a retail utopia.

The only corollary I'd add is that if you are "working with" Salesperson X, don't accept help at some point from Salesperson Y. Nothing is more soul-crushing than to be Salesperson Y, going to hell and back to find The One Shirt, using up the precious resources of time and effort, only to find that they're going to ring it up with someone else.

Imhoff · Feb 5, 2013

Claghorn said:
Who was your SA in SA? I've not been, but my dad absolutely loves his.

Couldn't tell you his name. But I remember him being a little bit older (probably 50's), white hair, and a white bushy moustache. A car salesman best described his look. I legitimately had questions about shirt fits as I have never owned anything Brooks Brothers at the time. He acted like I asked him to go to the moon and back and that he had better things to do.

Unfortunately, I still walked out of the store having purchased a couple shirts.

Imhoff · Feb 5, 2013

Man Of Lint said:
A tip to sales people, when they say 'just browsing' offer them your card and assure them that you are happy to assist when they are ready. Customers will love you for this.

Jackpot.

Another thing, and this may vary from customer to customer, but I really enjoy talking to SA's about products and even a little bit about life. Now, if the store is busy, I will not hound them and take up any more time than I should, but if I am the only customer there and there are 6 SA's on the floor, I see no harm.

For example, I went to the RL store here at their Biltmore location. A very nice store through-and-through. Older gentleman was working in the Men's department. He shared his stories working for RL (21 years if I recollect). Talked about the Purple Label suits. Family. It was fun and enjoyable. And I did make a purchase. I won't see anyone else but him when I shop.

Veremund · Feb 5, 2013

I don't dress the part for the staff's benefit. I dess well because I like to dress well and represent myself well. I wouldn't dream of wearing sandals or a jackwolfskin jacket unless I was on a beach or in a forest. I'm too old to wear an undershirt as an overshirt, or I'm just a snob. I'm ok with either explanation.

jeff13007 said:
I don't really think its necessary to dress the part. You are there to buy clothes not to impress sales people with your fashion sense. As previously stated maybe it was because I've been really really lucky in the past and have not run into a snobby sales person as of yet but usually when i go to browse the high end stores I'm dressed like crap, i.e north face jacket, t shirt jeans and sneakers, and in the summer time I'm in shorts a undershirt and flip flops.

Quadcammer · Feb 5, 2013

Honestly, I have pretty much no use for retail sales people. They want to be a dick to me, fine. As long as they don't physically throw me out before I need to complete the purchase, they can dirty look me all day long. On rare occasion has an SA offered me something that couldn't be found in other ways.

jeff13007 · Feb 5, 2013

Bexcellence said:
about how much money are these SAs making at these luxury stores?

The senior guys at TF madison make about 150k a year and Loro Piana (i only know this cuz one of my friends dated a chick who worked there) about 100k. Im guessing the other high end stores will be around there. I think Hermes is 1-200k a year as well, my friend dated one guy who worked at their wall street location and he was driving a brand new porsche cayenne(sp?)

jeff13007 · Feb 5, 2013

becnal said:
I don't dress the part for the staff's benefit. I dess well because I like to dress well and represent myself well. I wouldn't dream of wearing sandals or a jackwolfskin jacket unless I was on a beach or in a forest. I'm too old to wear an undershirt as an overshirt, or I'm just a snob. I'm ok with either explanation.

Well to each his own with regards to what your wear on a casual basis. But the point of my post was not to call you out for "dressing to impress the staff" it was to show that in my experience even when I'm dressed like crap i have always had positive experiences with SA's. I dunno maybe i have yet to run into a bad one or maybe it was because i was in manhattan and they are a bit more professional over there

JLibourel · Feb 5, 2013

Most of my experiences in high-end stores have been pleasant enough. One bad one I had was in Barneys in Beverly Hills. While my wife was shopping, I discovered some small item I wished to purchase off a sale bin (a tie or some socks, can't remember what), I then stood by the sales desk holding the item in my hand and waited...and waited...and waited while about three salespeople danced attendance on some guy buying a few shirts or something. If he was a celeb, he was nobody I recognized. Finally, I just flung the item I had wanted to buy back in the sale bin with a petulant gesture and went my way.

takashi78 · Feb 5, 2013

jeff13007 said:
The senior guys at TF madison make about 150k a year and Loro Piana (i only know this cuz one of my friends dated a chick who worked there) about 100k. Im guessing the other high end stores will be around there. I think Hermes is 1-200k a year as well, my friend dated one guy who worked at their wall street location and he was driving a brand new porsche cayenne(sp?)

Damn.....who needs a college degree when you can work retail LOL.
Just joking.

But i usually visit high end stores when i am on vacation and dress very casually.

Usually in the states i its a hit or miss.
Been offered champagne first min in the Cartier even when i said i was just looking around.
But in Brooks Brothers only to be treated like i am wasting the SA's time when i was the ONLY person in there.

Now Taiwan on the other hand, ALWAYS good attitudes from the SA. ALWAYS.

Going into luxury/high-end stores with no intention of buying anything?

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