That's not wool, that's "lane"

[rdawson808]

People oftentimes ***** about rude SAs, but the other day I was in Filene's and the nicest most sincere SA was trying to help people and just did not know what he was talking about. It was funny in a very sad way.

Example 1
I'm looking at a flannel suit. On the other side of the same rack the SA is telling a gentleman that these suits (the same ones I'm looking at) are not wool, but are fleece. Yes, fleece. "Could you wear this year-round?" the customer asks. You could wear it all year long, the SA replies. Then he backtracks a bit and says it'd be best in winter and spring. After he leaves, I turn to the customer and say tell him it's not fleece, and if you pull out the tag in the inner pocket, you'll see it's 100% wool. Oh, and I'd die if I wore it in the summer.


Example 2
The SA has moved on to "helping" someone else. This customer is looking for a sportscoat. The SA says "this jacket isn't wool, it's lane," and goes on to say something vague about lane not being as good as wool, or something like this. "Lane?" I think to myself? What's he talking about? Oh, does he mean laine? The french word for wool? At this point I start laughing and just walk away with the one meager tie I found.


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[babygreenspots]

If anything, I would expect laine to be better than wool just because it is French.

 

[Patrician]

I heard a great story from my friend the other day. Apparently her friends had been out eating at a restaurant in Paris and when looking at the menu the saw the word 'lettuce'. Now we all know what lettuce is but since I'm from a non english speaking country lettuce is not the name for...well...lettuce. Anyhow, one of the girls pronounced the name with a totally wacked out italian pronounciation, something like "lettutsche/lettuche" and then asks what it is, whereupon another girl says, "oh well you see, 'lettuche' is like salad, like lettuce but from France and a lot better

"

I think it's hilarious. Yah I know, what's with the Italian accent if it's from France, but that's what they said.

 

[acidboy]

At least he is sincere and nice, which is waaaay better than knowledgeable but snobbish SAs from high end stores. I'm curious to know- does discount stores like Filene's have product information training for their staff?

 

[yachtie]

If I had to guess, no.

 

[nerdykarim]

Originally Posted by acidicboy

At least he is sincere and nice, which is waaaay better than knowledgeable but snobbish SAs from high end stores. I'm curious to know- does discount stores like Filene's have product information training for their staff?

I worked a FB in Atlanta for three days last year.
They do not have product information training for their staff.

 

[Pylon]

Originally Posted by acidicboy

At least he is sincere and nice, which is waaaay better than knowledgeable but snobbish SAs from high end stores. I'm curious to know- does discount stores like Filene's have product information training for their staff?
I don't know about you, but in the weeks leading up to Christmas, SAs in high end stores were tripping over themselves to be more helpful to me than I've ever experienced. Not sure if they were expecting slumping holiday sales or what, but the attention was nice. One SA noticed a wrinkle/crease in my tie and offered to take it in the back and steam it out while I shopped! Perhaps I'm in the minority here but given the choice between only the two, I'll take rude and knowledgeable over kind and clueless.

 

[lee_44106]

Originally Posted by babygreenspots

If anything, I would expect laine to be better than wool just because it is French.

Certainly more expensive. 'cause we know French stuff is the tops!

 

[Nicola]

Likely meant lana

 

[pabloj]

It's italian, stands for wool, "lane di tasmania" means "tasmanian wool".
It's the plural for "lana" (wool).

 

[zjpj83]

Originally Posted by Patrician

I heard a great story from my friend the other day. Apparently her friends had been out eating at a restaurant in Paris and when looking at the menu the saw the word 'lettuce'. Now we all know what lettuce is but since I'm from a non english speaking country lettuce is not the name for...well...lettuce. Anyhow, one of the girls pronounced the name with a totally wacked out italian pronounciation, something like "lettutsche/lettuche" and then asks what it is, whereupon another girl says, "oh well you see, 'lettuche' is like salad, like lettuce but from France and a lot better

"

I think it's hilarious. Yah I know, what's with the Italian accent if it's from France, but that's what they said.

I was at a meal with a junior lawyer at a law firm. He pointed to the "haricot verts" on the menu and asked me, "what are Harry-cots?" I paused for a split second and kindly replied, "Oh, they're green beans."

"Ah..." he replied. A decent pause ensued.

"Then what are "verts?" [pronouncing the "r" and "t" as in "vertical"]

It was quite funny.

 

[teddieriley]

^^ I suppose I can google to find the answer, but I wouldn't know how to pronounce the above either, and I'm decently educated. I would know that proper pronunciation of the phrase doesn't sound as spelled, but still wouldn't know how to say it.

Care to enlighten for plebes like me?

 

[sho'nuff]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

^^ I suppose I can google to find the answer, but I wouldn't know how to pronounce the above either, and I'm decently educated. I would know that proper pronunciation of the phrase doesn't sound as spelled, but still wouldn't know how to say it.

Care to enlighten for plebes like me?

that's what i was exactly thinking. i have no idea what haricot verts is.

 

[ReJoyce]

Are-ee-coh vair

 

[Thurston]

Originally Posted by Pylon

I don't know about you, but in the weeks leading up to Christmas, SAs in high end stores were tripping over themselves to be more helpful to me than I've ever experienced.

Same here.