Yesterday was a nightmare of a shopping day. Not because I was dealing with Christmas stress (one of the benefits of being Jewish) but because I was dealing with retail assistants. Only they weren’t dealing with me.
Now I am not going to generalize, I’m just going to divide all retail staff into two broad categories. Some of them are lovely and friendly and delightful and, just like every other sector of the universe some of them are hideous. It seems that the bulk of the hideous ones work in boutique style shops.
I forgot this before I stepped into a couple of boutique style shops today.
I like to think I am a reasonably well maintained human being, I usually brush my hair when I leave the house and I am always clean. I wear shoes to the shops and even though they may be considered too comfortable to be fashionable they do at least cover the soles of my feet (and a few other bits).
I hardly look scary and I don’t think I look like a thief. I also don’t think I look like a person who cannot afford to buy anything at all. So I really don’t understand why I am so often treated with such contempt.
It goes something like this:
I walk into shop
Salesperson does not look up
I walk up to the racks of clothes
Salesperson visibly sighs
I look at price tags and go pale
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Salesperson points nose up and shows tremendous disdain for the fact that someone actually looked at a price tag, no doubt saying to themselves “if you have to look at the price you can’t afford it”.
I look around to see if there is a sales rack but even when I see that there is none I realise I can’t just dash out the shop because then I really look like a nutter and I give the salesperson reason to believe that I am unstable.
I smile at the salesperson. The salesperson looks horrified.
I look at something on a shelf being careful not to unfold it.
Salesperson comes up behind me and starts straightening whatever I have touched. She does this really quickly in a bid to quickly rid the garment of any “non fancy pants” germs I may have deposited on the $200 t-shirts.
I spot something I like and toy with the idea of trying it on.
The salesperson checks her manicure.
I realise boutique type shops do not stock my size.
I leave and go to the service station where the man behind the counter is always friendly and happy to see me. He also sells calippos and marshmallow santas which are possibly responsible for the fact that I don’t fit into any of the clothes that they sell at boutique style shops.
Obviously there are some really wonderful and helpful people that work in boutiques, I just haven’t met them yet.
When I walk into a Boutique, the staff lock themselves in the store-room and set off the silent alarm!
😉
You make me feel better about myself ! x
Thank goodness it’s not just me! I was once followed around an entire shop by the sales assistant. She walked two steps behind me the whole way, obviously convinced I was about to knock off one of the store’s ridiculously overpriced items. At least she was paying attention I guess. Usually the staff in such stores are content to ignore me.
Ignoring I can cope with, it’s the contempt that gets me 🙂 xx
I live near’ish an area with particularly fancy shops. One day I was driving past in my everyday clothes, saw a park and grabbed an opportunity to browse where I don’t normally. Problem is, my everyday clothes are shorts, thongs and a tshirt. Which is perfectly appropriate shopping attire 3kms away where I live. Definitely not here. I’m sure the shopping assistants eyeballs were sore from looking down their noses at me. I left feeling bad about myself. No amount of boutique shopping is worth that.
I agree Lisa, no amount of boutique shopping is worth feeling bad about yourself. Don’t let it xxxxxx
If I ever win the lotto (need to buy a ticket first) and decide to shop in those fancy pants shops, I will still wear my thongs and comfortable clothes and watch their faces as I spend up big time!!
I’m coming to watch them fall from their pedestals! xx
There is a shoe shop in Melbourne called Miss Louise. They stock all high-end designer brands – think Gucci, Dolce and Gabbana, Louis Vuitton. I have been in there twice as I have a rather serious addiction to shoes and quite fancy the designer brands. I own four pairs of Manolo Blahniks, for crying out loud. I carry a (real) Louis Vuitton handbag. The sales staff in that shop refuse to even look at me; they can’t even be bothered to roll their eyes in my general direction. Even if I saw the most amazing shoes ever and could only get them in that shop, I wouldn’t. Bloody rude.
I’m just stuck on the fact that one of my readers owns four pairs of Manolo Blahniks. I feel special by association xxx
Oh you had me at Hold Me! I can so relate. I don’t even bother anymore. I shop online when I can or embrace the relative anonymity of department stores. I’d rather support small local businesses, but they don’t seem to want to support me!
I know how you feel. And how bloody cosy is it shopping online in pajamas?!!
Lana, firstly, you obviously didn’t take a spoonful of my “Geez I look good in this outfit” Tonic before you left the house. I’m also now sending you a packet of my “These people are here to SERVE ME POLITELY” Tablets. You must take one tablet before entering any Boutique. I’m 66 now and retired on a pension. I REFUSE to be intimidated by boutique staff any more. I know nothing in the shop will fit me, but if I want to go in, I do. I TOUCH ITEMS! I UNFOLD ITEMS (and I don’t fold them back up!). I finger jewellery, handbags, shoes and I ask prices. As I leave I turn and politely thank the staff and I waltz out the door. Get a grip all you girls out there! They’re just SALES STAFF, not rocket scientists. And you must know their attitude smacks of their own uncertainty. Lana, you are a writer ‘par excellence’, clever and brilliant to boot! Don’t let them get to you, even if you are in shorts, T-Shirt and thongs. Jackie Kennedy wore shorts, T-Shirt and thongs on Capri! Nobody sure as hell looked down their noses at her.
I’ve said this once and I will say it again, you are absolutely awesome and so kind to me. Thank you xx
I’m the opposite. I walk into those fancy pants boutiques and the sales staff inevitably smile and ask me if I’d like to try something on and I have a panic attack thinking they actually believe I can AFFORD any of their ridiculously priced items. So then I pretend I’m genuinely considering a purchase so as not to look demented before shaking my head as if to say ‘no, it’s not dear enough’ and walk out of the shop.
At least you fit into the clothes now just to get the money to actually wear them out the shop!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that’s nice, but when do I get the dog??????