Chanel SA's: snobbish and unfriendly?

[neko-chan]

Just wanted to add my two cents on this. I was visiting in NYC, and the ones at the SoHo location were SO RUDE. It was one of the worst shopping experiences I've had in a long time. I got a dismissal "I know which one you're talking about" and eyeroll when I asked if she wanted the 3 part model number for a black re-issue so she could search it easier. 45 minutes later after she disappears, she's helping another customer and didn't get back to me as to whether they have it or not.

Chanel inside of Holt in Canada in my experience were nice. My local ones are younger and not "career" Chanel SAs as I deem them.

Forgot to the mention the girls at Saks on 5th were very nice. Didn't have my bag but let me look around after they answered my go to question. It was also really apparent I was a tourist (shorts but nice MJ bag) in the middle of the day and got more than fair treatment. I was dressed more nicely at the SoHo boutique.

[pls5]

I have to say that I think sometimes they just cannot get certain bags for people--a lot of them are limited and in high demand--so what do they do??!!?? Nothing! LIke this one did--and then she avoided which is just lame. Perhaps they don't care to work with you if they know they can't help you... I went into Soho once. The SA was nice enough to find me something I liked but they had NOTHING else to show me. (That's happened at 57th St too and what are they going to do, make it up? Or try to sell you a crappy floor piece? I'd prefer nothing frankly.) And then finally offered to show me the Cruise look book (this was a little while back). Perfectly pleasant but not too terribly helpful, for what I was into at least. But I was grateful then not to have all sorts of stuff pushed on me. I think that's part of it but I still think in the boutiques in particular the service can be off. Stick to where they give good service is all I have to say. And boo to the rest, but it's unfortunately a reality.

Originally Posted by neko-chan

Just wanted to add my two cents on this. I was visiting in NYC, and the ones at the SoHo location were SO RUDE. It was one of the worst shopping experiences I've had in a long time. I got a dismissal "I know which one you're talking about" and eyeroll when I asked if she wanted the 3 part model number for a black re-issue so she could search it easier. 45 minutes later after she disappears, she's helping another customer and didn't get back to me as to whether they have it or not. Chanel inside of Holt in Canada in my experience were nice. My local ones are younger and not "career" Chanel SAs as I deem them.

[pinkchampagne]

i agree with you. i think chanel SAs are VERY snobbish. i'm in my 20s also, and i look young, but i am usually dressed well and carry a designer bag. they probably couldn't even afford a chanel if they didn't get a discount lol especially in this economy, they should be GRATEFUL anyone is buying!

[newnew]

I'm so sorry to hear about your bad experiences... the SA's in Chanel boutique and the one in NM in Short Hills, Nj are very very nice and attentive..

[Accetate]

I'd say it all depends on location, Chicago's Chanel is probably the worst I've ever seen and experienced - people were mean and rude over there every time, I'd rather walk to Neiman's couple of blocks down the street. Last time I was there couple of years ago, and have no intentions to go back. I saw a very nice Chanel wallet in a magazine, so I called the boutique to order it (I even had A # for it); lady who answered the phone said she had no idea what am I talking about and hang up on me. OK gave her a credit, you do not expect SA to be rocket scientist, walked into the store with the page from the magazine. I guess it was exactly the same person I talked to on the phone, she tried to ignore me for as long as possible, than asked to hold while she was on the phone. All other SA were busy at the moment. I was standing there for at least 10 minutes. Bottom line I ended up talking to the store manager, she was nice, did a research and figured out that this particular wallet was never introduced to US market, even though it was advertised in the USA. After I left the store I had such an unpleasant impression.... However San Francisco's both Chanel boutique and Chanel in NM personnel usually is very nice and pleasant. Almost always buy something there.

[hannahsophia]

I haven't read this whole thread but I did go into the 57th street NYC store recently and was helped out by an asian guy SA. He was nice and helpful. He wasn't snobbish. I'm 24 and had just came from work so was in slacks and a blouse. I think it really matters how busy the SAs are.

[caramelissa]

in my personal experience, whenever i go to boutiques, i'm 99% of the time dressed like crap. but it all depends on the SA who helps you.

last time at neimans, i was in my old college sweatshirt, jeans and converse and carried a tourist tote bag from harrod's and the balenciaga SA was very nice to me and i ended up getting a wallet. then i moseyed on a few nooks down to chanel, and i was admiring the bags. i asked if they had the medium classic flap in lambskin in stock since they didn't have it on display. the SA then said "oh we have it back, do you want to see it?" so i'm hesitant but i say sure. then she goes "oh so you're buying?". i say not today, since at the time i was still saving up $ for it. so she says "oh ok" and walks away! she could've at least exited a little more tactfully :/

[PANda_USC]

caramelissa, O_O. So she found out you weren't buying and walked away from you and didn't even bother to take out the bag to show you? aiya..how awful!

[h1008]

Originally Posted by Nahreen

The SA at Rodeo Drive were also very polite but the SAs at Bellagio in Las Vegas just ignored me even though I was the only customer in the boutique. The lady at Bellagio followed me 2 steps behind in the store without saying a word and I felt like she was watching me so I did not steal anything. It was daytime and I was wearing jeans and sweater. I talked to my Hubby about it afterwards and I contemplated dressing up with my newly bought Chanel bag from Bergdorfs and walking into the store again to see if I got treated the same way.

My GF and I had the same experience at Bellagio. I went into Fine Jewelry and she went into the boutique. I had my diamond bezel J12 chrono on but my hand was in my pocket. I wasn't dressed poorly, either, Vuitton jeans and a dress shirt. The GF had a white 38mm one on, with her hoodie sleeves down. We were flat out ignored and we were the only people in the place. Once I pointed at something with my watch hand we were suddenly royalty. No thanks.

[minnie04]

that's why I sometimes like to go to dept stores than the boutiques.. dept stores SAs tend to treat me nicer.. i don't know why, but that's the truth.. ( at least according to my experiences) .

[CDNinNYC]

Last week at Saks in NY, I was trying on the M/L flaps, trying to decide between the silver and gold hardware. I was holding the flap with the gold hardware against me, and said to the SA that I didn't think it 'matched' meaning the gold didn't go well with my platinum wedding set. She responded to me with "It doesn't match with what, your jeans?" and laughed at her own joke. Excuse me. Next time I'll put on an evening gown when I'm running around the city. When she saw the look on my face, she said she was 'just kidding'. Uhuh.

I ended up buying the s/h flap from her but when I went last Friday to exchange it for a Jumbo, I went to someone else to help me.

[diamond_lover]

I think there are always nice SA's and unfriendly SA's. I personally don't like walking into any Chanel stores to shop. Maybe I am intimidated but I just don't feel comfortable browsing unless I am definitely going to buy. Plus I rather use one SA and develop a relationship with them. I have only walked into 3 Chanel stores in my life. Bloomies 59 street, Chanel 57st, and Saks. The ladies I dealt with in Bloomies and Saks were really nice. At Bloomies, I bought my first Chanels and it was a smooth transaction. At Saks, my friend was doing the purchasing but she is really indecisive and they were patient with her which was great. While at 57 street, the lady helping her was a bit impatient and not very nice. I ordered most of my Chanels by phone from a specific Nordstrom SA because she is the nicest sweetest person in the world and I don't really have time to deal with snootiness. Even though I have to pay tax, I don't really mind because she is great and I am glad to give her the commission.

On a side note, one of my friends used to work in Chanel Corporate and I think they do know that it is an issue for SA's to judge clients. She told SA's a true story where a lady who walked in with a tracksuit on, told the SA she wasn't going to buy anything, but wanted to look at couture evening gowns. The SA was nice and obliged and picked out gowns she thought she'd look great in and the lady in the tracksuit ended up purchasing a couture evening gown.

[jayjay77]

waterlily -- sorry to hear you have had a bad experience. In NYC I perfer the Madison Ave boutique and Bloomies can be good too. (I avoid 57th St like the plague, just too crowded, so unless you are a regular the service is often lacking).

[bagtasia]

Dressed down or up, young or old, asian or not... SA's should know where they stand. CUSTOMER SERVICE is their prime work and attitudes should be the less of their concern. Everybody deserves proper attention and respect. We are all human and anyone must believe that fair treatment must be practiced in all places.

[girlsgottoshop]

I've had great experiences at Chanel here in Vegas...the Bellagio one. They are all super sweet.....I bring my kids and they give them stickers, bags, and water. I'm glad because I had an issue with some jewelry I bought and they were fantastic with me.