[SoMoHLaLa]

I was in the Champs Elysee boutique and wanted to look around. No SA were there to assist me! Like, there were a few helping out others and a few just standing around. and wen I was gonna try to grab a bag, they told me not to touch it while the others (caucasians) were trying it on them

or is it because I'm Asian? have you ever had such a thing happen to you?

[xxxjulybabyxxx]

no not really.. I have regular SA

[southerncharm]

I have actually witnessed the reverse, not with myself, but others in the boutique on Oahu, Hawaii. Sometimes I think the SAs have a tendency to go by how one is dressed and how they are carrying themself rather than their race or skin tone. This is also wrong, for in the business I was in for almost 20 years, it was the worse dressed that had the most $$$ and spent the most! Personally, I do not think there is ryhme or reason behind the SAs snubbing customers, some SAs are simply rude and unhappy and should probably find a new line of employment. Do not feel offended, you could go back in the store the next day and they will be all over you like flies trying to help you select purchases!

[natalie1885]

i've heard lots of stories on this subject and sounds like some SA's just need to do what southerncharm mentioned above: find another line of work.
who are they to judge anyone at all?
we're all there to shop and buy so they should be happy about that...they're only hurting their sales by being rude snobs.

maybe you can go to a different LV (left bank) since there's not as much tourist traffic there & find a nice, helpful regular SA there who will gladly take your money towards their $ales, heeheee

[caley]

that's really odd since asians are huge clientele of LV all over the world. i saw many asian tourists when i went to the temp. boutique at champs elysees.

i think its considered a faux pas to go behind the counters to try items on, as i've experienced similar at chanel in amsterdam. not saying that it excuses the SAs behavior.

southerncharm: i'm surprised to hear about that in a hawaii boutique since everyone is always dressed so casually around here. i'm sometimes the least fashionable one in the store and haven't been treated badly lol.

[sw0pp]

I was also at Champs Elysee and the SA were generally nice (especially after mentioning I want a personalisation haha). When I picked up a speedy from the shelf while waiting a security guard told me not to touch it and then eyed me all the time... but nothing against the SAs, and yeah I'm asian

[Pinkcaviar]

Louis Vuitton is huge in Asia and the boutique knows it.
They get many many foreign visitors and although it's no excuse for their behaviour, they have a system of assigning SAs. When I was there, you're suppose to approach one of the SAs with the red scarfs and they assign you your own personal SA. Again, it's no excuse for them ignoring you.

However, it can be quite confusing at that particular boutique just because of the sheer volume and the SAs sometimes seem lost themselves. I once bought a large monogram agenda to be heatstamped and the SA kept reassuring me I did NOT need a reciept to have it picked up. Thank goodness, I brought it with me because (first) they had trouble finding my prepaid item and (second) the alarm went on when I left the building. I had one huge security guard chasing me out the door.

You usually just don't get the best service in touristy area (like Champs Elysee ) unless you're a familiar face or name.

[ShyShy]

I went there (admittedly one or two years ago now), bought many higher-end items but had such a terrible arrogant SA. The SA was Vietnamese (even though I am not Vietnamese, I am Asian) but I got pretty poor service anyway. The next time I went in, I had a Caucasian lady (I don't know whether she was French or not) serve me, and she was much nicer. At the time I only purchased a wallet and key pouch. Perhaps it was because I carried my suhali l'epanoui the second time round, coz the SA commented on how beautiful it was... But I think it has a lot to do with our luck and the individual SA... having said that southerncharm is probably right in that some people are just better off in other lines of work than frontline service.

[Mrs D.L.]

My DH were at Christchurch's LV, and weird enough, the SAs there were all asian, Jap, Chinese, Viet. So this Chinese lady serve my DH for 3, 4 days as my HD keep going back to check on items I told him to. On the last day then he make his purchases. And she can't speak English, end up speaking in Mandarin to my DH. We're Singaporeans, and his receipt says my HD from China!

[sulhali addict]

Originally Posted by Mrs D.L.

My DH were at Christchurch's LV, and weird enough, the SAs there were all asian, Jap, Chinese, Viet. So this Chinese lady serve my DH for 3, 4 days as my HD keep going back to check on items I told him to. On the last day then he make his purchases. And she can't speak English, end up speaking in Mandarin to my DH. We're Singaporeans, and his receipt says my HD from China!

Hi Mrs D.L do you live in Christchurch??

[bohomamma]

I would like to think that SA's attitude problems have nothing to do with race/skin color/ asian or not asian, I have found that just like someone said above, some of them just need to get into a new line of work. Some SA are outright RUDE and make you feel so belittled, I had this experience in LV Amsterdam on two occasions and the first time I thought it was because I was dressed like an American tourist with my sneakers and map in my pocket, I was sightseeing. So the next day I dressed up very well as I had a dinner meeting, still, no help. Sometimes to make myself feel better because I am so passive and not demanding so SA's just ignore me most of the time, I remember that I have the money to actually spend there whereas they are simply working there. You would think for the $$$ they charge they would at least have impeccable SA service, I guess thats too much to ask?

[ayla]

Well, the SA was also quite rude to me at Champs Elysee.. maybe we just encountered the jerks !

[dusty paws]

I'm not asian... but I've had much better service in all the European LV's than I have encountered here in the states. The SA I dealed with in Prague was amazing, as was the gentleman who helped me in Champes Elysee when I had a time constraint. The LV in Rome on the Via Condotti was also great - staying open late to help me with a purchase.

[dlynn]

Im caucasian and ive had the snobby attitude in many of the lv boutiques across the us, especially the one that i buy the most bags from. I really dont want to buy from that boutique, but i would have to drive 2 more hours to get to the next closest one. I usually buy when im visiting other states on vacation to avoid my home state. In fact, the one in paris on champs ellyses was very nice, but they did tell me not to handle the bags on the shelf unless an sa was there to assist. I think because it was so crowded and many tourist are walking around with an lv when they come in. It just gets crazy in that store! They were very helpful once i had an sa to assist me. I seriously dont think this is a racial thing, but there is definately an attitude!

[sammieee]

I am Korean and still young (22), so I think the attitudes I usually get are from SAs who think I do not have the spending power to make a significant purchase from them even if I am dressed nicely and am wearing a nice bag. Their attitude changes once I pull out cash (for smaller purchases) or if my credit card (which gets paid off right away at the end of the month and gets me cash back!) isn't declined for purchases over $1000 or so.

The closest LV to me is Chicago, so I always try to visit the Saks (and now Nordies!) LV before having to go to the main boutique on Michigan simply because it is smaller, less people, and the SA I have always treats me with respect and offers me a glass of water or wine while I am browsing.