Disappointing Service at Singapore Prada and Miu Miu stores

[npoo]

I'm from sgp and I have to say that sometimes SAs can be rude there although I find miumiu ones generally quite helpful but perhaps it's because I know them. I think both doors are generally used, it was rude of them to lock it after you left though. Sorry about that!

They do go around with that attitude where they think you couldnt possibly afford anything from the shop unless you're a tourist or a tai-tai with $$$ written all over your face! It's laughable really, they are only SAs, it's not like they own the shop. So basically, jst get a coat of thick durable skin when shopping in big boutiques in sgp. Good service is very hard to come by!

[Vanillinae]

I once bought a wallet at the Selfridges (London) Prada boutique. Gosh, the SA was sooooooooooo snooty. Seriously, she annoyed me so much. I proceeded to ask her the price of every single item in the store just to annoy her.
My worst experience though was when I went to the Chanel shoe section (again in Selfridges) and asked the SA to see their lookbook. She actually tossed the thing on the table and went back into her little office/room. Then I asked her for the price of a bag they had on display there, she said "I don't know" ... and nothing. else. I mean, fair enough it is the shoe section, but we where in a department store... with phone extensions, it would have been nothing for her to ring the clothing/shoes/accessories department downstairs to ask. ugh.
Note that not all of selfridges in so snooty, the Miu Miu staff have always been adorable and so have been the Chloe ones. My best experience so far is with the Bond St Miu Miu boutique. They are precious.

[diana wang]

Originally Posted by npoo

I'm from sgp and I have to say that sometimes SAs can be rude there although I find miumiu ones generally quite helpful but perhaps it's because I know them. I think both doors are generally used, it was rude of them to lock it after you left though. Sorry about that! They do go around with that attitude where they think you couldnt possibly afford anything from the shop unless you're a tourist or a tai-tai with $$$ written all over your face! It's laughable really, they are only SAs, it's not like they own the shop. So basically, jst get a coat of thick durable skin when shopping in big boutiques in sgp. Good service is very hard to come by!

They tend to forget that they get their bonuses indirectly from us. With such attitudes, no wonder they're only SAs.

[xhaute]

Hey. I'm from Singaporea and I feel sorry about what happened!

I've always been to the MiuMiu boutique to take a look at accessories,etc and all of the SAs has always been helpful! I never once received such treatment before. But i reckon that it must have been near closing time. Still, its never a good reason to lock the door after the customer just left!

Prada - I experienced once whereby an SA just took the purse out for me and put it back without looking at me. Almost like I wasn't there!

I hope in the future more value will be added to their services and perhaps writing in might help notifying them of such lousy attitudes. Tsktsk.

[lucidbabe]

i am sorry you had such a bad experience. some SAs in Spore are really bad... traditionally the service industry is "looked" upon as the ones who could not succeed in the education etc.. but this is changing fast as with HK with the cry for tourism export dollars. The thing about HKers is the quick turnaround after SARs..everyone seemed to shape up and tuned up to the war battle for retail and tourism dollars. Singapore is lagging in that aspect though the government is consciously trying to talk the service industry up as a worthy career.
I would expect that the best of best would work in the high end boutiques so am surprised as how they are like. So far, I have no bad experiences except when I was dressed shabbily and walked into Gucci Paragon on their busy day. I guess you don't have to be superbly dressed.. just decent and neat and I always walk in purposefully so when they ask if I need help.. I either smile and say no thanks I'm browsing or I really do have an immediate question.. time is short when you have toddlers... so I usually call ahead to check there is stock and just go down to collect.
I was at Miu Miu Paragon and the guy manager served me. I asked about ordering extra rivets for my Coffer.
He was very nice and friendly as he was when I bought it from him last year.. though I don't think he remembered me...I did see a girl (tall slim) SA there packing up a bag and she sulkily dropped in a few extra bags that the customer had asked for... was really a grumpy face... I was shocked.. if I were that customer who had paid for whatever the bag in that big paper bag.. I would have joked and asked her if she was having a bad day.. I guess try not to take it personally.. if they are unhappy with their life.. it should not get you down... ;-)

[lilflobowl]

That's funny.. I'm in Singapore but the Miu Miu SAs have been nothing but nice to me! I went to the Prada in DFS & the SA I had was fantastic too; I think I wrote about her in a thread that I had started a while back.

I'm sorry for the bad experiences that you've had here. I hope your complaint creates awareness in the management offices about the sub-standard of their sales teams.

[pinkiestarlet]

I'm from Singapore too and though I have to admit I never had bad service anywhere (if I ever encountered any rude SA I will definitely make it known to the management on the spot) I think it's partly cos I have been regularly buying from the same SAs. I have seen how rude the SAs at LV can be to those customers who are even willing to queue up just to get into the store! I can never understand that though, queuing up just to get in is a complete waste of time IMO. Plus, it's not like there's only 1 LV store in SG. And yet the SAs are all high and mighty to their customers, oh well. It's the same for Prada and Miu Miu, they don't seem to take those casually dressed customers seriously but I always feel that it's wrong to judge someone based on what they are wearing. Anyone who enters the store is a potential client!

But anyway, look for Wati @ Miu Miu Paragon, she's the most patient out of all, or this other Chinese bespectacled guy who's quite polite too. As for Prada, I can't remember the name of my SA now but she's very distinctive cos she has the silkiest and longest hair, look for her. She's really nice, during the sales period she will keep some stuff aside for me and even if I don't end up buying she's totally cool with it. Nora at Gucci Takashimaya and Magdalene at LV Taka are good too!

[npoo]

your prada SA 'looks' familiar. she's the petitest lil thing with the longest hair ever!!! she's nice!!!

[pinkiestarlet]

npoo, You know her? Cool! Yes, I agree, she's really nice! She used to be from Miu Miu but was transferred to Prada. There was another SA called Angela, she was the BEST SA ever but too bad she quit :(

[snowstar]

The SAs at Chanel is even worse. I wanted to know more about the various colors and leather of 2.55 and she just couldn't be bothered. Basically she told me everything they have is on the shelf. And like your experience, I had to go up to an SA to ask for help.

Another time, i was asking them about the various colors from this season's collection and the SA told me "if you're offered a 2.55 in any color, u should just grab it". I'm not sure how that reply tells me what colors were issued.

The funny thing is that the Prada store at Paragon was on Urban last year (a local newspaper) for having the BEST service in town for branded goods.

[npoo]

pinkiestar: yeah I 'know' her as in we recognise each other but i dont know her name! Yeah she was fm d days of miumiu at pacplaza years ago. She still looks much the same despite the years, dont u think? how lucky!

Chanel is always busy in sgp and I guess they have massive waiting lists w so many taitais and fashionistas on the ball they dont seem to have to do much to move their stock! Still, it's no excuse to be discourteous and have such a bad attitude!! There's a nice chinese male SA there and another nice female Malay one but I honestly cant remember their names despite name cards.

[pinkiestarlet]

npoo, Yes, she doesn't seem to have grown any older! Still as petite as ever lol. I miss those days when Miu Miu was back at Pacific Plaza, I felt that the old store was more Miu Miu than this one now, KWIM

I can't stand Chanel SAs too. Anyway, with the high prices here at Chanel SG I might as well as shop back in HK where the price and service is lots better. I like the one at Lee Gardens :)

[periogirl28]

I used to live in SG, I would highly recommend Nor at Prada DFS. She's been with the label a long time. Good luck, hope the overall service standard improves soon!

[nymph2106]

Oh dear sorry to hear about the bad service you got! I've been to both the Prada and Miu Miu boutiques at Paragon, and while I don't find their service fantastic, they haven't been rude so far. One of the SAs at Prada even called up DFS to check if they had stock of a bag I was interested in. But I guess that overall, service in designer boutiques in Singapore isn't great. The best service I've encountered so far was in the Furla boutiques, and their bags are nowhere as expensive as Prada and Miu Miu.

[Angel77]

hi linpaddy,

Am sorry to hear about your bad experiences. I'm sure its upsetting and fustrating. I guess it happens elsewhere too. I would strongly encourage most shoppers to be a "talker" instead of a "walker".

Talker, means to immediately inform the manager/ supervisor know about your feedback/ complaint on the spot. You need not have to sound rude, and can just put your point across. But I guess most would not do so for fear of being assume as kicking up a big fuss. I think we would be doing them a favour by letting them know and to improve on their services, which provided they will. Guess majority of us are "walkers", as in we would just walk away without a word.

I believe, as consumers we should expect some kind of standard and professional services from them, as we pay considerable amt of $$ buying designer stuff. But of course, do not expect great service when you pay peanuts for other cheap things, haha. But I guess do not take it personally, as it just goes to show how unhappy they are at work.