I really hate when SA do the "once up and down" look which clearly means "can you afford to buy here or not". Although not Hermes related, I remember being on holiday in Banff a number of years ago as part of a bus tour. I had seen a lovely Cowichan cardigan on a website and popped into the store to see if they had it...
I found it at the back of the shop attached to the wall (on display)..it looked fabulous and I wanted to try it on. So, went looking for a SA. All were Japanese (I'm a pale wee Scottish Lassie) and the LOOK they gave me when I asked for some assistance was pure evil...the conversation went along the lines
"excuse me...I'd like to try on the cardigan on the wall please" (me smiling sweetly)
"It's VERY expensive" (SA)
"Yes, I'm sure it is, but I'd still like to try it on" (me)
"Mmmm" followed by the LOOK then "I don't have another one available"
"OK..so can I try on THAT one " (me pointing and getting slightly annoyed at this stage)
"I'd need to get a stepladder..." (SA not budging as she said this)
"You do that" (I'm starting to loose patience)
"hurrumfph" and she slowly wanders off to get the ladder..even more slowly climbs up it to lift the cardigan down and basically throws it towards me.
I then try it on with hubby saying "oh, it looks really nice" he then looks towards the SA and whispers "can you afford it?" but I see the look of distaste in her face as if to say "I know you can't so get it off your back so I can go back to being beautfiul" She even snorted at this point.
So...I says
"I take it your shop does accept travellers cheques"
She almost choked at this point
"Um...so...you want to BUY it?!" she stammers.
"Of course" I respond
Well, after that she could not have been nicer
"Can I gift wrap it for you madam"..."would you like ribbon" etc..
I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt as it was about 100 degrees outside, carrying a small canvas handbag that had my camera etc in it. OK, not the most glam look I agree but I had been sitting on a bus for most of the day and was going white water rafting later that day so unlikely to be wearing a Chanel suit etc!!
Thing is, I knew I was earning probably 10 times more than she was getting but she deemed me worthless and that made me
As for Hermes SA, the lady in Glasgow (Scotland) is lovely. I bought my first scarf about a month ago and she showed me how to tie it etc. Popped in about a week ago and she remembered me and asked how I was getting on tying it. I said my Mum thought the little book was brilliant so she went into the drawer and handed me one "here, give this to your Mum..Shhh!" she said and grinned. I did buy a scarf and spent a good 20 minutes looking at Agendas etc and she never once made me feel inferior..though I was wearing a suit that time!
I guess there are good and bad SA out there (like there are good and bad police officers, tax inspectors, hairdressers etc). Don't let one bad experience put you off though...