A bit of gossip: which luxury houses have the best treatment and which ones the worst ?

[Swanky]

I agree it’s different for each of us, and I personally think a lot of it has to do with our personalities as well.
For me it’s not who you know, I don’t know anyone lol!

I mentioned not agreeing with the immediate stereotype of Chanel SAs being rude because every boutique I’ve visited (Vegas, Dallas, Cannes, etc…) I’ve always had great, friendly service. I wear sneaks and Vuori or t-shirt dresses everyday; I don’t go in dressed up.
I have a relatively friendly personality and a little confidence, I think it helps if you don’t go in scared to make eye contact or already carry the expectation they’re going to be snobby.
I just personally haven’t or don’t experience it so I can’t even come up with an example of rude/snobby SAs off the top of my head.
I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, just sharing my own experiences

It’s probably different for all of us. agree with @lill_canele that it’s the people you know.

i get the best treatment at my local chanel, dior, brunello. I love my H SA, but Madison is general isn’t warm and fuzzy. Abroad, I think dior trains their SAs to greet and interact similarly, so very friendly. Chanel in London, Hermes in Italy were neutral.

At home or abroad, Bulgari and VCA are very nice, I assume, bc it is harder to sell luxury jewelry, IDK

i get the worst treatment at LV (I will now only go into the kiosk at Saks); Tiffany (I get ignored); and Cartier (though it was very different when I went with a friend who is a regular)

@Liberté , service, especially tailoring, is slow everywhere, lol.

ETA: a friend once asked DH and me to go to LV corporate to view furniture by appt. Totally different scenario. LV contacted us to ask if we wanted a ride (It’s a ten minute walk so no) and then sent us, unsolicited, the day after, a large custom three tiered box of huge LV petite fours. (I gave them away). This treatment was to coax prospective clients to be more inclined to buy a six figure designer collaboration table from their nomades collection. I was surprised that their furniture, in some cases, was more expensive than Hermes. But I don’t think the wide disparity of client experience reflects well on the brand.

i did once years ago, during the Stephen sprouse black and white graffiti collection have a very nice LV SA. He also sold me an LV raincoat, that LV refused to service in their aftercare. So that was the beginning and end of my RTW adventure there.

 

[jellyv]

Of course once you know them, it makes sense to hopefully get good service. The tricky part is getting good service before you're an established client, or in a diff location.

Yep. You get to take the temperature of the brand/staff. Sometimes it's easy to see a bad fit.

 

[bergafer3]

Worst: Louis Vuitton Best: Tom Ford
Chanel has been a good experience, but Tom ford blew it out of the water with they’re customer service.
Louis Vuitton was so bad that I decided I’m not buying from them again.

 

[brnicutie]

It makes me sad that so many of you have had bad experiences at LV. LV is my favorite luxury brand. If any of you ever come down to Honolulu and want to shop at LV, I'll be more than happy to give you my CA's info. He's really nice and helpful. You can even text him before you get here, since prices are 10% cheaper and get the exact amount.

 

[Fixxi]

My experiences are limited to the SF Bay Area boutiques.

LV at Stanford: incredibly nice. I'm not a high spenders, and the 2 SAs I was assigned (I don't shop there frequently enough to have kept their info) were both on the junior side, but very pleasant.

Chanel at Stanford: the SA was quite snobby, but very helpful. The second time I went in, she was way nicer, and complimented on my mini congratulating me on a "quite a coveted piece". I've done most of my purchases remotely though and didn't stick with her.

YSL (SJ and Stanford): again, no dedicated SA as I shopped on and off, and it has been a couple of years, but always incredibly pleasant regardless of what I wore.

Burberry at Stanford + SF: probably one of the best customer experience, but tbh I haven't shopped there post-Riccardo Tisci took over.

Hermes in SF: I adore my SA, the doormen, and the other SAs that I've interacted passing by. I use my Chanel or Herbag when I go in, but by no means am I "dressed up".

Echoing what @880 said, it's def the people you know. Most of these were pure luck I happened to met amazing people (not just amazing as SA but as people). I don't vibe with everyone and that's fine. I am pleasant, not pushy, have specific things Im looking for with an open mind when I shop. I dont feel that i need to be treated differently than anyone else just because I'm spending more money than the next person on a luxury item, or that the SA needs to treat me better than how I am treated at a fast food restaurant (not saying fast food restaurant customer experience is the bar LOL). When the connection is authentic and we treat each other with respect, that's all I care.

I hope you don't let one or two bad experiences ruin your shopping experience!

 

[Chic84]

Such interesting read about everyone's experience!

I had the worst experience at LV in Bon Marche when I vacationed in Paris in 2017. No one paid us any attention. No one even tried to make eye contact with us for me to even try to ask for assistance. Once I finally got an SA, she was cold and impatient. When we finally get to paying, I had used up my qouta at another store, so my mom had to buy it. Unfortunately, my mom forgot to notify her bank that she would be traveling so it kept declining her card. She didn't have another card at the time and we couldn't use my card, so I had to contact the bank right away to authorize payment. The whole time, the SA would speak in French with other SAs and roll their eyes! Clearly make the situation uncomfortable. I realize that this wasn't the smoothest transaction for the SA, but I was doing the best that I can too! It's not like I wanted the card to decline! I had visited the flagship and got a Luke warm SA as well. Never got offered any drinks while people around us did. The SA also reminded us that they were closing even though the first floor was full of people clearly still shopping and not even in the process of payment. I don't know if it's a French people attitude thing but that experience particularly in Bon Marche really discounted my view of the brand.

The best experience was ironically at the Chanel at Bon Marche! After my bad experience at LV, I walked around and went into Chanel. That was the first ever time I've gone into a Chanel store and knew very little about the brand. They didn't have a big selection at the time (towards the end of a season) but they had this blue Chevron lambskin woc that I wanted to try on. When I asked, they immediately offered us seats to wait for an SA and drinks while we waited. A male SA was assigned to me and he was so patient and kind. As I was a newbie to the brand, he helped us look through stock, explained how the seasons worked, explained how there were limited pieces of that blue chevron woc, and gave us all the time in the world to try on and decide on whether to buy it or not. It must have taken us an hour just to decide on buying a woc! We ended up buying the WOC and a black double zip clutch as well. We literally were the last ones to leave the store as the store and the mall were closing. We weren't making particularly huge purchases and we clearly were newbies, but I felt like I got a luxury shopping experience and the SA never made us felt like we didn't belong.

Side note, I've also popped into Cartier and VCA before the pandemic at Hudson Yard. First time for me to both stores and I got a warm and friendly SA at Cartier who helped me try on sizes for the love bracelet and ring. Didn't end up buying that day but still friendly. Went to VCA afterwards and waited a while for assistance because again no one wants to make eye contact. Finally got someone to help but they basically took the necklace out and left us. I had to wait for them to come back before I left because I didn't want to leave the necklace unattended.

I don't think I'm a needy shopper so I don't know how much is about me that cause these less than pleasant experiences. Also, when even a keychain can cost a few hundred dollars, I just think a certain level of customer service and attention is just built in. Heck, I'm the type that would have been guilted into buying if the SA was nice!

 

[millivanilli]

what a fun thread!

So, the best service I've gotten so far (in Munich) are:

LV - I so love the vibe of the SAs and the way they obviously seem to love their jobs
Gucci, the SA always follows up and asks if I like what I bought
Valentino, here I really do like the way the SAs quickly get that "keep it cool" vibe I personally prefer - I do not like that over the top shopping experience (personally). Don't want anything to drink, don't want to try on and on an on and on, just want my item(s), have a nice little chat about the weather and leave.


That said - alas Hermes. It is more a fight than a shopping experience.

Salzburg:

Best service: Hermes BY! FAR! They were amazing!
Worst: LV

Paris:

Best service: Longchamp
Worst service: Hermès

Venice

Best service: Prada omg they went above and beyond
Worst service - well, you might know it

Milan:

Best service: Prada and Gucci
Worst service...... I guess you already know.



Actually the best service I experienced so far, yet it's not fashion-luxury would be Dallmayr in Munich. I'll never be able to wrap my head around the fact that the SAs a) do know me b) do know my name and c!!!) do know what I tend to buy and will remind me nicely that I might have forgotten this and that, and especially d) do know my husband who went there only a few times with me, which was funny yesterday as he went into the store and completely forgot what to buy (he sent me a desperate message saying " honey, what do we need again?") and the nice SA at the counter told him specifically what to buy- correct items correct amount and suggested a second box of roastbeef bc he know " that your wife loves it- sadly no additional sauce"- which he had already checked. THAT amazed me a lot, given the fact that this might be the most visited store in Munich (as it is a really old store - even for us it is considered a dinosaur ) and might be considered a big brand, worldwide known AND that I won't go ther very often, perhaps twice a month or so.
here's a link- if you happen to stay in Munich, go there, it is an amazing place, but mind it will be packed!

 

[Sferics]

Louis Vuitton was so bad that I decided I’m not buying from them again.

Me too, but I think it's just the boutique in my area, so I buy, but only online if necessary. And this in turn is often lovely with handwritten notes etc.
Hermes at my place was always super nice, although I did not buy a lot of things.
There is no Chanel in my city, but the boutiques where I was at vacations were neutral.

I have to say, there is no way, I allow myself to be treated unkindly or condescending.
I will also never play any of the games, some brands force on customers.
Furthermore, I'm not interested in k̶̶i̶̶s̶̶s̶̶i̶̶n̶̶g̶̶ ̶̶a̶̶s̶̶s̶̶e̶̶s̶ developing a "great relationship" with SAs, nor spending money for things I don't want - just to get what I want.

They act like they don't want to sell things to me?
That's okay, bye, I buy preloved or somewhere else or nothing.

 

[bergafer3]

Me too, but I think it's just the boutique in my area, so I buy, but only online if necessary. And this in turn is often lovely with handwritten notes etc.
Hermes at my place was always super nice, although I did not buy a lot of things.
There is no Chanel in my city, but the boutiques where I was at vacations were neutral.

I have to say, there is no way, I allow myself to be treated unkindly or condescending.
I will also never play any of the games, some brands force on customers.
Furthermore, I'm not interested in k̶̶i̶̶s̶̶s̶̶i̶̶n̶̶g̶̶ ̶̶a̶̶s̶̶s̶̶e̶̶s̶ developing a "great relationship" with SAs, nor spending money for things I don't want - just to get what I want.

They act like they don't want to sell things to me?
That's okay, bye, I buy preloved or somewhere else or nothing.

I agree with you! I’m not doing those games.

 

[millivanilli]

you are so right!

 

[ccbaggirl89]

In all locations I've ever visited the treatment in LV has been very good to excellent. I have not had good experiences in most Chanel boutiques. Hermes I have always found to be very professional and not friendly, like a business transaction is taking place, but I've never felt uncomfortable.

 

[popartist]

Funny, I had great service at LV in Bon Marche in Paris when I bought something there last fall. I had just gotten off a plane a few hours before and wasn't dressed in anything special and had sneaker style walking shoes on. LV here in NYC is a little hit or miss but overall have been friendly. Have had great service at Gucci, particularly at the one in Brookfield Place in lower Manhattan.

 

[waimanalo18]

My most stressful shopping experiences are with LV. I live in honolulu. Too stressful to the point the I rather shop online and lose the 10% discount buying at the store to avoid dealing with SAs. Best treatment I ever had are the boutiques across LV lol Chanel and Cartier.

 

[880]

what a fun thread!

So, the best service I've gotten so far (in Munich) are:

LV - I so love the vibe of the SAs and the way they obviously seem to love their jobs
Gucci, the SA always follows up and asks if I like what I bought
Valentino, here I really do like the way the SAs quickly get that "keep it cool" vibe I personally prefer - I do not like that over the top shopping experience (personally). Don't want anything to drink, don't want to try on and on an on and on, just want my item(s), have a nice little chat about the weather and leave.


That said - alas Hermes. It is more a fight than a shopping experience.

Salzburg:

Best service: Hermes BY! FAR! They were amazing!
Worst: LV

Paris:

Best service: Longchamp
Worst service: Hermès

Venice

Best service: Prada omg they went above and beyond
Worst service - well, you might know it

Milan:

Best service: Prada and Gucci
Worst service...... I guess you already know.



Actually the best service I experienced so far, yet it's not fashion-luxury would be Dallmayr in Munich. I'll never be able to wrap my head around the fact that the SAs a) do know me b) do know my name and c!!!) do know what I tend to buy and will remind me nicely that I might have forgotten this and that, and especially d) do know my husband who went there only a few times with me, which was funny yesterday as he went into the store and completely forgot what to buy (he sent me a desperate message saying " honey, what do we need again?") and the nice SA at the counter told him specifically what to buy- correct items correct amount and suggested a second box of roastbeef bc he know " that your wife loves it- sadly no additional sauce"- which he had already checked. THAT amazed me a lot, given the fact that this might be the most visited store in Munich (as it is a really old store - even for us it is considered a dinosaur ) and might be considered a big brand, worldwide known AND that I won't go ther very often, perhaps twice a month or so.
here's a link- if you happen to stay in Munich, go there, it is an amazing place, but mind it will be packed!

Oh, @millivanilli , you make me want to visit Munich just to experience Dallmayr

 

[baghabitz34]

All of my experiences have been in the U.S. in the Midwest.

Best experiences so far have been at LV, Ferragamo and Saks handbag department. SAs were friendly & helpful and always text or email afterwards to follow up and offer their services for future purchases/inquiries.

Worst experiences so far have been at Gucci & Neiman’s handbag department. SAs did not make eye contact & did not offer to help.