Chanel shopping with an anxiety disorder - tips and recs, please

[leoloo]

I'm hoping to make my first Chanel appointment soon, either in DC where I live, or NYC, where I'll be traveling in the next month or so for work.

My dream/HG is the 2.55 reissue in 225, black, GHW. I've looked at Ebay, fashionphile, all the usually places but haven't found anything in the condition I'd like for a reasonable price. Ultimately, I think I'm better off just purchasing straight from Chanel.

I've called Saks and NM and they don't have it and they all said to call Chanel directly as they don't have a list of what they're getting in when. (Big shout out to the SA at the NM in Dallas, who was kind enough to just put me on a waitlist).

I spoke to Chanel and said that they don't have it at any stand-alone US boutiques currently; that I need to go in-person to make my first purchase and then they could put me on the waitlist for it and send it to my address. Or, if I got a nice SA, I wouldn't have to purchase anything but still would need an in-person appointment to start my Chanel record to get me on their waitlist.

I have pretty bad anxiety and am feeling very nervous... that I won't dress right or say the right thing, that I'll get overwhelemed by the selection, that the SA will be rude to me because I'm only going to buy something small to start my record, the list goes on. I just want to have a nice time. Anyone out there with mild-severe anxiety have tips about how they handled their Chanel appointments? Or can recommend an SA in DC or NYC who is kind and would make it a relaxed appointment? TIA!

 

[bergafer3]

This is a good thread, I’m going in March for my first boutique visit and so I can buy something small if they don’t have what I want.(Pretty sure I’ll have to be on a waitlist) but I’m a little nervous about it too. I also don’t want to throw money on something I don’t want or need just to be in their system.

 

[Litsa]

Please don’t hold yourself to such high expectations and think Chanel is above you in some way. Remember that you’re the customer and one with the money. You’ve worked hard for this purchase and deserve it. So go in there focused on having a good time and finding what you want. Everything else is noise in your head and unimportant.

 

[lvchanellvr]

Please don’t hold yourself to such high expectations and think Chanel is above you in some way. Remember that you’re the customer and one with the money. You’ve worked hard for this purchase and deserve it. So go in there focused on having a good time and finding what you want. Everything else is noise in your head and unimportant.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Great advice.

 

[ijustneedthis]

Hey there! My tip for everybody that is afraid to go to the boutiques is: Tell yourself, that you are much more than what a SA might perceive you as! SAs are humans, just like you. They ain't supernatural creatures that have blessed the world with new wonders. I would suggest, that you practice what you want to say. Make a list of things that you might consider. Maybe you liked a certain pair of earrings, a little twilly or a card holder. If not, that will be okay too! For the first visit, dress like well put together, if it gives you a secure feeling. You should feel comfortable in your outfit. It's always good to be able to describe clearly what you want and need. It may also help to talk a little about the history of the brand or why you admire a certain design. Respect the SA and thank him for the efforts, but don't give them the feeling that they are standing above you. This is not a sitution in which you have to show your skills. You have decided to leave your hard earned money on a fashion item that you admire. Like the above said, always keep in mind, that a bag, a brand or "things" don't define you as a human. You should carry this attitude not just in the chanel stores, but everywhere . Good luck!

 

[Yedi80]

I'd say go to the Chanel in Bloomies. I have been shopping Chanel in the city for over 15 years. I am not a fan of the Madison Ave boutique at all. I found no one there wanted to ever wait on me. 57th street is better but very touristy. Soho is the most laid back for stand alone boutiques. As someone who has walked into the Department store Chanel's (Saks, Bloomies) just browsing- bloomingdale's is the friendliest and engaging- BY FAR- in my experience. Full disclosure- my SA is in Bergdorf but I have walked in there and been the only one in there and not been asked if I want to see anything. I wear sweats when Im at Bloomies and they don't bat an eyelash. They may not have what you want but you can prob form a relationship with an SA there.

 

[LilyLA]

I love this thread too. I used to get so anxious going into these stores.
Dress attire: I agree with the above posters. Dress in something you are comfortable with but is also presentable. I.e. no holes in your sneakers, clean clothes etc. I rarely wear designer clothing into the store anyway.

Engagement tips: treat your SA like a friend...or a peer. You both are equals in this situation. They are representing the brand in this interaction. You are a customer that loves the product. There is no need for any song and dance in my opinion. But I do think you want to try to build a rapport so that this person will go above and beyond to help. If the SA is initially distant and coldly polite, keep in mind that they’ve been standing on their feet and helping customers all day (there’s usually an insane line outside the boutiques). Just let him or her know that this is your first visit to the boutique and you’re excited and nervous. Let them know you’re aiming for a reissue but understand there isn’t any availability. Say you want to look at a few things (be sure to name what you are interested in looking at!)

I do think it will help to buy something to start the purchase history but if you don’t find anything, maybe you can request to be put on a reserve list. I believe there will be reissues coming out in 21A (late May release) and if you go to the standalone boutiques, they should be able to put you on a list.They may ask to see your credit card to be put on this list. In my experience, they just take an imprint of it so first time customers don’t dispute the charge to their credit companies and try to do a “chargeback”.

Be sure to ask for a business card so you can follow up with him or her later!

good luck! Please update how your experience went

 

[SMElleJae]

If you’re kind and polite, any weirdness thrown at you says everything about that person and nothing about you.

I worked in luxury retail for many years and have had both nervous and entitled clients. I treated them all the same (with kindness), hoping to ease the nervous and calm the entitled (often the latter was putting on a show because they themselves were insecure).

Same goes for employees...as mentioned above, you never know how an SA’s day has been. If a client told me she was nervous, I would find that incredibly endearing, but some people are uncomfortable sharing that.

 

[Prettyinpnknwht]

I'm a pretty anxious person myself, and one thing I find helpful in situations like this is trying to imagine the worst possible outcome, thinking about how likely it actually is, and figuring out what I would do if that actually happened. So in this case, maybe the worst case scenario for you could be that you get kind of nervous and trip over your words (happens to me all the time!!) and your SA is a real jerk and doesn’t really act interested in helping you. I would say this is certainly possible, especially since it seems like Chanel SAs basically rely on us to sell to ourselves these days and they just ring us up if we're lucky enough to find what we’re looking for, but I don’t necessarily think it’s the most likely outcome. And even if that were the case, what’s the worst that could happen? Could they throw you out of the store or banish you from shopping at Chanel forever? Pretty unlikely, since they won’t even banish predatory resellers who need to be banished! You would probably have to cause a fairly big scene and maybe start hurling insults at people, and I have a hard time imagining you doing that.

So maybe the worst realistic thing that happens is that the SA is lousy and you have a bad time. Well, in that case, that sounds like their fault, not yours, and you could try coming back a different time to work with a different SA, or you could even try going to a different boutique. Or if you never felt like setting foot in a boutique again, all you have to do is buy something to get in the system, and from that point, there are so many wonderful SAs you can work with remotely and so many wonderful TPFers who are glad to put you in contact with them!

I definitely understand your feelings because I sometimes worry about being judged when I shop at high-end boutiques, especially since I’m plus-size with a pretty casual style (except for my bags, of course!) and don’t necessarily look like I “belong.” But for the most part, I haven’t had too many problems, and usually once I get to talking to the SAs it doesn’t take too long to emerge that I know a lot about the products/brand (sometimes more than they do!) and from there it’s pretty easy to be taken more seriously. Sometimes I do still wonder if they’re still secretly judging me or something but then I tell myself this: "They get paid to help you buy things. They're not getting paid to laugh at you, so if they want to do that, they're doing it on their own dime [i.e., it's not part of their job duties]." Somehow this makes me feel better!

 

[leoloo]

Hey there! My tip for everybody that is afraid to go to the boutiques is: Tell yourself, that you are much more than what a SA might perceive you as! SAs are humans, just like you. They ain't supernatural creatures that have blessed the world with new wonders. I would suggest, that you practice what you want to say. Make a list of things that you might consider. Maybe you liked a certain pair of earrings, a little twilly or a card holder. If not, that will be okay too! For the first visit, dress like well put together, if it gives you a secure feeling. You should feel comfortable in your outfit. It's always good to be able to describe clearly what you want and need. It may also help to talk a little about the history of the brand or why you admire a certain design. Respect the SA and thank him for the efforts, but don't give them the feeling that they are standing above you. This is not a sitution in which you have to show your skills. You have decided to leave your hard earned money on a fashion item that you admire. Like the above said, always keep in mind, that a bag, a brand or "things" don't define you as a human. You should carry this attitude not just in the chanel stores, but everywhere . Good luck!

That is very good advice, practicing what I want to say and making a list of things to look at. I think if I just do a little prep it should lessen my anxiety. I

I love this thread too. I used to get so anxious going into these stores.
Dress attire: I agree with the above posters. Dress in something you are comfortable with but is also presentable. I.e. no holes in your sneakers, clean clothes etc. I rarely wear designer clothing into the store anyway.

Engagement tips: treat your SA like a friend...or a peer. You both are equals in this situation. They are representing the brand in this interaction. You are a customer that loves the product. There is no need for any song and dance in my opinion. But I do think you want to try to build a rapport so that this person will go above and beyond to help. If the SA is initially distant and coldly polite, keep in mind that they’ve been standing on their feet and helping customers all day (there’s usually an insane line outside the boutiques). Just let him or her know that this is your first visit to the boutique and you’re excited and nervous. Let them know you’re aiming for a reissue but understand there isn’t any availability. Say you want to look at a few things (be sure to name what you are interested in looking at!)

I do think it will help to buy something to start the purchase history but if you don’t find anything, maybe you can request to be put on a reserve list. I believe there will be reissues coming out in 21A (late May release) and if you go to the standalone boutiques, they should be able to put you on a list.They may ask to see your credit card to be put on this list. In my experience, they just take an imprint of it so first time customers don’t dispute the charge to their credit companies and try to do a “chargeback”.

Be sure to ask for a business card so you can follow up with him or her later!

good luck! Please update how your experience went

All very good advice!

 

[leoloo]

I'm a pretty anxious person myself, and one thing I find helpful in situations like this is trying to imagine the worst possible outcome, thinking about how likely it actually is, and figuring out what I would do if that actually happened. So in this case, maybe the worst case scenario for you could be that you get kind of nervous and trip over your words (happens to me all the time!!) and your SA is a real jerk and doesn’t really act interested in helping you. I would say this is certainly possible, especially since it seems like Chanel SAs basically rely on us to sell to ourselves these days and they just ring us up if we're lucky enough to find what we’re looking for, but I don’t necessarily think it’s the most likely outcome. And even if that were the case, what’s the worst that could happen? Could they throw you out of the store or banish you from shopping at Chanel forever? Pretty unlikely, since they won’t even banish predatory resellers who need to be banished! You would probably have to cause a fairly big scene and maybe start hurling insults at people, and I have a hard time imagining you doing that.

So maybe the worst realistic thing that happens is that the SA is lousy and you have a bad time. Well, in that case, that sounds like their fault, not yours, and you could try coming back a different time to work with a different SA, or you could even try going to a different boutique. Or if you never felt like setting foot in a boutique again, all you have to do is buy something to get in the system, and from that point, there are so many wonderful SAs you can work with remotely and so many wonderful TPFers who are glad to put you in contact with them!

I definitely understand your feelings because I sometimes worry about being judged when I shop at high-end boutiques, especially since I’m plus-size with a pretty casual style (except for my bags, of course!) and don’t necessarily look like I “belong.” But for the most part, I haven’t had too many problems, and usually once I get to talking to the SAs it doesn’t take too long to emerge that I know a lot about the products/brand (sometimes more than they do!) and from there it’s pretty easy to be taken more seriously. Sometimes I do still wonder if they’re still secretly judging me or something but then I tell myself this: "They get paid to help you buy things. They're not getting paid to laugh at you, so if they want to do that, they're doing it on their own dime [i.e., it's not part of their job duties]." Somehow this makes me feel better!

The worst would be that I have a full-on panic attack at the store, with hyperventilating, crying, the whole 9 yards. I had one a few months ago at Whole Foods when an employee was just trying to help me to find the correct type of flour a recipe called for :/

I guess since it's my first Chanel purchase and the first major, non-essential thing I've ever bought myself I really want the experience to be nice but I'm probably romanticizing it too much. Even if I don't have an ideal experience buying it, the purse itself will still represent a lot for me: my personal accomplishments and self-sufficiency.

And you're totally right, I just have to get through one in-store appointment and purchase something to get in the system. And who knows, maybe it'll be a ton of fun and I'll want to go in-person from here on out!

 

[Kem45]

All of this advice is great. I would also add, try not to overthink it - which I know can be tough (I still do this sometimes). The great thing about shopping in NYC, if you are coming here, is that if they don't have what you are looking for or you don't feel like you are connecting with your SA, there half a dozen other Chanel boutiques you can go to in Manhattan.

I would highly recommend the 57th street store. It's one of the (if not THE) biggest in the US and tends to be less crowded as midtown is not terribly busy these days. I find the service there to be exceptional and I definitely walked in expecting the SAs to look down their noses at me. The last time I was there a few months ago, a SA would take you around the store and everyone was served one on one to keep the capacity down during the pandemic. I did find this a little stressful as I'm the type that likes to browse and not take up an SAs time unless I am ready to try something on, but the reality is this is a fact of life during the pandemic so I don't think anyone should feel bad about it. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to chat with them, learn more about the products, and try to form a relationship if you plan on continuing to make Chanel purchases. If they don't have the reissue you're looking for, you can ask them to suggest some SLGs or accessories that might go well with it when one does come in.

I have also had good experiences at Bloomies, and there are some good SAs there, but it's a quite small concession and some of the SAs can be rough around the edges. They don't beat around the bush in terms of what stock is available and what can be ordered for you. However in terms of service, I feel 57th street is the true dazzling Chanel experience.

Also - I personally have had good experiences at the Soho store, but these days there tends to be a long line to get in and I have read here that some others have found the SAs less than pleasant.

 

[monkyjib]

I would like to say that your self-worth does NOT correlate with what the SA thinks of you. No matter what happens, whether the in-store experience comes out negatively or positively, remember that you’re still the kind, confident, happy human being that you already are. The perception of “luxury” and “exclusivity” of Chanel, or any other luxury brands for that matter, is something the brand’s marketing team, i.e. human beings just like any of us, has been executing for years and years. It is designed to make the brand even more alluring. Please don’t let it ruin your mental health!

 

[platanoparty]

I used to feel this way too when I began buying luxury ~7 years ago so I totally understand. I’m sorry you have a hard time with anxiety, thank you for sharing with us. I have never been to any shops in the region but I do have a nice (though gruff but very helpful lol) SA I can pm you at bloomies. I’ve always heard good things about 57th and if nothing else, there is likely more selection so I agree with others recommending that store. I would also check out the SA recommendation thread as many great SAs have been shared there and you can likely make an appointment in advance. You can go in with a trusted entity that is known for being helpful. That for me would set my mind at ease - going in kinda ready to go and without ambiguity of what they are like and when I’ll actually get in (due to possible lines or pandemic entrance limitations) would be good because you can know you won’t be hungry, have your hair tidied up in advance, etc.

Personally, I really love to dress fashionably or dress up (I live in sf so... honestly standards here are so low for fashion lol! Patagonia tech bros galore) and that has always given me not only a creative outlet but helps me feel secure for what the day may hold. Perhaps you can pick out an outfit in advance and just know you feel comfortable and confident. That way you can make sure you don’t have wrinkles or it doesn’t fit right, so less things to stress about! Also comfy shoes are a must.

If you are considering another smaller purchase to build history, I’d take a look at their beauty section because they have a virtual try on online. You can test out which lipsticks look good on you, or research a perfume or face cream you may like. I personally love Les beiges lip balms (any shade) and they’ve saved my lips this winter. Yes they are pricey but if you have the extra money for it, it can be practical and help you have a history in store.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you get the dream bag you desire!!! I think everyone else’s tips here are great and you got this. Congratulations on enjoying this wonder for yourself, these items are pricey but absolutely should last a lifetime, and I hope that when you gaze upon it, it reminds you of a memorable trip and a proud accomplishment to be able to get it.

 

[ElleA92]

This is a great thread! Nice to hear everyone’s stories and also advice. I recall first stepping foot into Chanel. I felt nervous too and the first thing I wanted to buy back then was a Jumbo. Luckily the SA I got was very sweet and understanding. Hopefully you can get a few recommendations and connect with those SAs when you plan to go.