Dear Tpfers,
I'm finally back from my long vacation in Asia. Taiwan was fantastic with DH surprising me with a new Prada purse! I have absolutely no complaints about the customer service in Taiwan. Fantastic all the way.
However, my trip to Singapore was marked by terrible service in all the high end boutiques I've visited. That includes: LV, Prada, Miu Miu, Fendi, and Gucci.
I visited Miu Miu and Prada at Paragon, a shopping mall that houses the big brand name exclusively.
First, I could not find the entrance to the Miu Miu store since the SAs kept both sets of doors shut. Thinking that the SAs did so to keep the air conditioning in (Singapore is very hot and humid), I didn't think much of it.
The Sas totally ignored me and my sister while we were in the store. They eyed my blush bow sulkily and only very reluctantly took down items for us to examine. In fact, during my experience, the SAs were all huddling around the counter and not assisting any customers. Curious, I asked a local who was helping herself to the clothes and she affirms that most SAs in high end boutiques will only offer help if you are serious about making a purchase.
I was shocked. I decided to leave and went through another set of doors (since both set of doors were shut and who knows which is the exit?). To my shock, an SA immediately locked the doors after me! She even gave me a glare to indicate that I wasn't supposed to exit from those doors. How would I know? The doors I exited from faced the main corridor where the entrances of other boutiques were located.
Next Prada. Again, Sas huddling in a corner and blatantly ignoring customers. They only reluctantly helped when asked and you could see their disinterest. However, once I expressed interest in purchasing an item, the SA brightened up considerably.
Needless to say, I refused to purchase anything from either store.
LV at Takashimya. That's another story. Rude Sas who kept telling me and other customers to go to another branch. ??? From what I've observed, the Sas didn't have to do much to make a sale. Most customers were so eager to buy that they didn't care about the lack of service.
I asked to look at two epi leather purses and the SA slammed the items down with the metal legs of the purses creating a loud din. Then she left. Another customer told me not to worry, that they treat most customers that way. One customer even lamented that they contribute to the problem by continuing to patronize these rude Sas.
I was so intrigued that I did a search on local forums to confirm that it's not unusual to receive such bad service! I refuse to think that I was discriminated because I looked like a local as suggested by a local friend. That foreigners (preferably Caucasian) received better treatment. Now, I don't know how true this is so I can't comment.
However, I am happy to report that most stores in Singapore are staffed with helpful SAs.
I do strongly Tfers not to tolerate bad service. I refuse to let a rude SA earn commission from my purchase. Too bad, Miu Miu and Prada in Singapore.
I'm finally back from my long vacation in Asia. Taiwan was fantastic with DH surprising me with a new Prada purse! I have absolutely no complaints about the customer service in Taiwan. Fantastic all the way.
However, my trip to Singapore was marked by terrible service in all the high end boutiques I've visited. That includes: LV, Prada, Miu Miu, Fendi, and Gucci.
I visited Miu Miu and Prada at Paragon, a shopping mall that houses the big brand name exclusively.
First, I could not find the entrance to the Miu Miu store since the SAs kept both sets of doors shut. Thinking that the SAs did so to keep the air conditioning in (Singapore is very hot and humid), I didn't think much of it.
The Sas totally ignored me and my sister while we were in the store. They eyed my blush bow sulkily and only very reluctantly took down items for us to examine. In fact, during my experience, the SAs were all huddling around the counter and not assisting any customers. Curious, I asked a local who was helping herself to the clothes and she affirms that most SAs in high end boutiques will only offer help if you are serious about making a purchase.
I was shocked. I decided to leave and went through another set of doors (since both set of doors were shut and who knows which is the exit?). To my shock, an SA immediately locked the doors after me! She even gave me a glare to indicate that I wasn't supposed to exit from those doors. How would I know? The doors I exited from faced the main corridor where the entrances of other boutiques were located.
Next Prada. Again, Sas huddling in a corner and blatantly ignoring customers. They only reluctantly helped when asked and you could see their disinterest. However, once I expressed interest in purchasing an item, the SA brightened up considerably.
Needless to say, I refused to purchase anything from either store.
LV at Takashimya. That's another story. Rude Sas who kept telling me and other customers to go to another branch. ??? From what I've observed, the Sas didn't have to do much to make a sale. Most customers were so eager to buy that they didn't care about the lack of service.
I asked to look at two epi leather purses and the SA slammed the items down with the metal legs of the purses creating a loud din. Then she left. Another customer told me not to worry, that they treat most customers that way. One customer even lamented that they contribute to the problem by continuing to patronize these rude Sas.
I was so intrigued that I did a search on local forums to confirm that it's not unusual to receive such bad service! I refuse to think that I was discriminated because I looked like a local as suggested by a local friend. That foreigners (preferably Caucasian) received better treatment. Now, I don't know how true this is so I can't comment.
However, I am happy to report that most stores in Singapore are staffed with helpful SAs.
I do strongly Tfers not to tolerate bad service. I refuse to let a rude SA earn commission from my purchase. Too bad, Miu Miu and Prada in Singapore.
HELLO - you're an OUTLET store!! You peddle all the bags that the real stores can't get rid of.......So you need to GET OVER YOURSELVES!! 
..i am form singapore and embarasss that it happened and experienced it myself tooo..
.
