Do you ever feel ignored while shopping for pricier jewellery???

[Contessa]

I've done this before, but not in a high end store. It is always impossible to find help in our Home Depot or Lowes Home Improvement. I will call the store and tell them I am in aisle 10 and ask them to send a sales associate over! It works! (I learned this from a contractor I was working with)

LOL!!! I'm glad I'm not alone!

A friend of mine told me she shops at one of the high-end China/crystal shops in the city and was looking for a wedding gift for a friend (she was registered there). Almost 99% of the time in this particular store, you can NEVER get service quickly when you want it. So........fed up....she went to the most expensive area in that store (Rosenthal, Versace, Edinburgh etc....) and began clanking and clinking the china about. Within SECONDS, not one, but several SA's emerged!!!

 

[AntiqueShopper]

My fiance gets ignored in jewelry stores. They look at his clothes (Batman t-shirt, jeans, sneakers, sweatshirt) and ignore him.

I, however, have not been ignored in a jewelry store since my late teens/ early 20s.

I

 

[schadenfreude13]

Yeah, when I was younger it happened a lot - I didn't carry myself the right way or something. I finally told off a very snooty SA and was pretty embarrassed about it later because I was stooped to the "you think you're something cause you sell crappy Rolexes? You probably can't even pronounce the name of the $$$ watch on my arm right here". :shame:

But I do have a happy story...when I was right out of college, I received a pretty sizable bonus and decided to spend some of it on my first "major" diamonds - solitaire studs. I had done my research online, but never really stepped into a store. In the middle of a quick errand-run around town, I impulsively pulled in to a nice jeweler's (the kind that have to buzz you in)...just to check 'em out. I braced myself for a cold reception - around-the-house paint stained jeans, t-shirt, messenger bag, messy bun, and no jewelry. I was waited on hand and foot and offered a drink before I even indicated I was there to buy. Completely took me off guard, and I walked out with my new earrings.

 

[Swanky]

Same for me. When I want to be waited on it I make sure it is obvious that I am done just looking and I want help. If someone doesn't come to me within a reasonable amount of time I will approach whoever is there and ask in a nice but firm way if there is someone who can help me.

I'm not saying it's always the case, but I often read about people being somewhat intimidated by shopping at pricey stores, afraid they'll be judged or ignored. So I think instinctively some people walk in and avoid eye contact or give off "I don't need help" vibes and it's not always the SA's fault. They interpret that body language as wanting to be left alone.
Walk in and give immediate eye contact and a small smile and I'm positive shopping experiences can improve.

Then there's always the few snotty SA's

 

[shiba_inu]

I've done this before, but not in a high end store. It is always impossible to find help in our Home Depot or Lowes Home Improvement. I will call the store and tell them I am in aisle 10 and ask them to send a sales associate over! It works! (I learned this from a contractor I was working with)

I did that for the first time the other week. At a non high end store. They were very busy and when an SA passed by, I asked for assistance, and he said I needed to go to the front of the store to ask. No way! So I called and asked for help. Within seconds, someone appeared.

A friend of mine told me she shops at one of the high-end China/crystal shops in the city and was looking for a wedding gift for a friend (she was registered there). Almost 99% of the time in this particular store, you can NEVER get service quickly when you want it. So........fed up....she went to the most expensive area in that store (Rosenthal, Versace, Edinburgh etc....) and began clanking and clinking the china about. Within SECONDS, not one, but several SA's emerged!!!

I like your friend's tactic. Great way to get some attention!
It's ridiculous how some SAs behave. They seem to either be lazy or just don't care. Especially bad when they are off in a corner all gossiping. I wouldn't have any respect for a person who does that in front of customers who are waiting to be tended to. Do they not get that they are there to provide a SERVICE? And at a store that sells expensive items, service is part of what you are paying for.

I've received barely a second glance or no service in some high end stores, because I probably dressed too casually for them. Also, I think they judge by your handbag. Around here, you can wear jeans or shorts, but if you carry an expensive enough handbag, you'll get service.

 

[jxwilliams]

No I don't get ignored but I have gone to the same jewelry store for over 10 years.

I have worked in retail during high school and college and remember the etiquette I was taught like "Always acknowledge customers, even if you can't help them right away". Frankly it's my pet peeve to be ignored at stores (not just jewelry). I will always make eye contact and if they don't get the hint, I will approach them and assertively ask for help. If they are rude, then I walk out. There are tons of other stores that will be happy to sell me something.

 

[Mimster]

It is hard for SAs to know whether or not a customer wants to be left alone to browse or just shy but needs help. The best thing is to politely approach the SA and ask for help.

I don't mind if the SAs ignore me when I step into the store. In fact I would like them to just let me be until I am ready. If a particular SA is rude then I will come back another day for my purchase.

 

[wild child]

No I haven't been ignored but most of the time I prefer to be. I'm usually very hesitant to go into jewellery stores (or any store) if the SA is going to be hovering around me.

However, in OP's case, half and hour is very unacceptable customer service.

 

[shiba_inu]

I have worked in retail during high school and college and remember the etiquette I was taught like "Always acknowledge customers, even if you can't help them right away". Frankly it's my pet peeve to be ignored at stores (not just jewelry). I will always make eye contact and if they don't get the hint, I will approach them and assertively ask for help. If they are rude, then I walk out. There are tons of other stores that will be happy to sell me something.

Exactly! Customers are people, too. If you walk into a home as a guest, the host greets you. If you visit a store, whether with the intention to buy or just browse, it feels great to be acknowledged. The SA has already established contact with you and you may be put into a better mood, depending on how they say it. Basic common sense. Be nice to your customers and they will feel more loyal toward you. And if the SA is nice, you may tell your friends and
they'll tell their friends. Same goes for if the SA is horrible.

If I stand there and am obviously trying to look for an SA but the ones who are free don't bother to come over, something is wrong. I am talking about standing by what I want to purchase and not looking at the display, but glancing around the store.

Often times I will say that I am just looking.
I appreciate an SA who greets me and says to let them know if I need help,
when I'm ready.
Short and sweet (not like my post ) but they aren't ignoring me.

 

[laurayuki]

1. I agree that if there are no one else to be helped and the SAs are not busy doing other important tasks they should definitely offer to help every incoming customer. Or a simple " Let me know if you need anything" would be helpful.
2. However, I think depending if they are commission based they are strategic in terms of who they would like to help simply because of their own judgement about who can be buying. And SAs in NYC definitely will not ignore any casually dressed couples because a lot of rich people are casually dressed to shop. They "may" ignore tourists because tourists browse, and when i'm browsing i like to browse casually and I do not make any eye contact with the SA.
3. Make eye contact if you need help. Patiently wait next to the people who are being helped by the SA usually gives a hint too. I think some times ppl have this issue getting drinks at the bar too. If you are not a little bit aggressive, your point of interest might not be apparent to the SA.

Tiffany sometime is a S***show, that's when you have to be aggressive, grab an SA and just tell her/him what you want and they will definitely show you. I've gone in and out of tiffany in 15/20 min with satisfied purchase.

I have the opposite feeling about some high end stores. there are so few ppl that I get bothered by SAs a lot when I walk in (no matter when or what i'm wearing) There should be a level of service related to the high end stores.

 

[ladyash]

yes, I get ignored when shopping for jewelry..I assume its because im 21 but I look 16 (So I am told). I really am not a jewelry person but I wanted some gold hoop earings (nice ones) and went into the jewelry store my mom and sister buy from. There was about 6 people working and only one other customer. I found what I wanted to see and smiled at the sales lady who was across the room talking with the other 4 or 5 sales people. Not one person said hi or anything. I finaly asked if someone could help me, the lady came over and acted like i was wasteing her time. So I said no thanks and left. A few months later i went in with my mom, we got great service from the same lady who ignored me. Even if i was 16, maybe i am still looking to spend $200 for some hoop earings!

YES! I am thinking this is my problem as well? I am 21 but some people thing I look as young as 14!
I also get amazing service when I have my parents, which makes me think they automatically assume that the parents are buying. Which isn't the case! The last time my parents bought me jewellery I was maybe 13 LOL!
I am always confident and make eye contact and smile but it doesn't seem to matter when I am alone they don't make the effort to come near me. It's like I'm wasting their time or something. It's completely annoying!

You know.....forget age.....that's even worse to ignore someone because of the fact that they're younger.

I remember going on a short boat cruise to see the Thousand Islands near Kingston Ontario. I went with my family and cousins. We were approx 10 or 11 years old.

Anyways....we were heading back to shore and my Uncle wanted something to drink (soda pop), so my cousins & I gladly obliged ONLY to be refused service by the woman in the restaurant behind the counter. She told us she was closed & no more drinks would be served. When we came back & empty-handed & told him what happened, my uncle walked over only to be served immediately!!!!!

Well......you don't know my uncle, but let's just say that when he finished with her, she was in tears. He was FURIOUS that she did not want to sell us the soda because we were "kids"

I always perceive people who ignore others due to age, status, or any other reason as discriminatory & highly ignorant. I know several people who are very well-established who don't necessarily dress the part. I have a great "Rolls Royce" story I might share sometime

Bottom line, people should reserve judgement as they just never know who you might be.

Oh cool! Where do you live??? I live about an hour from Kingston!! I have been on the boat tours twice when I was younger I LOVED them. I don't remember getting food or drinks on the boat though we usually ate before the tour.

I prefer to feel ignored. I can't stand over-involved salespeople, & I generally know more about the jewelry than they do.

I usually prefer to be left alone too, until I make eye contact with you to let you know I'm interested in seeing something or trying something on!

I get ignored at the cosmetics and skin care counters all the time.
I 'm never ignored at the jewelers perhaps because I know what I want and I'm confident, I'm never intimidated in a jewelry store. My first job was a jeweler's and I'm very familiar with this line of work, it is my playground lol. Personally as an SA I never looked down on customers, granted 80% were only looking/window shopping but I was trying to keep a balance between not ignoring them, but not breathing down their neck either, most of all I was trying to be helpful. Some SAs can't keep that balance because they try to judge the customers by their appearance and age groups.

I used to work at a jewellery store too! It was a seasonal job though so I only worked around Christmas time. This is why I won't judge people based on appearance because for me I found a lot of people that showed up looking less than 100% were the people that spent the most money, and the people who were all dressed up and blinged out tended to window shop and try on a lot of things and most of the time didn't purchase as much if anything. We were also told we were to greet every customer that comes into the store and ask if they were looking for anything in particular, and if they said no to not stand over them but busy yourself with something else and keep checking on them. If they start to look interested in something or are hanging around a particular case for longer than usual then go over and ask if they would like to see something.

 

[afsweet]

my mom and i have both been ignored at our local jewelry store. it was the most high end and well known jewelry store in our area before tiffanys came along. especially 1 time, we walked in and there were tons of SAs standing around talking to each other, but none of them offered to help us. we looked around and around 1 area, and finally a guy came up to ask if we needed help. when we said yes, he jumped on his earpiece and called an SA over. we waited probably 15 minutes, and the store was practically empty! oddly enough, the security guard is nicer than the SAs.

 

[lorihmatthews]

My ex and I shopped for engagement rings at a well-established jewelry store in San Francisco called Shreve. We were completely ignored even though we were in our mid-30s and we made a beeline to the engagement rings. After a few minutes when no one made eye contact we walked out and spent our $8,000 budget elsewhere.

I have not set foot in that store since and I never will again.

 

[nyc_cady]

I haven't been ignored, mostly because I'm fairly confident when I go into jewelry stores and I'm always wearing a business suit or looking fairly put together. I'm one of those weird ones that can't leave the house in sweatpants or anything.

I have had a bad experience in a department stores though. I was in Montreal, living there for 6 months for work, and I had bought an Oscar de la Renta cocktail dress, from Holt Renfrew, to wear to a company function. The dress in my size had to be shipped in from the Toronto store and then I had to get alterations done so it would fit properly (I'm somewhat of a busty gal, but small everywhere else). I received the call that my dress was done and that I could come and pick it up. I wasn't feeling very well that day, and so I trudged out of my hotel room in sweatpants, Uggs, and god knows what else (I normally never do that!) to head to the store as I needed the dress that weekend. This was February in Montreal, so there was slush and muck everywhere. I walked to the store as it was only a few blocks from my hotel and got very cold and slushy in those few blocks!

I walked into the store and I figured I would go browse around as they were starting to get the Spring collections in, before I went and picked up my dress. There were a few SAs milling about and none offered to help me. One even walked right past me, glancing at me, and then kept walking! My regular SA wasn't working and she had told me that anyone would help me, they didn't make a commission. I ended up finding something I wanted to try on, but I needed to know if they perchance had my size in the back as I didn't see it on the floor. The SA sniffed and told me that it didn't come in that size (I'm a European 42-44), I know for a fact that it did and asked to speak with a manager.

The manager came over and I explained to her my situation. She was extremely apologetic and ran to get my dress that I was picking up. The SA that had helped me before tried to apologize, but I brushed her off. I wrote a scathing letter to store and received special coupons on future purchases, but I have yet to use them.

I know that I'm young and I look even younger (this happened about 2 years ago), but don't be rude to me! Nothing grinds my gears more than a rude SA or bad service at a restaurant!

 

[rengb6]

I'm 19 (everyone says I look 14) so I get ignored in almost every store or the SA will watch me as if I were going to steal something. I just find it ironic because chances are I have more in my bank account than they do. They shouldn't assume younger people don't have money. If we work (which I do 2 jobs) we have a lot of disposable income because we do not have a family or other expenses to take care of. I prefer shopping with my parents or mostly buying online because I'm to self conscious to shop in stores. I have never even been in to a J.crew store although I love their clothes and most of my closet is J.crew that I bought on their online store.