Has Bergdorf Goodman gone downhill?

[LemonDrop]

When I was growing up, on television, Bergdorf Goodman was always referred to as a classy, high quality place to shop. I had my first experience with them online. What a mess. They made the whole transaction so annoying and difficult. I felt like I was working to get them to take my money. when the item finally arrived the dust bag had dirt marks on it. If I ever purchase from them again it will be too soon.

Anyone have good experiences with them? I can think of 4 points during my whole transaction that they had a chance to shine and they failed each time.

 

[Cosmopolitan]

Bergdorfs indeed used to be great and I have happy memories of shopping there numerous times in person in New York over the past 20 years. However parent company Neiman Marcus filed for bankruptcy amid the pandemic in 2020. It’s too bad to hear they’ve gone downhill since emerging from bankruptcy.

edited to add: I should say I’ve never ordered online from them. Some department stores like Saks have totally spun off their online operations but I don’t know about Bergdorfs.

 

[Taty]

I can say they are completely different today. So sad, I used to love BG. SAs are not the same either, very unprofessional and unresponsive and that new thing that some now say “my assistant so and so will contact you”, “this group is very exclusive, if you like to continue receiving messages, pls respond or you will be removed; many ppl would like to be in this group” everything is absurd and laughable to be honest.

 

[dove221]

I had a good experience with them a few months ago. Hoping it stays that way.

 

[dove221]

Looks like from these posts though, that is changing

 

[880]

Now it’s just a regular high end department store. I used to shop there with my mom in the 1980s and 1990s and then again twenty years ago or so. May mom used to shop there since 1960s. It used to feel like intimate niche boutiques within each floor (Like a really large Ultimo, Linda Dresner, or Wlikes Bashford experience). And the JAR salon was amazing. I imagine that the shoe salon should still be quite good. But, for RTW, I prefer the smaller scale of boutique shopping.

During covid, I did buy RTW online and it was easy to buy, easy to return if it didn’t fit. I will say, if you want Akris RTW, the boutique in NY is some how dismal. Bergdorfs or Saks is better.

 

[Quigs]

Last December I purchased an expensive designer bag online from Bergdorfs. It arrived in a very beat up carton. Thankfully, the bag and the dust bag were not damaged. They should have put in either the designer box or a Bergdorf box instead of treating it like a reject from Kmart. So much for "high end".

 

[Love Of My Life]

I can say they are completely different today. So sad, I used to love BG. SAs are not the same either, very unprofessional and unresponsive and that new thing that some now say “my assistant so and so will contact you”, “this group is very exclusive, if you like to continue receiving messages, pls respond or you will be removed; many ppl would like to be in this group” everything is absurd and laughable to be honest.

Don't think BG is an exclusive as it would like to be. The caliber of SA"s has dramatically
changed since the pandemic. The customer service has also fallen short. Inventory is low
& many vendors have left the store. For the most part much of what BG has to offer
can be found on line & in other stores without the "attitude". I much prefer that aspect now
& can find much of what I am interested in either in the designer boutique with a flexible
return policy just like BG/NM has or on line & quite frankly it's fun looking at other high end
shops that know how to treat a repeat client.

 

[ilovemykiddos]

I’ve had great experiences purchasing from them online. I’ve only ordered about 5 times but each and every time everything has been perfect! I wouldn’t hesitate to shop with them again.

 

[lallybelle]

I wouldn't say it's necessary a new thing. I live here and I can't even tell you how much I cannot stand the Chanel SA's. And this has been for YEARS. I purchased maybe a couple of times when what I was looking for was only there, that's it.

 

[JenJBS]

I had a wonderful experience at BG in November 2019. One SA was probably the kindest SA I've ever met. I was looking at a stunning diamond necklace. The SA came up, and asked if I'd like to try it on. I said I could never afford it. He said I could try it on, and take a selfie wearing it. I foolishly didn't... But he was really nice, and said to let him know if I changed my mind. I looked it up online later, and the necklace was $63,000.00 dollars! And he was kind enough to three times assure me I could try it on, knowing I couldn't afford it. The others SA's there also seemed really nice.

 

[jcm0819]

I recently ordered a Saint Laurent bag online from BG and was extremely disappointed when the package arrived and it was a completely different bag from the one I had ordered. When I contacted them about their mistake, I was told the bag I ordered was no longer in stock. Very disappointing.

 

[Love Of My Life]

Along with Charlotte Tilbury, Kiehl's, Jo Malone, Lancome ( and others?) leaving the Beauty Level
I was disappointed to know that BG has not received any La Bouche Rouge lipsticks
since Covid from the company...
BG might be having financial issues & thus the hiring of competent SA's might come into question
Imagine other vendors will be leaving as well because of outstanding debt so not surprising
that perhaps things will change & go south

 

[CeeJay]

God, BG's was like a fairy-tale to me, growing up in Connecticut and always seeing their Ad's in the Sunday New York Times. When I finally got to go there (after University & a Job - but, HA .. living/working in Washington DC), I still have to say that I was amazed when I walked in the door! The fashion was top-rate and don't even get me started on the Jewelry!!!

Right before the Pandemic, I had heard that many of the high-end Barneys NY Jewelry designers (e.g., Irene Neuwirth, Eli Halili, etc.) had partnered up with BG's and that BG would be selling their work (high-end and high-priced)!!! Well, then the Pandemic happened, and as someone previously noted .. Bergdorf's parent company is Neiman Marcus and we all know what happened with them.

Many of the original S/A's left - heck, why wouldn't they .. they didn't have a job and MANY dealers left both NM and BG .. so I can't say that I'm surprised that they have gone downhill big-time. Honestly, I wonder how much longer they will be able to support paying for the NYC real estate?

It's just so sad; going to NYC and shopping at all these fine institutions .. well, unlikely that it will ever be the same and I kind of feel sorry for the younger generation to not have the opportunity to experience that. I LOATHE online shopping because I'm not a tiny, petite thing and when you go outside of Size 12 (which these places call XL to begin with .. can I help it if I'm 5'10" and large-boned???) .. well, you can well imagine how many items they have in my size .. as in NONE, NOPE, ZED, ZERO, etc.!!!

I ONLY order online if I already wear the brand and know EXACTLy what size I wear, but then again .. sometimes these places change the sizing and that really pisses me off.

 

[jc3881]

Does anyone know if BG accepts NM gift cards since they are a subsidiary of NMG?