Horrible Experience At Chanel Hirshleifers

[Roe]

Hello,

I've never really felt the need to vent or complain about a particular "shopping experience" in any high end store but what happened to me on Tuesday, left such a bad taste in my mouth that I may just stick to online shopping from now on. While Chanel wasn't the only bad experience I had that day, I will start with this one.
This past Tuesday was a Sunny beaituful day in Long Island. After running errands and lunch, my girlfriend and I opted to go to Americana Manhasset since she's been itching to get her first Chanel bag as she has always been an avid LV lover. I've been looking for a new bag to love myself. We get to the store to wait on a line for over 30 minutes to enter the store. I've never seen the parking lot so empty at this mall as it was on that day but there was still need for lines in front of every store you want to enter. We finally enter the store, get our temps checked as well as squirted with antibacterial to be introduced to a sales associate. What are you looking for today ladies? We wanted to look around and my friend has some questions. Sure what question did you have she asks. My friend proceeds to tell her that she wanted to see the Chanel Medium Flap over the Jumbo and the difference in leather. Sales Associate quickly says, we have no classic mediums to show you sorry. Anything else? At that point I said, yes there is something else. Can you show her the difference in caviar vs lambskin. Even though you don't have any medium, Im sure you have a few jumbos in that closet. ( pointed to the closet in which I've seen them pull flaps out numerous times over the years and i've purchased with my old sales associate)

The saleswoman, walks over to the counter where flaps are kept with the only look on her face. No point in getting into Dior ( sized up and down from the moment we walked in) Prada or LV at this time ( i'm still waiting for LV to call us back to see when we can go in their store as their wait list is sooo long) because it was all the same experience. If you aren't walking in knowing exactly what you want, you are not wanted in the store. Pretty horrible feeling to have when you have 2 people in it that really were looking forward to leaving with a purchase.

I know Covid is real but these stores must be losing money and clientelle. Maybe its just me. Thanks for hearing my vent.

 

[anmldr1]

I agree with you about shopping at the Americana. I feel like Hirshliefers is doing you a favor by allowing you to shop there. Things have changed so much. They never have stock of anything anymore, because it’s all pre-sold before it comes in. With their return policy being store credit, I find it hard to commit to a Chanel bag before I see it and try it on, knowing that if I don’t like it, I’ll be stuck with a lot of store credit I can’t even use, because they never have anything in stock anymore.

 

[Chanel0524]

It’s the worst store in America. They have horrible business practices, no stock, rude associates and even more aggressively rude management/owners. (Don’t let their IG accounts fool you). I fully pre paid for a bag weeks in advance of launch date of 21S. (Classic flap) and one day before official launch, they canceled my order and refunded with no real explanation. Marci -co-owner - got on the phone and said to me “ do you even know their is people out there collecting these bags? Their is no way you were guaranteed one”. (the SA said I was 1st on the reserve list and she also sent me a photo of the bag in the stock room packed and ready to go). Her attitude was disgusting and I’m sure she sold it to a VIP who saw the “hype” on social media. I can’t believe they are even authorized to sell Chanel. They are horrendous. Sorry- you had a bad experience. You aren’t alone. Google them. I would never give them my business again.

 

[Logic]

I guess with the pandemic and limited number of people allowed in, they still have to make sales and “having a look at the leathers” is like stop wasting my time to a SA. May be if you really had the intent to buy then ask them to bring out both lamb and caviar so you/friend can decide which one.

 

[lallybelle]

Well the wait and everything is understandable because of all that's going on. I mean I went to LV and yeah sanitizer squirted at me and told to go with 1 SA who wanted to know exactly what I wanted to she could look it up on her phone. No browsing, no "let me show you X, X or X. Definitely not the same as I've come to expect but hopefully we will getting this all put behind us soon.

Sad about Hirsh. I got my first Chanel in there wow 12 years ago now, Single Flap Black Caviar Jumbo w/ Silver HW. Little Chanel newbie armed with only the info I had gathered here..lol. I haven't shopped there in forever since my fav SA ever left, she was amazing. I was left to the care her 2 assistants who now both are gone. Hmm.. maybe that does say something...

 

[sparklywacky]

I follow the Instagram of the owners and I’ve always wondered if they get their own Chanel pieces wholesale price. I mean, probably no? Since they own the shop lol. And they can also pre-order stuff they love from each collection hassle free and without having to be on any waitlist. I envy their massive Chanel collection, I have to say!

 

[baghagg]

It's not just Hirsh. Short Hills (NJ) as well. I waited in a Dior line for well over a half hour (I was first and one of only two in the line) when there were only three people shopping in a large store space with three sales associates who each had one shopper. When I got in, the sales associate pulled out one bag at a time only and they didn't have the exact bag I was looking for. She took my phone number and said she'd contact me when the bag came in. That was at least 3 months ago. Then, I went into NM (no line, nor line stuff (poles, ropes, attendant, etc), walked over to the LV boutique inside Neiman's, no line, but obvious line formation gear (poles, ropes, etc), barely anyone shopping inside, I go to walk in and an associate asks me to wait. I stand there for 5 minutes, no one approaches and I walk away. It's clearly each separate company policy overreaction during a pandemic when they're crying over lack of sales.

 

[Elleand3]

Wow, I thought they were all nice at that store..thanks for sharing your experience. I can’t believe the co-owner’s response was that way. Kind of snooty..

 

[Roe]

I agree with you about shopping at the Americana. I feel like Hirshliefers is doing you a favor by allowing you to shop there. Things have changed so much. They never have stock of anything anymore, because it’s all pre-sold before it comes in. With their return policy being store credit, I find it hard to commit to a Chanel bag before I see it and try it on, knowing that if I don’t like it, I’ll be stuck with a lot of store credit I can’t even use, because they never have anything in stock anymore.

Yes. Facts.
I also pointed out to my girlfriend to not order the flap from them which in doing so, it annoyed the salesperson more. I didn't care. The SA did attempt to get my gf to pre pay for a medium chanel flap with an estimated date of arrival. I told her not to bother. We can make an appointment to go to the Chanel in the city and I'm sure a medium will come avaialable alot sooner than the anticipated date given. After that service, you're going to want her money and are left with a we will call you when its available. GTFO of here.

 

[Roe]

I guess with the pandemic and limited number of people allowed in, they still have to make sales and “having a look at the leathers” is like stop wasting my time to a SA. May be if you really had the intent to buy then ask them to bring out both lamb and caviar so you/friend can decide which one.

then perhaps, she should find a better job suited for her. I love Chanel and while I haven't purchased any in over a year, I did go to this store often when I did have a good Sales Associate.

 

[nashpoo]

It’s the worst store in America. They have horrible business practices, no stock, rude associates and even more aggressively rude management/owners. (Don’t let their IG accounts fool you). I fully pre paid for a bag weeks in advance of launch date of 21S. (Classic flap) and one day before official launch, they canceled my order and refunded with no real explanation. Marci -co-owner - got on the phone and said to me “ do you even know their is people out there collecting these bags? Their is no way you were guaranteed one”. (the SA said I was 1st on the reserve list and she also sent me a photo of the bag in the stock room packed and ready to go). Her attitude was disgusting and I’m sure she sold it to a VIP who saw the “hype” on social media. I can’t believe they are even authorized to sell Chanel. They are horrendous. Sorry- you had a bad experience. You aren’t alone. Google them. I would never give them my business again.

Omg! Can I ask which bag it was!? I also pre ordered from Hirsh so I'm wondering.. You can dm me if you don't want to post it here

 

[xlana]

I've had similar experiences shopping at Chanel Hirshleifers. I even went back a few times just to give them the benefit of the doubt but all three times I went the experience was pretty bad and so now despite it being the closest/easier Chanel boutique for me to get to I don't go there. That sucks you had a similar experience - I just don't understand how a luxury boutique can operate like that. I don't expect them to be overly accommodating, but just being professional and respectful should be a baseline for anyone right?

 

[crystal_wellness]

Its a hit or miss with luxury stores they should of course provide you with a decent level of customer service but a lot of the SAs like to look at you and judge by what you are wearing etc before deciding how to treat you!

 

[londonparismaybetokyo]

Shame on chanel and all of these companies for treat people like this! They need to check themselves pandemic or not. It’s so backwards of them to check people’s temperature, who are they medical doctors , did they go to med school only to be security or SA’s or managers of a store, lol? And the squirting of the sanitizer, who knows if their sanitizer is expired or even kept hygienic. This is getting ridiculous. And the sales associates need to stop and show us the entire store if we want them to , it’s their job!!! Hello!!!

 

[londonparismaybetokyo]

Its a hit or miss with luxury stores they should of course provide you with a decent level of customer service but a lot of the SAs like to look at you and judge by what you are wearing etc before deciding how to treat you!

Yet, they are the ones working , lol. They are dressed in simple uniforms , who are they or anyone to judge others. lol.