Oprah
- Thread starter SuzyZ
- Start date
TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others
Yup, exactly. The professional salesperson would have shown the bag to the richest person and to the poorest person; the goal is always to make the customer feel valued. That's the key for return business and word of mouth spreads. The SA should be discreet and professional.
I was sized up by an SA when I went to buy a gown. She wouldn't unlock it from the rack, and refused to let me try it in the fitting room. I assured her I was interested in purchasing, and was told "You can't afford it. See how much this costs?! Why should you bother to try it out?" I never felt it had anything to do with race TBH; it was just really horrid professionalism, I sought out another SA who didn't bat an eye at my request and she ended up getting the commission.
I wonder why Oprah doesn't use her clout to tell the SA off right there and then, to be honest. Why shouldn't she? Is it a PR thing? Or is it a platform for Oprah it gets into the news? Why did she agree with the SA that she probably couldn't afford it? Something is a little passive there and it's unlike Oprah. She doesn't have to buy the bag, she could have told the SA to back off and show her the bag, because the customer is always right and because she's Oprah!
^^^^^^^^^Probably because she doesn't feel like she has to prove anything. She's Oprah and she's 60. Some things become frivolous to some people as they acquire sage, wisdom, and maturity. Plus she knows the power in word of mouth. The whole country is probably shaking in its boots for an economic downturn in tourism.
Some times you have to just let yo pimp roll
I bet she has never treated anyone that way since. Sometimes, unfortunately, people need a lesson. I remember making a waiter apologize to me in front of the entire restaurant for his treatment; I was younger and probably wouldn't do it again but his treatment of us was awful. He sure did humble himself.
Good for you!
I hope Trois Pomme goes under. The store actually made excuses to say it was all a misunderstanding. What that salesperson said and did was just plain rude and discriminatory. How the hell would she know if someone can afford a $38K handbag? And in this case it has clearly bitten her and the business in the a**. Serves them right.
Misunderstanding, my foot. Bwahahaha.
My sister-in-law and I received bad treatment a number of times when we shopped together. I'm surprised we weren't followed through the store to keep us from stealing. She explained it was simply due to the fact that she was black and "out of place" in an upscale store. That was nearly forty years ago in the Deep South. During my last visit this July I could tell times have changed for the better, but the elephant in the room is still there. When my (black) daughter-in-law calls me Mom or her little girl calls me Grandma, there are still many "looks".
Some looks are still hateful, but don't approach those in intensity and number of many years ago. It is those I ask sweetly if they'd like to take a picture, because they seem so interested in us.
You say you are part of a transracial adoption my advice to you would be to find out the difference between racist and prejudiced so you are educated on the differences and nuances of racial speak.
PS your example is neither- just saying
As for this whole mess before the name of the store was out I was on FB and this American friend who lives in Europe was like ehh they will blame the help and she was right, of course she gave a long answer on why etc
This is Switzerland, I don't doubt that Oprah is incredibly powerful but will they be any effective change?
Was she perhaps inferring to their social policies on immigration?
Who knows?
As far as the employee, she could have spoken to her on a personal level.
According to the Swiss press, she is called "nice", professional and so forth, a long term employee.
Something could have been lost in translation or she could ignorant.
Was she perhaps inferring to their social policies on immigration?
Who knows?
As far as the employee, she could have spoken to her on a personal level.
According to the Swiss press, she is called "nice", professional and so forth, a long term employee.
Something could have been lost in translation or she could ignorant.