If you didn't want to start a debate, why start a sentence with "this will start a flame..."?
Oprah
- Thread starter SuzyZ
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It is difficult to know if she was refused to see the bag just because she is black or just because the SA did not think she could afford it. Either way, it is horrible that customers are treated that way. I would also have walked out of the store. I bet she can call Tom Ford directly and ask to buy a bag, LOL.
I'm myself Indian looking. I was adopted and have grown up in a "white" society. I have many times wondered if I get treated a certain way because of my heritage (applying for jobs etc). In any case, I've always been treated nice in the expensive stores when I've carried my designer bags esp Dior and Chanel since they can't be bought here.
I'm myself Indian looking. I was adopted and have grown up in a "white" society. I have many times wondered if I get treated a certain way because of my heritage (applying for jobs etc). In any case, I've always been treated nice in the expensive stores when I've carried my designer bags esp Dior and Chanel since they can't be bought here.
yes!
and as my mother told me once "pick your battles. don't let them pick you!"i saw on the news the store owner/manager had to actually open her mouth and say the dreaded - "we are not racist. tina turner is one of my best friends!"
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No, there are no stores. There is one store in Stockholm that sells different brands and they might sometimes have a Dior bag but that's it.
I've had to purchase Chanel abroad. I've also purchased Chanel through an SA at NM but it is more expensive than if I could have bought in Europe because of the high VAT and customs fee and because of this it can only be done if the dollar is low. Dior have been very helpful and shipped to me. I hope I can order from them again.
yes!
i saw on the news the store owner/manager had to actually open her mouth and say the dreaded - "we are not racist. tina turner is one of my best friends!"
Tina Turner is a friend of the owner and shop in a store with prejudiced employees?
Weird.
yes!
i saw on the news the store owner/manager had to actually open her mouth and say the dreaded - "we are not racist. tina turner is one of my best friends!"
I cringe when I hear those type of statements!
Weirder.
Is there any chance Oprah misunderstood the motive behind the exchange?
I read that the employee is an Italian native speaker, conversing in English.
I wish the employee would speak up for herself, so much room for mis-communication.
http://colorlines.com/archives/2013/08/oprah_gets_apology_for_racist_handbag_incident.html
While in Switzerland for Tina Turners wedding in July, Oprah Winfrey was prevented from purchasing a pricey handbag by a salesperson, who said the bag was too expensive for her. Oprah was barred from even handling the bag, a $35,000 Tom Ford purse, after asking multiple times. Although she declined to give the name of the shop in her interview with Entertainment Tonight, it has since been identified as the Trois Pommes in Zurich.
The Swiss tourism office apologized for the incident today, as did the shops owner Trudie Gotz. Gotz told the BBC that the salesperson, somehow, didnt recognize Oprah, but did not address whether or not the employee was racially profiling a customer.
This isnt the first time Oprah has accused a high-end boutique of racism. In 2005 she got into a heated debate with Hermes in Paris when they wouldnt allow her to come in shortly after closing to buy a watch (ironically, for Tina Turner). Hermes later apologized for the misunderstanding.
Race relations are already tense in Switzerland, where a recent move by some Swiss towns to keep asylum-seeking immigrants out of certain public places has been hotly contested by human rights groups and citizens who see it as a form of apartheid.
While in Switzerland for Tina Turners wedding in July, Oprah Winfrey was prevented from purchasing a pricey handbag by a salesperson, who said the bag was too expensive for her. Oprah was barred from even handling the bag, a $35,000 Tom Ford purse, after asking multiple times. Although she declined to give the name of the shop in her interview with Entertainment Tonight, it has since been identified as the Trois Pommes in Zurich.
The Swiss tourism office apologized for the incident today, as did the shops owner Trudie Gotz. Gotz told the BBC that the salesperson, somehow, didnt recognize Oprah, but did not address whether or not the employee was racially profiling a customer.
This isnt the first time Oprah has accused a high-end boutique of racism. In 2005 she got into a heated debate with Hermes in Paris when they wouldnt allow her to come in shortly after closing to buy a watch (ironically, for Tina Turner). Hermes later apologized for the misunderstanding.
Race relations are already tense in Switzerland, where a recent move by some Swiss towns to keep asylum-seeking immigrants out of certain public places has been hotly contested by human rights groups and citizens who see it as a form of apartheid.
I think based on the article you just posted, it's obvious that there was some type of judgement call made by the sales associate. Whether it was prejudicial or not, maybe. Only she can explain her motivation in telling someone who made multiple requests to see a $35,000 bag that it's too expensive and refuse to show them the item. And specifically calling out that the sales person "didn't recognize Oprah" is the piece that makes all of it sketchy. So if she recognized Oprah, she would've presented the bag. But, if it was a random wealthy, non-famous woman of color she would do the same? Bahhhhhhhhh...I'm not buying their story.
I have to agree. Not letting a person touching an item made out of Alligator is treating the other person as if she was dirty, imo.
That SA sounds so snotty! Hardworking? Please... 
An SA should help you, no matter how you look and who you are. So what if she didn't recognize Oprah? If a customer, any customer, asked for the bag politely, she should've shown it. When I went to Prague with my students, I literally just got off the bus, in comfortable travel clothes and with a backpack and I went straight to Dior (we weren't staying there long) to try on the OUI ring, because that was my only chance to try it, we don't have Dior stores in my country. The SA was so professional, wonderful, I felt like a princess, even though I looked like a pauper. They even offered to show me some bags, shoes, whatever I wanted, but I didn't want to take up their time. That's how you treat customers!
I think Oprah did well by just walking away. She really doesn't have anything to prove, she handled it like a lady. "You're right, I probably can't afford it" was sarcastic, I love it!
An SA should help you, no matter how you look and who you are. So what if she didn't recognize Oprah? If a customer, any customer, asked for the bag politely, she should've shown it. When I went to Prague with my students, I literally just got off the bus, in comfortable travel clothes and with a backpack and I went straight to Dior (we weren't staying there long) to try on the OUI ring, because that was my only chance to try it, we don't have Dior stores in my country. The SA was so professional, wonderful, I felt like a princess, even though I looked like a pauper. They even offered to show me some bags, shoes, whatever I wanted, but I didn't want to take up their time. That's how you treat customers! I think Oprah did well by just walking away. She really doesn't have anything to prove, she handled it like a lady. "You're right, I probably can't afford it" was sarcastic, I love it!
