Hello TPF’ers. I just wanted to get some opinions from those who have shopped in the Yorkdale Cartier boutique before. It was my first time shopping at the Yorkdale Cartier this past weekend and it was an odd experience and I just wanted to know if I should consider a new SA or perhaps the Bloor Street location for future purchases. When I arrived at the store the SA asked me what I was looking for. I told her I had a list of items and was interested in two rings and two bracelets, and that I was interested in the thinner models for the rings so I could stack them. But I was clear I intended to buy both rings. She brought out the JUC ring in the smaller model and the love ring in the wedding band version and the regular version. I asked her if it came with diamonds because I was after some sparkle. She said that the thinner version doesn’t, only the larger version (which isn’t true according to the website) and that I should only buy diamonds after I’ve purchased plain gold jewellery, which seemed odd. I asked if I could see the bracelets and she went to get them but when she came back the rings were gone. I asked what happened to my rings because I still wanted to buy them, I just wanted to try on some bracelets. She said the store policy is that there can only be three pieces of jewellery out at one time. She would also only allow me to try on the thinner version of the love and JUC bracelets even though I was interested in the regular sized models. I’ve seen lots of Toronto based YouTubers and I’ve never observed a limit how much jewellery you can try on or look at. When I shop at Hermes and Louis Vuitton I’ve never had my SA say there was a limit on the number of things I could try on. I’m not sure if she just assumed I couldn’t purchase anything. Which is odd because I came into the store with large shopping bags from LV. Overall I found her unhelpful and cold and I’m wondering if there’s any truth to the policies she mentioned. I had done my research and knew the exact pieces I wanted, so it was overall a very disappointing experience.
Toronto store experience
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I've never experienced that, but have the best SA! He lets me try on evvvvvverything, and just keeps all the pieces on his velvet tray.
Honestly, I would find another SA. Even if it is general store policy, I’m sure this can be waived esp for the reason you gave. I’m sorry you had to deal with that.
Hiya! I'm so sorry about your experience. This exact thing has happened to me at the Cartier boutique in Paris, France. While my SA was warm and friendly, she too said they were not allowed to have more than 3 pieces on the tray at a time. That being said, she did bring me many items to try but would keep putting things back. So for example, I wanted to see 2 earrings and 2 bracelets. But there would be 2 earrings and 1 bracelet for me to look at, at a time. While I wanted to see them all at once.
However, if you feel like the SA was just cold and unhelpful regardless of this rule then def go ahead and find yourself a new SA. Shopping, particularly luxury shopping should be a pleasant experience. After all, these pieces will live with you for a long time. You don’t want this to taint memory associated with your purchase.
I wish you good luck! 🌟
However, if you feel like the SA was just cold and unhelpful regardless of this rule then def go ahead and find yourself a new SA. Shopping, particularly luxury shopping should be a pleasant experience. After all, these pieces will live with you for a long time. You don’t want this to taint memory associated with your purchase.
I wish you good luck! 🌟
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If the SA is giving you incorrect information, she or he is either:
1) Not well informed/knowledgeable
2) Potentially lying (but I'd give the benefit of the doubt), she could be telling you what she believes to be in-stock at her location at this point in time.
Usually at that point, I'd just pull out my phone to show the website and see what she would say next.
Sometimes an SA will correct him or herself and specify what is in stock or acknowledge that he or she actually does not know.
Regarding the policy of only having a certain number of items out at once, I don't believe I've encountered something like that before. Tbh I've never really paid attention. I will be direct and say what I prefer over what I don't want, and what I don't want gets immediately put away. But generally, if I want to buy something, and like you, made my intentions clear, it would not get put away. That is weird.
Now:
1) Telling me what to buy or not to buy is a no. (suggesting is fine)
2) Restricting what I want to see is also a no. (unless it is out of stock)
I would not tolerate either things and would not go back to that SA.
Sorry about your uneventful experience. Hopefully it will be better next time, with another SA.
1) Not well informed/knowledgeable
2) Potentially lying (but I'd give the benefit of the doubt), she could be telling you what she believes to be in-stock at her location at this point in time.
Usually at that point, I'd just pull out my phone to show the website and see what she would say next.
Sometimes an SA will correct him or herself and specify what is in stock or acknowledge that he or she actually does not know.Regarding the policy of only having a certain number of items out at once, I don't believe I've encountered something like that before. Tbh I've never really paid attention. I will be direct and say what I prefer over what I don't want, and what I don't want gets immediately put away. But generally, if I want to buy something, and like you, made my intentions clear, it would not get put away. That is weird.
Now:
1) Telling me what to buy or not to buy is a no. (suggesting is fine)
2) Restricting what I want to see is also a no. (unless it is out of stock)
I would not tolerate either things and would not go back to that SA.
Sorry about your uneventful experience. Hopefully it will be better next time, with another SA.
I shopped at this store last fall on vacation. We had a great experience there and I was able to try on many things. The SA was helpful and I got champagne and a cleaning kit. If I was treated like you were treated, I would have left. Sorry this happened to you.
I shop at the Yorkdale Cartier and confirm there is a limit...I'm a long term client and know both my sa very well and was always told there's a limit on how many I can see at a time...if I'm looking at multiple items they always swap and never leave all of them infront of me....
If you dislike your interaction with that sa I can recommend you to 2 really good sa... I think the policy thing is true but her other comments to you sound a bit odd...
If you dislike your interaction with that sa I can recommend you to 2 really good sa... I think the policy thing is true but her other comments to you sound a bit odd...
Yikes! Not sure who this SA was, but I had a similar experience there a few years ago. I wound up doing an online order (since the item was out of stock in all of the stores and finally came back in stock online), then continuing to work with SAs at the Bloor location. My original SA of 2 years recently left the boutique (and retail), but my current SA is fantastic! If you’re interested in going to the Bloor location, I’m able to give you my SA’s info (please send me a DM if you’re interested). I might also know of an SA at Yorkdale who would be able to work with you (I just need to double check with a friend for the info). Sorry that you had a negative experience. Hopefully your next time at the boutique is better!
OP, I am not a regular Cartier client. However, I had occasion to accompany two friends who are to the NY flagship. We were able to try on several items with the help of an SA and an SM. At the end, I asked the SA about whether there is a policy of only allowing three items to be tried on at a time. He said, yes that is official Cartier policy.
I said how could we have tried on a larger number. He said bc we were three of us there. Perhaps if one has a friend or spouse there, one can see more, IDK.
I didn’t delve further, but it might have also made a difference that there were two Cartier employees helping three of us?
I just wanted you to know that it does seem to be standard policy.
ETA: Having said that, if an SA communicated policy to me in a way I found abrupt or unfriendly, I would not shop. The SA also mentioned something about the number three was determined to be the average maximum the company determined that an SA could keep track of, at one time. He also mentioned that is why they use a Cartier red seal to put in place when they take something out of a case. It’s an additional visual check.
Thank you everyone for the thoughtful feedback! I really appreciate it. I think I will find another SA for future purchases.
I shop at the Yorkdale location and can confirm my SA has a limit with how many items he can bring out (my SA is very laidback otherwise). Your experience with this SA sounds like mine with my previous SA at that store so I ended up trying a new SA and luckily found my current one so definitely try with someone else until you feel you click!
This is my home store and yes this is policy. As for the degree of knowledge or how helpful your SA was I cannot say I am aware of ever experiencing this type of short behaviour or lack of knowledge but perhaps, to give the benefit of the doubt, she may have been new-ish to the position? The store really is lovely and I always enjoy my visits there with my SA, so I think it might be more that there was a lack of connection rather than writing off the whole store. That store gets very busy so I understand the store wanting to enforce policies. There are a lot of untrustworthy people out there and it's hard to stay on top of things if there isn't a degree of protocol or order. I say give it another chance and try someone else. Alternatively, Bloor Street is absolutely fabulous and very friendly. I think you may enjoy a visit there if you feel you dont want to return to Yorkdale.
The limit might be a recent rule? I’ve never personally shopped at the Yorkdale location but I had consistently positive experiences at the location on Bloor.
However things might have changed considerably over the years. But at the time my SA would take out a dozen or so items to show me at a time.
Just wanted to emphasize that this seems to be official company policy, not limited to this particular location.OP, I am not a regular Cartier client. However, I had occasion to accompany two friends who are to the NY flagship. We were able to try on several items with the help of an SA and an SM. At the end, I asked the SA about whether there is a policy of only allowing three items to be tried on at a time. He said, yes that is official Cartier policy.
I said how could we have tried on a larger number. He said bc we were three of us there. Perhaps if one has a friend or spouse there, one can see more, IDK.
I didn’t delve further, but it might have also made a difference that there were two Cartier employees helping three of us?
I just wanted you to know that it does seem to be standard policy.
ETA: Having said that, if an SA communicated policy to me in a way I found abrupt or unfriendly, I would not shop. The SA also mentioned something about the number three was determined to be the average maximum the company determined that an SA could keep track of, at one time. He also mentioned that is why they use a Cartier red seal to put in place when they take something out of a case. It’s an additional visual check.