It was the south coast store, and I'm not sure as he didn't tell me - he just apologized. He did offer to do the deposit remotely, which was a nice gesture, but then he doubled down by saying he would be on leave that day (Sunday) and the next two days so the earliest he could give me an answer for was by Wednesday.
VCA shopping experiences and insights, corporate / store policies, etc.
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Yes, I am considering doing so especially because the last time I was there, I would often get him assigned as I believe he might be associated with my account somehow. Wondering if it's such a terrible thing to switch SA's / let the manager know? I've never had such a bad experience before where I wanted to switch SA's, super dissapointing
Wow this is frustrating! I do think switching might be a good idea. He should have went out of his way to make this as easy as possible for you. Instead he inconvenienced you and did nothing to make it right.
This is the main reason why i did not get any VCA earrings, though i do love the 2 stones alhambra pieces.. i need to keep reminding myself.
I manage to not buy anytjing from VCA stores for 1 year! What a feat but i jus cannot justify the price vis-a-vis the non-luxurious, chase-after-me experience
Maybe because there's a geographic difference between me and some members here thus I didn't really understand the trouble that one needs to go through in order to look at the pieces in person.
Yes, the two motif earrings. I tried this one on in 2020 and there was no shortage. I didn't get it because I wanted to get the studs first because it suits my lifestyle. Last year I asked my SA again and she told me that since Kate Middleton has this pair, the popularity increases. I just smiled I had no idea that people would follow the royals. I think just because people have the same pair of earrings like a royal has doesn't mean they are royals. What makes one a royal is their education, blood line, friend circle and their way of life, and duties.
The two motif is comfortable to wear, at least it was comfortable at the time I was trying them on. For the first timers of vca earring purchasers, I recommend VA studs. They are the most comfortable pairs. It's got thinner post, adjustable high low holes and adjustable tension.
Will I still want a two motif? Maybe or maybe not. I am leaning towards non clover items nowadays because I like how you can project an approachable aura since people might not know you're wearing a branded item. (Some people or strangers really hate branded items by the way)
So far, my SA didn't make me feel like I am chasing a piece. Probably because I am slow when it comes to adding more pieces and I feel lucky that I didn't rush, my taste changes, I used to like clover pieces a lot and now I get to know myself more, there are other clover pieces that I crossed out from my wish list.
I wear all my vca pieces in rotation so that is how I justify the price. I used to purchase from Georg Jensen and Tous and Michal Negrin, but realised that I didn't wear them much now they are all sitting in a box.
May I know what you are wearing nowadays? Any other jewellery brands to recommend?
Would like to hear your thoughts.
I had similar situation happened to me. But for repair service at the same store. my earrings came back from service but one of the hinge was loose, I talked to someone in the repair department, he apologized since this is 3rd time being serviced and told me to bring it in but I told him I need it before Christmas, he assured me he will make sure it will get done since this will be 4th time. Well, i got a call that it won’t be done on time, when I reminded him the conversation we had, he denied it and asked me if I had proof of the conversation, I said it was not in a text but on the phone, I told him the date and the time of the phone call. He found the call he made to me and his response to me was, they are all super busy and the staffs are all working overtime, and unfortunately he does not remember the call.He said NY repair department is super busy and they are sending the piece back. And i can come in and pick up the piece on the 23rd and bring it back a the holidays! Mind you, the mall gets really busy especially during the holiday, I had some trouble finding parking spot. Totally wasted my time!
I wish VCA would commit to giving their customers a luxurious experience.
Honestly, VCA is rather accessible to me where I live. Just that I dont go window shopping all the time so when I am out, it is for a specific shopping purpose and I find it a hassle to have to take time just to go into store.. lol. Probably just me and my current lifestyle with a kid, I simply do most of my shopping online. Except luxury shopping -.-
Agree with you, 2 motif is so beautiful but i cant see myself wearing it everyday. Its very elegant and more for dressed up occasions. I am mostly casual on the day to day. Also, i feel rather self conscious carrying big brand logos nowadays. I even cannot bring myself to wear a Rolex cos it is just too loud. VcA i had thought it was fine some years ago but the popularity shot up so much that my colleague was asking me about it..
I had the perlee bangle in my wishlist but.. again what i really want is just too loud for me to wear on the daily (single perlee). I have instead ventured into other brands now like Buccelati, Chaumet, Hermes and recently, fallen back in love with my Hermes silver ring. In fact, i think i am certainly on a silver streak now because I am seriously swooning over the Tiffany Hardware link earrings atm.. i also like the elsa peretti designs.
However i am also terrible fickle.. my tastes change quite fast as well so i am thinking rather than spending heaps on a hefty "investment" piece that I may fall out of love with aft 1-2 yrs, i am trying out brands like Idyl, Mejuri with their solid gold pieces.
Maybe i will come back to VCA one day, who knows? Lol.
Yes you are correct. I shop at the NYC 5th Ave location. Even though I have a very good relationship with my SA and a high spend at that location (I have shopped other locations just because I am not patient) I was told 12-18 months on YG hammered regardless of spend profile. Have been on the list now since Oct 2023. They are not taking deposits. They said they could order the YG 10 motif guilloche. I feel like they are trying to push that piece on people. If they can make that I don’t understand why they can’t make the hammered piece. I have the YG guilloche earrings, single pendant necklace and 5 motif bracelet and while I love the pieces I just think the 10 motif YG guilloche is too shiny and I would not get enough daily wear out of the piece were the hammered is something I feel personally more comfortable wearing with jeans. It comes down to personal taste. I am just going to keep purchasing other pieces that I am in love with to continue to curate my collection while I patiently wait.
Even though online shopping is easy nowadays, I still prefer trying things on to see the cutting and the fit at physical stores before making a purchase. It's a headache for me if I need to return something and need to send it back.
I have spotted a lady pairing the two motif earrings with a summer dress and it doesn't look out of place so it can be dressed down but sometimes I walk very fast and the dangling earrings will get in the way if I walk fast. If your kids are toddlers, you might need to run around with them so two motif can be a bit inconvenient.
Rolex is really loud and that's why I am happy with my Longines. They are of good quality and worry free if worn to travel trips and at retirement years because at older age, I really don't want to worry someone robbing my expensive watch. At older age, I don't think I can have enough energy to chase after a robber if my Rolex got stolen. Even though Rolex is really a good quality brand, I still don't see myself wear one. However, I do have a high end brand in mind that offer a model that looks like is from a mid tier brand that got sold at watch chain stores.
Seems like a lot of people in my city are shying away from loud logos or brands at work because I spotted lots of Hermes bag in mini model and Rolex that looks like brand new when I went to Disneyland. I went only with my backpack. I had no idea people wear brands only at weekends or to special events or locations. For me, I don't reserve things to be worn for special occasions because it's not cost effective.
Hermes's jewellery is very shiny. My colleagues have some of their jewellery pieces. Maybe they are also recognisable.
Some people never understand the appeal of buying luxury goods or just expect how others should live life. Some still think that people buying luxury goods are sacrificing healthy diets or healthy lifestyle. They still think that people eat cup noodles every day to save up for luxury goods. Lol.
Nowadays, I think buying branded items without the iconic logos is the way to go because it helps to avoid the trendy elements. I will still buy some Alhambra I think but I will try to focus more on other vca collections.
Does anyone know if merchandise credit can be used towards an online order or purchase at different VCA boutique that isn’t your home store?
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I asked today at a VCA store (stand-alone) if I could look their other 5 MOP bracelets (white MOP) other than the one on display and I was told no, that it was the only one they had in store (due to supply chain issues). It's fine, because I loved the piece and it itself was beautiful. I could understand if it was something relatively hard to find like hammered gold. Is this normal at a VCA store?
I think it's becoming more of a norm now that they only have what is on display... Specially popular items like mop I find they never have in stock anymore
This is pretty normal now. Unless you get lucky and they happen to have better stock of something that day/week, most pieces don't have a ton of options in at one time (if they are there at all!). Gone are the days of going into a VCA boutique and being able to try on a tray of several different pieces in one stone (or at least that is a rare occurrence now.)
Earrings in particular seem to have been lower in stock lately for whatever reason.
Congratulations on your bracelet!