What are your best and worst experiences at a Chanel boutique?

[sydsunshine]

Chanel or LV employees who act like

Side note: I like to remind myself that we’re all human and everyone has off days. Patience and kindness go a very long way, I always thank them for helping even if not buying.

yes I think that goes without saying. Be kind and polite, do unto others what you want others to do unto you. I thank everyone, including the guy at Kmart when I walk out. Even he’s more polite than my experience at a boutique store.

My issue is with those CAs that immediately judge you because of your age/race/appearance, act as if they are part owners of Chanel or relatives with Bernard Arnault. That’s not an excuse for having a bad day.

Many of us who shop in these boutiques earn more than these glorified sales associates earn. But we won’t in our daily lives, treat and judge strangers in that way.

 

[cpr34]

I live in Indonesia, and the boutique in Jakarta and Singapore always provide excellant services.
The SA in Singapore always offer to serve drinks to us while we browsed (whereas I have to ask for water myself while in my home country). And each time I bought a bag in both countries, the SAs were always willing to show me all the stock they have so that I can choose the one I like best.

So when I went to Paris in November 2019, I was really disappointed by the treatment I received there. I can't say I didn't hear the rumors but to experience myself was really quite a bummer.
When I was at the Rue Cambon store, I waited for like 20 minutes standing in the store and still no one offered to help me. I had to practically go up to the idling SAs who were just standing around doing nothing, and asked if someone could actually help me coz I was looking to buy a bag. Once one of them offered to actually help me, she was quite helpful, but I won't say friendly or nice - just adequate. I ended up only buying a cardholder from the Rue Cambon store and I was also quite shocked when she refused to show me another new one when the new one one she brought out to me had some flaws in it. She kept saying, "Mam, this is brand new. I just took it out from the back." I ended up buying the one they had on display instead.

However, when I went to the store in Bon Marche, the SA there was really lovely! She was really friendly and really did her best to show me everything that I wanted to see. I ended up buying a mini tweed bag from there, but somehow the difference in the service between the Bon Marche store and the flagship store still amazes me till this day.

 

[Blackgoldpearls]

Reading some of these stories made my heart sink!

I have had some bad experiences at Chanel before, but wonderful ones now.

I had the worst Chanel experience when I was first trying to get into the brand 12 years ago. I walked into a boutique clueless. I was looking around, and no one would help me. I think I stood around for 45 minutes, and I didn't have the courage to say anything. I felt so uncomfortable that I walked out. Several months later, I went back in and met an amazing SA. From there, I got to know all the other SAs, and then I always had a great experience there. I look back at those times and think, "Why did I go back when they ignored me?" But I guess the pull and the attraction to the brand kept me going.

When I was visiting Paris 5 years ago, I walked into the Rue Cambon store. It was quite dead, and I got paired with an SA very quickly. She wasn't really friendly, but nice enough with some rude comments here and there. When I asked her if she had any black jackets, she said, "Of course we do; we are the main store." I will always remember that. Then I thought to myself, is it because Europeans are more forward? Maybe what she is saying is getting lost in translation because English isn't her first language. But once she saw that I was purchasing quite a few things, the champagne came and the attitude changed. I never went back there. Every time I visit Paris, I avoid that store.

The Bon Marche store is the best in Paris. I met a lovely lady there who was so helpful. I was looking for a specific item, and she said they didn't have it in stock at that store, but she looked up who had it in the system and gave me a list! That's amazing service!

My favorite store is the one I currently visit. I absolutely love my SA. We get along wonderfully, and I get along with all the SAs at that boutique. They are always helpful, and I have never had a bad experience there. I never feel rushed and honestly, visiting the boutique feels like going to a friend's house. I look forward to my shopping trips there.

Some SAs feel like they have the golden key and make the clients go through hoops to obtain their items. At the end of the day, the client is spending a lot of money and deserves great service. If you feel like you are being treated poorly, I would say something to the GM if it was that bad. I wish this was something I did when I was younger. It's not right to be treated like poo when you are spending obscene amounts of money! Sorry for the rant, too. My advice to anyone who gets rude service is it really depends on who you meet. If you get a rude SA, just go to another one next time. You don't have to deal with that! If you ever get to rate your service, be honest and tell them your experience. They are there to give you a great experience and not judge you. Just because you don't spend money like The Real Housewives doesn't mean you don't deserve that Chanel Experience. With that said, everyone has bad days. If the SA you meet is consecutively being rude, cut them off and move on to the next.

But the worst customer service I have EVER encountered was at a Gucci store (twice) and a Hermes store(once). There, I really felt small, insignificant, and completely ignored, but that's another thread, lol.

 

[Lacquerista]

When I was visiting Paris 5 years ago, I walked into the Rue Cambon store. It was quite dead, and I got paired with an SA very quickly. She wasn't really friendly, but nice enough with some rude comments here and there. When I asked her if she had any black jackets, she said, "Of course we do; we are the main store." I will always remember that. Then I thought to myself, is it because Europeans are more forward? Maybe what she is saying is getting lost in translation because English isn't her first language. But once she saw that I was purchasing quite a few things, the champagne came and the attitude changed. I never went back there. Every time I visit Paris, I avoid that store.

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if were handled by the same lady in Rue Cambon!

After that incident I thought that a prickly SA came with the territory of buying luxury, but after meeting some lovely SAs in Dior (the one in Barcelona even brought the most delicious macarons and refreshments, and it was my first time buying from her!) and Chanel (I remember one SA in Hong Kong had sent us off with more water because it was really hot outside) etc, I realised that it was just the Rue Cambon store that was an experience in itself!

 

[thebagqueen]

None of my Chanel boutique experiences have been great, but my worst happened recently at the Chanel boutique in Neimans in Atlanta. Waited around an hour for someone to help me, even though I called ahead. but I was already there at that point and really wanted to see a few items in person. I asked about a black reissue w/ ghw and referred to the size as 226 which clearly offended her, as she preceded to rudely and condescendingly correct me that it’s not a 226, they are all 225 (she meant to say 2.55) and give me her long-winded history of the reissue, and then walk away.

maybe it’s b/c a look a bit younger than I am and wasnt super fancily dressed, but I was wearing my 225 so it’s not like I’m unfamiliar with the brand. I ended up going over to Hermès where I met an incredibly polite SA, who was very helpful even though all I was buying was a bracelet.

I really don’t think I’ll visit the Chanel boutiques anymore. i don’t expect anyone to roll out the red carpet or drop champagne and rose petals for their clients, but the least they could do is be pleasant.

 

[bkee]

Reading some of these stories made my heart sink!

I have had some bad experiences at Chanel before, but wonderful ones now.

I had the worst Chanel experience when I was first trying to get into the brand 12 years ago. I walked into a boutique clueless. I was looking around, and no one would help me. I think I stood around for 45 minutes, and I didn't have the courage to say anything. I felt so uncomfortable that I walked out. Several months later, I went back in and met an amazing SA. From there, I got to know all the other SAs, and then I always had a great experience there. I look back at those times and think, "Why did I go back when they ignored me?" But I guess the pull and the attraction to the brand kept me going.

When I was visiting Paris 5 years ago, I walked into the Rue Cambon store. It was quite dead, and I got paired with an SA very quickly. She wasn't really friendly, but nice enough with some rude comments here and there. When I asked her if she had any black jackets, she said, "Of course we do; we are the main store." I will always remember that. Then I thought to myself, is it because Europeans are more forward? Maybe what she is saying is getting lost in translation because English isn't her first language. But once she saw that I was purchasing quite a few things, the champagne came and the attitude changed. I never went back there. Every time I visit Paris, I avoid that store.

The Bon Marche store is the best in Paris. I met a lovely lady there who was so helpful. I was looking for a specific item, and she said they didn't have it in stock at that store, but she looked up who had it in the system and gave me a list! That's amazing service!

My favorite store is the one I currently visit. I absolutely love my SA. We get along wonderfully, and I get along with all the SAs at that boutique. They are always helpful, and I have never had a bad experience there. I never feel rushed and honestly, visiting the boutique feels like going to a friend's house. I look forward to my shopping trips there.

Some SAs feel like they have the golden key and make the clients go through hoops to obtain their items. At the end of the day, the client is spending a lot of money and deserves great service. If you feel like you are being treated poorly, I would say something to the GM if it was that bad. I wish this was something I did when I was younger. It's not right to be treated like poo when you are spending obscene amounts of money! Sorry for the rant, too. My advice to anyone who gets rude service is it really depends on who you meet. If you get a rude SA, just go to another one next time. You don't have to deal with that! If you ever get to rate your service, be honest and tell them your experience. They are there to give you a great experience and not judge you. Just because you don't spend money like The Real Housewives doesn't mean you don't deserve that Chanel Experience. With that said, everyone has bad days. If the SA you meet is consecutively being rude, cut them off and move on to the next.

But the worst customer service I have EVER encountered was at a Gucci store (twice) and a Hermes store(once). There, I really felt small, insignificant, and completely ignored, but that's another thread, lol.

Oh I definitely agree with the Hermes store, they made me feel like I’m not worthy of their brand.

I’ve visited 4 different stores to find a specific bag, I am opened to many colors, one of the SAs made me believe she has that bag available and had me pick out other things that I do not really need so that I could buy the bag, I get it, that’s the game here in HK, I bought some baby things and some shoes. She made me pay for those things first and then told me the bag will arrive next week, and she will call me. Guess what, no call. When I asked her if the bag will be available soon, she said no. I never ever want to spend another dollar buying anything Hermes. Such ****ty game they play. Never understood why one has to buy a bunch of useless things to get a bag he/she wants.

Sorry, I know this is meant for Chanel shopping experiences, but just had to

 

[Redenkeew]

Many of us who shop in these boutiques earn more than these glorified sales associates earn.

I'm not sure what you are trying to achieve by saying this. You earn more so you're better than "these glorified sales associates"?

 

[xforeverlove11]

I'm not sure what you are trying to achieve by saying this. You earn more so you're better than "these glorified sales associates"?

I think she's trying to point out the irony in those snobby pretentious SAs who looks down on several customers who walk in like they are not worthy of the brand or cannot afford it hence the snubbing but in reality they are [financially] worse off then the people they treat like crap.

 

[sydsunshine]

I'm not sure what you are trying to achieve by saying this. You earn more so you're better than "these glorified sales associates"?

Absolutely not, don’t cherry pick on one quote without reading my whole paragraph in context!

I said it before, and I’ll say it again. Regardless of where we work and who we are, we are decent human beings, should not judge strangers based on age/race/appearance.

So why should these SAs have a free card for being so darn rude and pretentious to us like we can’t afford it? Even if we may earn more than them, we never judge them on their income level, but with basic kindness and respect as a stranger would.

Chanel or LV employees who act like


yes I think that goes without saying. Be kind and polite, do unto others what you want others to do unto you. I thank everyone, including the guy at Kmart when I walk out. Even he’s more polite than my experience at a boutique store.

My issue is with those CAs that immediately judge you because of your age/race/appearance, act as if they are part owners of Chanel or relatives with Bernard Arnault. That’s not an excuse for having a bad day.

Many of us who shop in these boutiques earn more than these glorified sales associates earn. But we won’t in our daily lives, treat and judge strangers in that way.

 

[Blackgoldpearls]

Yes, we all want to be treated with decency. I always try to be courteous, kind, and well mannered to anyone and everyone, which my parents taught me. I always try to treat people with respect and decency, even when people are rude to me. Even then, most of the time, I shrug it off as I don't need that negative energy. I think the only time I get really upset with when people treat my elderly parents with disrespect, and then I feel like I need to defend them, lol.

When I had those terrible Chanel experiences (and the Gucci and Hermes one), I really felt so small and unworthy of even stepping foot into the boutique/store, like I wasn't cool enough to be a part of that club. No one deserves to feel like that - it's kind of like bullying in high school. But it really does depend on your SA. I can't stress that enough.

The best advice I can give anyone is if you get a rude SA, just go to the next one. You don't have loyalty to an SA that you meet once. Be courteous and nice and be the bigger person and move on. Your money/commission will go to someone with who you can have a good relationship with! I have wonderful SAs in all the stores I shop in now, and it's true, there is nothing like a luxury shopping experience if you have the right SA!

I am sorry to read these many horror stories on this thread, and I do hope all of you find a wonderful SA

 

[sweetpea_2009]

None of my Chanel boutique experiences have been great, but my worst happened recently at the Chanel boutique in Neimans in Atlanta. Waited around an hour for someone to help me, even though I called ahead. but I was already there at that point and really wanted to see a few items in person. I asked about a black reissue w/ ghw and referred to the size as 226 which clearly offended her, as she preceded to rudely and condescendingly correct me that it’s not a 226, they are all 225 (she meant to say 2.55) and give me her long-winded history of the reissue, and then walk away.

maybe it’s b/c a look a bit younger than I am and wasnt super fancily dressed, but I was wearing my 225 so it’s not like I’m unfamiliar with the brand. I ended up going over to Hermès where I met an incredibly polite SA, who was very helpful even though all I was buying was a bracelet.

I really don’t think I’ll visit the Chanel boutiques anymore. i don’t expect anyone to roll out the red carpet or drop champagne and rose petals for their clients, but the least they could do is be pleasant.

I hate to hear that you had such a terrible experience at that NM location at Lenox. I used to go to that particular location. There are some nice SAs there and some that aren't. I don't understand the attitude that some sales associates have (regardless of the retailer). As a customer you are there to spend money so why not be nice and get a sale? Now instead of getting a repeat customer she potentially drove you away from the brand. Great customer service is hard to find these days and that's a shame.

 

[sweetpea_2009]

Yes, we all want to be treated with decency. I always try to be courteous, kind, and well mannered to anyone and everyone, which my parents taught me. I always try to treat people with respect and decency, even when people are rude to me. Even then, most of the time, I shrug it off as I don't need that negative energy. I think the only time I get really upset with when people treat my elderly parents with disrespect, and then I feel like I need to defend them, lol.

When I had those terrible Chanel experiences (and the Gucci and Hermes one), I really felt so small and unworthy of even stepping foot into the boutique/store, like I wasn't cool enough to be a part of that club. No one deserves to feel like that - it's kind of like bullying in high school. But it really does depend on your SA. I can't stress that enough.

The best advice I can give anyone is if you get a rude SA, just go to the next one. You don't have loyalty to an SA that you meet once. Be courteous and nice and be the bigger person and move on. Your money/commission will go to someone with who you can have a good relationship with! I have wonderful SAs in all the stores I shop in now, and it's true, there is nothing like a luxury shopping experience if you have the right SA!

I am sorry to read these many horror stories on this thread, and I do hope all of you find a wonderful SA

100% THIS! Couldn't agree more!

 

[fdc]

I feel lucky to find a very helpful and caring SA now after many one-off purely “transactional” visits at Chanel.

I’ve met some uninformed SAs, for example one who took mini rectangle for mini square (he’s French and I think he doesn’t know what square means in English). I’m mostly annoyed by guards inside Chanel who follow and observe me all the time as if I’m gonna steal something from them, at the end that’s their job but could they do that more discreetly?

 

[dotty8]

Hmm, nothing really stood out (positively or negatively)... Mostly all of the visits have been pleasant... But if I must choose, the least nice male SA was in Vienna, when I was deciding whether I prefer the small or M/L classic flap... he thought I was some kind of teenager (but even I was, so what ) and was quite impatient with my deciding, crushing the protective paper in the box and grinning impatiently, lol. But then again, my only not so pleasant experience in LV was also in Austria (Salzburg), while in all other luxury boutiques in Italy and France we always get along perfectly, like old friends... maybe it is some cultural trait (not to offend anyone, but it seems that Italian and French people are more approachable)

While on the other hand, the nicest Chanel SA (here name was Debra, I believe) was in Venice a couple of years ago when I was only browsing, but they had a quiet day (just after the carnival when there are less tourists usually) and she decided to take me on a tour through the store and show me everything, from clothes to accessories I had a pleasant experience also in Milan when I was shopping with my Mom for Chanel bracelets and an older female SA remembered us from the last visit months ago

 

[jascharess]

My worse experience was here in the sydney Australian stores. It was with an European SA that came over and work in Australian store. Both in LV and Chanel.

This experience two weeks ago, was traumatising and so condescending, I don’t want to recall the experience. I now refuse to buy in the Australian boutiques anymore. I prefer to shop in Singapore and HK boutiques, the service is much better there.

Sadly, I share your feelings. My worst experience was in the Perth, Western Australia store. I was served by Caroline the manager and I left the store physically ill. Honestly, I nearly threw up on the pavement outside. I’ve never been made to feel so pathetic in my life - except when I was younger and bullied for having slanty eyes and a flat nose.