The weekend before Thanksgiving I was in NYC, and stopped into Saks to buy a tube of Kanebo mascara. The service was seriously so very terrible I almost walked out. First, the guy couldn't find it, then he just stood there and wasn't ringing me up. Instead he tried to sell my sister some skin care stuff even though she said she wasn't interested. She actually said, "no, we'll just take the mascara" meanwhile I'm just standing there with my $35 in my hand. He finally told me he was waiting on an open register. Ok. Fine. Another sales associate sensed my frusteration and led me over to the Clarins counter to ring me up,but passed me to another associate while standing my. The total was given and I haded over my cash and the lady just stared at me. I thought maybe I misheard her and didn't hand her enough money. She tells me. I say okay and eye the cash register. She wants EXACT CHANGE! Apparently, giving me a dollar and some change back is too mcuh work. Then she hands me the mascara, no bag. Hello? I asked for one and she rolled her eyes. The lady that took me over to the Clarins counter went back to get me a bag.
So, a few weeks go by and decide to e-mail the store manager (e-mail address was on the receipt) and spelled out my troubles with their store. It's been over a month and the store manager can't be bothered to e-mail me back.
I know they could have been worse to me, but I just felt so snubbed. So, I am not shopping at Saks any more. Not a big deal since I don't live in NYC, but their is one about 45 minutes away that I sure won't be spending money in anymore.
If I keep swearing off retail stores I'm going to have to start making my own clothes!
I cant stand that there SA act like there better than everyone. Give me a break people, you are sales people.
My saks story-
About 5 years ago my very wealthy grandmother came to visit us. My husband and I took her out for a day of shopping and lunch to a nearby upscale shopping center. DH and I were dressed super causal. Jeans , tees, tennis shoes, sweatshirts. We walk in and my grandmother (who is wearing a fur coat ) wants me to go shop with her in the fur department. So we walk upstaris and the SA sitting at her little desk in furs wont even acknowledge us. My grandmother sees somthing she likes (at 18K price tag) but refuses to try it on bec of how rude they are. So we deciede to leave. 2 body gaurd guys stop us and ARREST my grandmother!!!!! Take her to some room for shoplifting!!! It took them an hour to review the tape and see that her fur coat was HERS and she had worn it into the store!! The SA had called security because as she explained to us "we looked like thieves".
My grandmother recieved a letter of apology in the mail and a $500 GC a few weeks later. BUT she has never gone back to saks since.
Greendiamond, that sucks. I wouldn't count on them getting back to you. From my experience, I'm sure they have tons of complaints rolling in.
Alliegurl, I can't believe your grandmother was arrested by Saks security! Maybe Winona Ryder was innocent? I can't believe the SA told you that you looked like thieves. What a bunch of morons.
My Saks story - years ago when I was just out of college, I moved to a bigger city. I had never been to Saks before. Where I grew up the nicest department store was Von Maur, and I didn't know Saks was more upscale. So, I went shopping to buy a winter coat. I was planning on opening up an account wherever I went and paying up to $400 for a nice, warm coat that would last awhile. I didn't have a lot of money, but I also had no cc debt, so I figured I could pay the coat off over a few months. I was probably wearing jeans and a navy surplus peacoat. What can you do? I just graduated! I didn't have a professional wardrobe.
Anyway, I was eyeing a wool coat. I tried to take it off the rack and the SA came over and freaked out because I almost set off the censor. Seriously, the coat was less than $400 and they had it chained to the rack. I apologized and said I didn't realize it was locked to the rack. The SA said "Oh, I know. There is a first time for everything. This is obviously your first time in a nice store." I let that slide, because at that age I wasn't very confrontational. Then I said, well I don't know it doesn't look too warm. She proceeded to call me stupid, tell me that obviously wool coats will not be as warm as fur or down, and punctuated the end of each sentence with "Duh!" So, I was like, I think I've seen enough and as I was walking away she yelled after me "You would probably be more comfortable in our Women's department. They carry larger sizes." WTF?!? I wasn't thin, but I was far from plus size. I wish it happened to me more recently, because I have grown a backbone since then and would never stand for that shit. Back then, I was just pissed and humiliated and I wanted to get out of there.
i almost wish this would happen to me again, because now i wouldn't put up with it. since the teenyboppers here carry around their parents' platinum CC's, and even the scruffiest of people could very well own the damn mall, the SAs are too afraid to give anyone shit.
WHOA! These stories have my blood boiling right now!
I'm personally not a huge Saks fan and although no one has ever been rude to me there, it's mainly because I find their sales people to be stuck up and unhelpful. Although I certainly understand that image matters and all that, I refuse to believe that the clothes I wear into the store should dictate how SAs treat me. I find that absolutely ridiculous.
i just got back from the one in nyc (a jacket was on hold for me, which i decided i didn't actually need), and man, i can see why you all say it sucks. Everyone just stared me down and seemed really snobby. WTF? You are trying to take MY money- don't act better than me! And the contemporary floor (has marc by marc, etc.) was the cheesiest merchandised place i've EVER seen. It was like macy's at the bad mall. Both the Macy's and Bloomies (and forever 21s!!) in the city are nicer- and i always thought saks was supposed to be a "nice" store. I have no desire to spend $400 on a blazer in a place decorated like one step above a contempo casuals. These stories piss me off sooo much!