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lilyann


Dooney & Bourke

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Sales associates-who has the best-who doesnt
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I think that your experience really depends on the area in which you live, the type of stores you shop at, and the attitude the store trys to convey to the customer. I shop mall stores and here are the opinions on the ones in my locale:



  1. Nordstrom-By far the best! I like that they will start a dressing room for you, so you arent loaded down with items and can keep your hands free. One person will deal with you, and you are not approached several times after. When you are trying on this person will come back to see how you are doing and get you other sizes. You can ask for a personal shopper that actually has product knowledge and will get you items that will fit your needs and body type. Overall a very comfortable- no-sales- pressure shopping experience.
  2. Express- I have never had a bad shopping experience here. The approach of the sa. is always consistent from beginning to end. Greeting when walk in, let you know their name and ask If need help finding anything in particular.Then when I have selected items will start dressing room for me. I usually have to search down that SA. when I am ready to enter the dressing room- but, thats ok. The only thiong I get sick of hearing is the credit card pitch- But I know they are required to say it- so except it. Will 80% of the time return for sizing help, other questions. Like I say, has always been consistent at the Express I go to.
  3. Banana Republic- Consistently bad. Always someone hanging out at entrance and will get a greeting- but, after that you are on your own! Do not start you a room, ask if you need assistance, then you search down an associate to let you into a room and will never have them return to ask if need other sizes! There is an imbalance between the image they portray- and the service that they give!
  4. Ae- These teenagers in this store are so bored they look like they are going to fall asleep!! But, they are kids- they have this partime job and a million other interests going on at the same time!! From homework to partying. Well, thats what I was doing! I had a job at this age too, but I do have to say, I could never have kept it with this level of disinterest- I worked in restaraunts mainly, none had computers to tell you how much change to give back. Adults (owners) loomed over you at all times, and you would never even think of slacking because their was always another kid putting in an application to work in the same place. You could be so easily replaced! I lived in a very small town- people had to seriously compete for jobs- I think it really gave me a strong work ethic.
  5. Macys- the worst. There is no customer service in the Apparel Department. No approach, no one to assist you to a room, or even in the dressing room for that matter, and no one to get you sizes. I often come out empty handed because I am so frustrated with having to try on clothes, take them off, get my clothes back on, retrieve other sizes- I am exhausted! I recommend that they put a sign up " We are sorry, do not offer customer service, but will be happy to assist you in leaving your $ in our register and getting you out the door."  The absolute worst!!
  6. Gap- Sometimes good, mostly bad. Inconsistent.


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lynnie


Chanel

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Nordstrom- very good


most others- bad- espec. big cheap-ish stores like urban outfitters- i know i'm not paying for the customer service, but would it be *that* hard to have a sales associate on the floor to help start fitting rooms at the very minimum?


Even when its not bad, I HATE finding a SA for a fitting room.  And I hate if they don't check back after 5 mins or so for sizing. 



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Hermes

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* Urban Outfitters - bad - there's just a bunch of young kids working in the one by me and they're so rude.  it's not my fault that your job requires folding all day long.  they act upset that you unfolded something.  argh.


* Anthropologie - it's rare that an SA actually even approaches me in this store.  in one location they're so snotty and stuck up it's unreal.  if the clothes weren't adorable, I wouldn't even go in there.


* Abercrombie - AWFUL.  Bunch of teenagers that are too busy talking to eachother to pay attention to customers.


* Gap - good.  The one nearest my house, I find the SA's are very helpful...always willing to try to find your size or locate it at another store.


* Express - for the most part bad.  I find their SA's mostly annoying.  One big pet peeve about Express is that they always come to the dressing room to see what I'm trying on.  I'm not trying to show you -I'm trying to show my boyfriend and they always butt in.  There is one exception at the store closest to me - they're very helpful and nice.


* Banana - for the most part they're very friend and helpful at the ones near me.



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bluediamond


Dooney & Bourke

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Nordstrom's - EXCELLENT!


Macy's - Does anybody work there?!? I never find anybody on teh floor, nor at the cash registers. I have to track them down or go to another dept to get rung up. Horrible! Shopping here is usually a waste of my time.


AE - Great service, very attentive. Can always find somebody for help, there is always somebody at the fitting rooms managing the area.  The clerks are friendly...love coming here though I never find anythign!


AF - hit and miss. Not very consistent.


VS - great....always somebody on teh floor to help me find my size or start a dressing room.


 


Express - pretty consistent.  Love their FASHION DELIVERY program. Its great!



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dot


Marc Jacobs

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Barneys the BEST BEST BEST BEST BEST BEST.. they make it so easy to surrender your money away! I don't think I have had one bad experience there.

- Saks is off/on. Their cosmetic counters are bad.

- Bendels TERRIBLE! Pushy doesn't even begin to describe them.

- Takashimaya! SO WONDERFUL! They are so nice there. I think they must pump "happy" into the air.

- Express - always good.... and really helpful.

- Anthro - distraught hippie college students.. can't make sense of anything!

- Sephora - always soooooooooooooooooo nice... everyone there is really sweet.

- Macy's depends... some places like in hoisery I have a lot of luck. Shoes.. people are insane and frazzled (don't blame them). Makeup is on and off with counters.

- Adidas store (I went there this weekend and was FLOORED by the knowledge and cs!!).

- Urbn.. they always avoid talking to me!


I generally shop at smaller boutiques because I like the personal service.

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jj


Kate Spade

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Best: a tie between Nordstrom and JCrew.  The SAs are helpful, attentive and nice without ever seeming pushy.


Worst: Macy's.  I too am convinced that NOBODY works there.  So I have a problem with Macy's management for being a bunch of cheap asses who won't hire enough SAs to adequately staff a store.



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Maat


Kenneth Cole

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Best-BCBG. The salespeople there are so helpful. They have customer service down to a science. I walk into the store, someone greets me, then gives me just the right amount of time to look around on my own before approaching me. They always offer to help me find a size or something that will look cute with the skirt I've picked out and if they are out of something, they ALWAYS offer to call other stores for it. They also know just the right time to check in with me when I'm in the fitting room to see if I need other sizes so I'm not annoyed or hanging out of the door hoping someone will come by so I don't have to run across the room half dressed to get another size. One time in college, I really wanted this dress for a formal and it was more than I wanted to spend and the SA marked it as damaged and gave it to me for a big discount. That was really going over and beyond for a customer. They are always friendly. A wonderful shopping experience every time. The only downside is I feel guilty if I don't buy something.


Best-J Crew. Always helpful, never pushy. Always check in to see if I need more sizes and offer to call other stores if they don't have something.


Worst-Macys. I don't think I've ever had someone help me in any department in this store (besides the make-up counters and that's only because they are stuck in one small space). It is hard to find things and always a mess.


Worst-California Sunshine. I've only had one bad experience, but it was bad enough that I've never gone back. Most of the bathing suits there are juniors sizing and I needed bathing suits that were regular women's sizes. I asked one of the SAs where the women's sizes (as opposed to junior's sizes) were and she said they were all women's bathing suits. Then, the other SA said, "No, she means the larger women's sizes" in a snotty way. What really sucked is that I had to buy a bathing suit from there because I had a $100 credit.



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NCshopper


Hermes

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Wow.  This totally goes to show how each store is totally different.  With the exception of Nordstrom.  Every Nordstrom I've ever been in has been awesome.  I think they're the standard bearer for the retail industry.


Gap--decent.  They're not in your face, but not too hard to find either and usually pretty helpful if you need something.


Banana Republic--depends on the store.  Some are amazing and rival Nordstrom.  My local BR here though is pretty average.


Express--worst.  I can never find an SA to open a dressing room for me.  And once I've hunted someone down, they've disappeared shortly after and the dressing rooms are disgusting.


AE--worst.  Their SAs are either pushy or totally non-existant.  I've never seen a level of apathy quite like I've seen at AE.  Their dressing rooms are even more disgusting than Express.  I tried a dress on there the other day and would not take off my shoes to get out of my pants.  Gum wrappers, receipts, tags, stickers, hair, and dust EVERYWHERE.  SO GROSS.


Abercrombie--by far the worst out of the bunch.  I hate that store so much and vow never to go in there again because the customer service is so bad.  They're not helpful, clique-ish, petty, and act pissy an annoyed if you actually oh....I dunno...ask them for some freaking help!!!!!!!  Ugggggggggggggggh!


Okay, rant over now.



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bluediamond


Dooney & Bourke

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Forgot to add my opinion on Sephora: they are very helpful yet they annoy  the crap out of me.


I make it past the entrance and have one SA ask if I am looking for anything, i walk down a few more steps and find somebody else asking me for help, thsi continues until i bascilly just leave. I really cant handle that sort of attention. They have too many people working the floor at all times and they check in with everybody, which means i have about 15 SA's checking on me within 15 minutes.


they dont seem to have a system going on....it might just be me though!


 


 



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