Fashion + Beauty
Thursday, December 10, 2009
How NOT to Feel Like a Loser at Saks
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- by Suzanne, on Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:05am PST
Is it just me, or does anybody else feel like they stick out like a
sore thumb when browsing the racks at Saks Fifth Avenue? It’s
almost as if an invisible sensor at the door alerts the entire
planet that some poor schmuck from the wrong side of the mall has
accidentally wandered into a store that she clearly doesn’t belong
in.
It’s not that
anybody else makes me feel like a loser, I
self-impose that lack of worthiness
all by myself.
And with that lowered self-esteem comes a heightened sensitivity,
so every side-glance I get
feels like a knowing look (i.e.
they know I should be shopping at Macy’s instead).
I know, I know...my shrink and I need to tackle those nasty
self-esteem issues. But until then, I’ve developed a few
strategies to diminish the size of the big “L” that I’m pretty sure
is planted up there on my forehead whenever I muster up enough
confidence to shop at Saks:
- Always check your clothes before entering Saks for stains, pet
hair, applesauce, spit up. Click
here for some great on-the-go stain removal tips.
- Apparently, it’s not likely that a price tag has a typo, so
don’t ask the salesclerk if the decimal is misplaced (i.e., I
mean, this hoodie should be $30, right?).
- Always act like you’ve got lots of experience fondling $2000
handbags. For instance, don’t poke it with your finger like
you’re trying to determine if it’s alive after it accidentally flew
into your sliding glass door and landed on the counter at
Saks.
- Don’t go to every make-up counter and ask for free
samples. (I had to learn this one the hard way).
- If you happen to accidentally wander into the uber expensive
designer section - don’t panic. Slowly count to 10, catch
your breath, and carefully place one foot in front of the other as
you make your way out of the danger zone.
- Spot a price tag that’s clearly out of your range (except maybe
if you’re shopping for a car)? No worries, this is a perfect
time to use that poker face you're so good at. But
whatever you do, don’t gasp loudly enough for anyone to hear,
prompting them to ask, “Are you alright?”
- Smile a lot. Not in a, Oh my gosh, I can’t believe
how beautiful it is in here, kind of way, but more of a,
I'm happy to open my wallet and dump all of its contents
directly into your register, kind of way.
- Make eye contact with the salesclerks and respond nicely when
they ask if they can help you. Don't mumble and stand up
straight. Be sweet and charming and people will be drawn to
you…big “L” on your forehead notwithstanding:)
~tcb
www.thatcoolbroad.com
Related: shopping, self-esteem
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Posted by opiniononly Wed Nov 12, 2008 1:40pm PST
Not speaking of Saks specifically, but the racial profiling of customers is far worse than any perceived slight from sales persons who don't think we fit their ideal customer profile. As Julia Roberts said to the snotty boutique clerk in Pretty Woman.."You work on commission. Big mistake, huge!" So very true, no matter what color or how far out of our price range we are if we visit those stores.
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Posted by 80'sgirl Wed Nov 12, 2008 2:07pm PST
I'm a latin girl born and raised in san francisco. Once when I was younger my mom and i went to Macy's and she wanted to look at makeup, the salesgirls totally ignored us so being the smart ass i am i said,
"Come on mom lets shop somewhere else, too many bitches work here."
The manager came up and I snitched on the snots behind the counter.
They lost a huge sale that day.
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Posted by GentilleChanteuse Wed Nov 12, 2008 2:09pm PST
i never go into Saks coz i know i won't be able to afford anything in there. Macy's is more my kind of department store.
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Posted by Wed Nov 12, 2008 3:18pm PST
I hate to admit it but I dress like a homeless person (not really that bad) when I shop in higher end stores. It usually means that the commission hungry high heeled brigade will leave me alone! When I am finished shopping I will pick the least offended (the one who didn't look down her nose at me or the none who actually smiled at me) sales clerk and give her my purchases. As she is ringing them up I make sure to tell the person who looks as if they are in charge that I was rudely treated by everyone in the store except for the one who was ringing up my purchase. It is usually worth about 10% off. It won't hurt the girl who is ringing me up and it won't be a mark on her as a salesperson and I get the 10% off.
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Posted by Wed Nov 12, 2008 5:00pm PST
I have worked retail in high and low end markets (perfume, cosmetics, clothing and shoes) and the one thing that I have learned in my experience is not to judge a book by it's cover. Some of my biggest ticket sales came from women (and men) who came into my store wearing track suits and flip flops. As a salesperson, I never discriminated because you just do not know people and what their means consist of.
Having said that, as a customer going into a store where you would need to remortgage your house to afford anything, it is all about confidence and just being yourself. If you give off the aura that you don't "belong in this store" then others will pick up on it. The last thing you should do is be someone you aren't in a store. That is when the salespeople will look at you, because they are wondering what your problem is.
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Posted by rglo820 Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:03am PST
I worked at a department store makeup counter when I was in college and the only customers I was every snobby to were the ones who walked up and demanded a free makeover or a handful of samples. We worked on commission, and while there may have been a time or two when I lost out on a big sale, I never lost any sleep over it. I more than made up for it in ringing up five or six other sales in the time it would have taken to do a full application for someone who was only going to buy the lipstick, if that.
I shop at Saks and stores like it often and I tend to avoid excessive smiling. I don't think it affects the staff's appraisals of you favorably. The people who are about to open their wallets and drop a wad of cash are the ones aren't walking around grinning, they're looking at things thoughtfully. I would say that having an air of determination helps. If you carry yourself like you own the place - not in a haughty way but in a confident, self-assured way (here's where the looking like a million bucks comes in) - then salespeople will treat you with respect. It's not really that difficult.
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Posted by MaggeM Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:17am PST
Just remember... they're making a bit above minimum wage, and they are there to serve YOU! You may need to remind them of that from time to time.
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Posted by Lynzee Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:09pm PST
LOVE the post. So glad to know that its just not me.
(I once just walked THROUGH a Saks, to get from the parking deck to inside the mall and I felt uncomfortable... I was only in there for 2 mins tops!)
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Posted by beach flamingo Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:28pm PST
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN!!! I TEND TO THINK OF MYSELF AS A CLASSY GIRL BUT WHEN I GO INTO STORES LIKE THAT NO MATTER WHAT IM WEARING I FEEL AS IF IM WEARING BUMMY SWEAT PANTS AND AN OLD SWEAT SHIRT!!!IM WONDERING IF THEY ARE THINKING WHAT IS SHE DOING IN HERE?
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Posted by Susan Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:41am PST
Oh my gosh, the rare times I have gone into a higher-end clothing store, I always feel silly because I know I can't afford anything there. Especially if I'm dressed down. If I am dressed nicely I don't feel as much like a "loser" - I think the salespeople think I didn't buy anything because I simply didn't find anything I like - not because I couldn't afford it! I know they are "just sales clerks" (I don't mean that rudely), so I shouldn't feel intimidated by them, but I still do a little, just because it's a nice and expensive store. I definately feel a little out of place in nicer stores. I feel better at Target, except when a cartload of whining kids bumps into me.
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