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I decided, against my better judgement, to go into a jewelry store tosee about getting a pair of earrings. I can't wear super tight clothes because I just had surgery so I am wearing loose black pants and a shirt. Not the nicest clothes but I also wasn't a slob. The people took one look at me, scowled and refused to help me with a purchase. It was like that scene from Pretty Woman. It was so hurtful.
This has happened at every jeweler I have gone to except 2. Jared's and the place I went today were the worst. If I wear anything that isn't a business suit I get treated like absolute shit. God forbid I wear jeans. I got so upset at how they treated me that I pulled the cash I had taken out of my bank to pay for the earrings (just in case they wanted a down payment right then I wanted to be prepared) and yelled "Well I have all this money, but obviously no one here wants it!"
They tried to follow me out of the store and get me to come back, but seriously. Why must people assume that because I am wearing certain clothes they can treat me like a bum who is only in there to be in air conditioning or something.
Ugh I'm sorry but this was so rude. They were so condescending. I wasn't going to go today because I try to dress nicer when I go to jewelry stores so this doesn't happen, but I couldn't today, but for some strange reason I thought they would actually be nicer since it is a smaller town jeweler and not a big name like Jared's. They need the good word of mouth. I don't even want earrings anymore...
Wow, I have never had that happen to me before, even when I've walked in wearing sweat pants!! I pretty much exclusively shop at Kay's or Edward Arthur
@Corilee13: Aw, I'm so sorry :( I've seen your posts about trying to choose earrings so I know it was important.
I chose my own e-ring after the proposal, and when I went into Jared's they were very nice- until I told them I wanted to look at the least expensive rings, and I didn't mind if they were smaller. Suddenly I was treated as though they couldn't wait for me to leave. This happened at a few other places too.
I did find a jeweler (sort of local, they have 5 stores around this area of the state) that treated me wonderfully even while showing me the smallest diamonds in the store. I'm sure there will be somewhere that would love to have you as their customer :) I hope you find it soon!
This was a local jeweler with an awesome reputation. I talked to the owner/jewelry designer on the phone yesterday and he was very nice and encouraging that they could do the project. When I got there, totally different story.
Sorry, that sucks. They really should know better if they are in that business that you dont judge. I've never really noticed that happening to me either though and I'm always in jeans and T shirt when I shop, and I dont wear make up, so I definitely dont look done up.
Never has happened to me and my E ring and wedding band is from Jared. In fact right before we got married. I went in to Jarred to have my e ring buffed and was not wearing the best of clothes and they helped me out with no qualms
YES YES YES!!!
I went in my work clothes and got ignored left, right and centre.
I FINALLY got some good service one day and I told the woman, "Do you know I've been coming to this store regularly for TWO YEARS and you are the FIRST person to help me? The FIRST???"
She was absolutely mortified.
I wasn't ignored. It was worse. When I walked in to the store the girl behind the counter asked what I wanted. Not "How can I help you?" "Can I help you find something?" It was "What do you want?". I explained to her that I had spoken to the owner/designer yesterday over the phone about getting a pair of earrings made and before I even finished she snapped "You know things like that cost money right?" I gave her a very confused look and just said "Yes.." She then told me I should probably go to Clair's (for those who don't know Clair's is a place for cheap costume jewelry, not sure if it's country or world wide) since they have things more in my price range. That is when I pulled out my money and said what I said. It was awful.
Omg that is awful. I've been snubbed before, but never so blatantly. It's definitely something that I find does happen in jewelry stores. I'm not really sure why, I find that people of any socio-economic status spend their money, whether they should or not, on jewelry. So why assume you won't make money on someone on the basis of their- anything! I hate ignorance. It's impossible to combat entirely but I definitely do my best!
Wow. I am so sorry.
I would call the owner right away and tell him what happened, tell him you will not be returning, and you will be passing this experience on to everyone you know. Usually businesses don't care so much about "feelings", but they do care about their business being badmouthed.
I do know what Claire's is, and my eyes literally bugged out of my head when I read what she said to you! I can't believe that.
Oh, I am so glad you showed them the money and walked out! I HATE the way those haughty, snobby, ugly ass women in their stick-up-ass suits act when someone walks in the store not dressed to the nines. Not everyone has time to get all decked out for a quick trip to the jewelry store! I have been treated like this while shopping, but not at a jewelry store.
Victoria's Secret is the WORST. Just as bad as a jewelry store, IMO. When you walk in, if you aren't dressed in your finest apparel (and if you look even remotely young) the sales lady will walk up to you with her nose in the air and say, "Can I help you?" When you tell her you're just looking, she will walk away. But, for the rest of your time in the store, anytime you turn around, she will be lurking just feet behind you.
I don't shop there anymore because of it.
@Corilee13: Oh my gosh, seriously - your last post is a mind boggle to me. Honestly, I am in sales (not jewelery)... and a sale is a sale!!! Any sale is better than no sale. I don't care if they are green or purple, wearing jeans or sweats and what the price range is - I want to sell it!
Clearly with the ecomony with the shape that it's in, it's hard to believe those people have jobs.
For the record. My e-ring and soon to be wedding band (+ FI's) is from Jared. I was just in there with jeans and a Chevelle t-shirt with no problems. Obviously, there is a zillion Jareds, so many are good (imo).
@soon2bhis: Yeah, this thread was a problem for me, too!
Btw, OP - I would've asked to speak with the manager that helped you on the phone yesterday. As well as fill him in on what happened. Managers need feedback about their employees from customers... unless he's a jerk in person.
@Corilee13: What?? That is really terrible! I have been snubbed before but never like that!
You honestly should call the store management.
Wow, OP I just read your last response. I would have walked out to. Sadly it also comes from customers.
I used to work part time at a retail store about 10 or so ago years. A customer called and asked if we had jogging suits. This was before the pj/ hoodie look was in and I let her know we did not.
She accused me of being racist! Um I don't even know what color your skin considering I was talking to her on the phone. She swore up and down at me on the phone, I kindly let her know that I will not tolerate that language and hung up on her.
I can't even count the times this has happened to us. FI is in construction and went into the jewelery store to buy my e-ring during his lunch break, so I'm guessing in his steel toes and dirty jeans lol. Luckily he was treated great there, but I'm imagining some of the other places we've gone into and how they would react. The both of us usually wear jeans and a hoodie or tee-shirt, nothing fancy when we're doing errands, hanging out on the weekends, etc. When we purchased our first home together 2 years ago, we had more than doubled the square footage of the previous home FI sold, and needed a lot more furniture. WELL you can not imagine the looks, or lack of acknowledgement we received at some of the higher end furniture places, and even some of the cheaper places. We ended up spending over 10 grand on new stuff for the house, BUT only at places where we actually got decent service, and weren't judged on our age or how we dressed.
We've definitely walked out of places who've treated us less than we should be treated. We even spent $200 more on the exact same coffee table somewhere else just because they treated us better.
I know right? I worked in jewelry sales for awhile and I know you CAN'T judge a customer. I had a farmer come in, dirty overalls, boots and all. All the other girls refused to help him because they wanted people who were actually going to buy something so I helped him. That was a $10,000 sale and he paid cash! He didn't finance a dime.
I make good money. I wear what is comfortable, rather than what is expensive and I was ready to pay cash to them because I have it. Seriously.
So the owner called me (he had my number from when I spoke to him yesterday) and apologized up and down for his employee. He even offered me a discount should I choose to purchase from him (my purcahse would have made him a lot of money so he could afford to lose a little). He said he spoke to the employee and she will apologize whenever I want to come in again.
Yeah he SPOKE TO the employee. Not fired. Not wrote up. He spoke to her...
His exact words were "I had a talk with *employee* and she agreed to apologize"
Am I wrong for thinking she needs a little more than a good talking to. And she AGREED to apologize. WTF
I don't care about the discount. I'm not going back.
I can't stand when people are rude, and I'll refuse to buy from them if they are rude to me. I work in food service and I have to put on a happy face while customer after customer is rude to me all day long. And I have never, not once, been rude. So when I go out to spend my hard earned money, I'm not dealing with people who are rude.
I hope you get better service somewhere else because that is unacceptable.
@Corilee13: Good for you for giving them the Pretty Woman retaliation. I'd review them all over the place so everyone knows what a little sh*t he's employing and what he'll let her get away with.
I've had people look me up and down before or follow me around the store thinking I'll try and swipe something. That I can understand. I'm an honest person, but I've worked retail; considering my style and the fact I look younger than I am, I'd probably be keeping an eye on me too. But no one has ever overtly treated me rudely like she treated you. That is just not acceptable, EVER.
I had a regular customer who looked like a crack addict and wore makeup and clothes that would make a prostitute do a double-take. She would come into my store and buy several hundred dollars' worth of merchandise every couple of weeks. I will admit when I first saw her I wondered if she had enough to pay for everything she was putting on the counter, but I NEVER would have said so to her.
@linguo42:Yeah if she had followed me making sure I didn't take any earrings or anything I can understand that. I look like a lot younger than I am (like I get carded for buying rated r movies), I have tattoos, which some people frown upon, and I wasn't dressed the nicest. But to tell me to go to Clair's? I didn't even shop there when I was a teenager (something my grandpa instilled in me).
I just can't believe he did practically NOTHING about it.
And I love the Pretty Woman retaliation. It works every time. "Oh looks at all this money, I hate to keep it but you guys just don't seem to want it" BAM revenge.
I think you should write a review Yelp. Let your neighbors know what happened.
@Jeannine @ Small Chic:I will. There goes there 5 star rating. They have such good reviews too. I guess only people in suits have gone in there...
@Corilee13: Please tell me that this isn't the place that I recommended to you!?!? That is so unlike any experience I've had there... I'm so sorry! That is just beyond excusable!
@mittens111211:NO NO NO NO. I haven't gone to them yet. This was a local place in my town. I haven't been able to make it up to Portland yet this week. I will probably go either tomorrow or Monday.
what's funny is those employees make like 30k a year probably in this economy lol
not to make fun of anyone who makes that amount each year, but i am making fun of people who make that amount and snub customers who don't appear rich.
I know one person in the jewelry industry who makes bank. But I know why. She has the most amazing customer service ever. I've bought most of my jewelry from her.
I may not be RICH but I sure as hell can afford some earrings...
@Corilee13: Ok good! And they are open on Saturday's for limited hours but closed on Monday's.
@Corilee13: Awww... :(
I'll make you earrings! (though, the fanciest they'll be is Swarovski...)
I'm sorry they treated you like that. I hate walking into a store and feeling like that. Though, when FI and I went to Jared, we didnt have any problems, and we were wearing jeans/shorts and t-shirts! Maybe it's the area you live in? Whatever the case, that's totally unacceptable... and people wonder why sales are bad. Take a good look at customer service!
I had this issue when we were first shopping for e-rings. We ended up going to a store that treated me like a princess, despite the fact that I was wearing just jeans and a t-shirt, with no make up. They made me feel like I belonged there...I guess what I am saying is, keep searching for a store that treats you right! (PS Yelp is your friend...give that store a bad review, they deserve it!)
Well poop. Wednesday it is then :P.
I've only been to the one so it could just be that one. It really is a mixed bag with jewelers..
That's so horrible! Some people treated me like that when I was looking for my wedding band, but if they can't treat me nicely, they didn't get my business. Sorry that I was a college student and didn't wear fancy clothes all the time.
Wow that is absolutely terrible. I can't even believe the Claire's comment...WOW.
I get this feeling a lot. I never get anything rude said to me, but I always get ignored (not just at jewelry stores, but in general) because I look younger than I am and don't dress fancy or anything.
I definitely notice a difference at the jewelry store now that my e-ring is on my hand. If I kinda flash it they come over wayyyy faster. Not cool.
They didnt even seem to notice the jewlery I was wearing...usually people treat me better when they see the pieces I own but not these people. They must have thought they were fake or something
I've had this happen. It's always a slap in the face =( A certain very famous jewelry store lost my business because they didn't want to ask me if I needed help... I just stood there for 10 minutes after I found the band I liked and I wanted to see it! I tried to ask 2 different people for help and they walked right by me. No one came so I left! I ended up getting a wedding band at the same store we got my ering which is a local place at the mall and the ladies still say hi everytime they see us in the mall. We made the right choice in the end.
Sent from my Android
its easy to change your clothes and come back into the store but I can't change my skin color! Being AA and living in a mostly white upper class suburb, we have experienced situations like this waaay to often! My FI wanted to pay cash for my e ring at a well known jewelry store and they and they refused him! Asking if the money was dirty! All black people don't sell drugs!When he told me I was so pissed I called corporate and they didn't believe us, so I called the newspaper! They printed a huge story about it. The store denied all accusations of course but refused to turn over any video tape from the day my FI was in the store!
People kept asking why we didn't just let it go...because I refuse to have my son or any kids we have in the future disrespected because they are AA. My ancestors fought to hard and long for us to have to go through this in 2011!
What a b*itch! How weird, whenever FI and I went into jewelry stores we instantly get help even though we both look super young and typically wear jeans and tees.
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