February 13, 2008
There is this Ann Taylor at the mall here in B'ham (Galleria) that has always been the strangest place. For several years their sales associates were icy and snobby, which cracked me up since it is just a CHAIN clothing store, not a high-end boutique, and while I find their prices to be too high, if you compare them with a wide range of clothing stores, they aren't particularly pricey in comparison. Clothes in general are just a ridiculous rip-off.
A while back, the store moved to a different space in the mall, and since then, their sales associates vigorously attack every customer who walks in the store. I have been asked if I needed any assistance about five times in two minutes. Once by an associate who looked like she ran into a vat of blue eye shadow. I was in too much surprise and had to look away quickly so I wouldn't laugh out loud. When I'm shopping, if I am accosted every thirty seconds, it is not possible for me to focus on the store's products long enough to decide if I have any interest.
So, after being asked if I need any help five times by three different women, I am trying to look at some clothes and garner enough concentration to decide if there is something I want to try on. I chose a few items and one associate again vigorously assisted me by taking these clothes to the dressing room. You'd think they were wanting tips. I tried the clothes on, and more often than not, Ann Taylor's clothes do not fit me right. My measurements are different from theirs. So there is this one sweater that does fit and look good, and I decide to buy it. It is on sale. I take it to the register, where the sales associate treats me icily because I am apparently not spending enough money for her approval.
I can't think of a single person on the planet who would enjoy being treated like a machine that spits out money, and if the money is not coming out, then the machine is a piece of crap which should be discarded immediately.
I will not go back to that store again.
Posted by megabeth at February 13, 2008 03:40 PM
I think this sums up why I loathe shopping. I like the quality of their clothes when they fit and will buy them when they are on sale. But I cannot stand the bipolar sales people who are either too eager and pushy or they treat you like mud that came in on their shoe.
Posted by: A at February 13, 2008 04:36 PM
When I tried on a dress at Ann Taylor one time, the saleslady, who had not been helping me and whom I had not asked for an opinion, told me that the dress didn't do much for me. Then she walked off - didn't offer to get me a different dress or color or anything. Weirdos.
Posted by: dorothea at February 14, 2008 07:58 AM
Never been there, but have walked by our local one. Usually the move indicates not enough business at the other part of the mall for some reason, so go to a cheaper spot. Change in salespeople - probably got lit up about sales and told to help people and ride them to buy stuff with extra "help." The icy attitude at the register was due to you not paying enough and the cashier probably knew this was another bad sales transaction. They may have even been told all sales need to average $X for a day or else.
Posted by: Outlaw3 at February 14, 2008 08:47 AM
So, if you consistently get bad/unacceptable service why do you go back? Continuing to patronize a business just reinforces their sales policies and insures you will get the standard, sub-standard service on every visit.
Don't accept poor service.
Posted by: Shadowhelm at February 14, 2008 09:21 AM
It sounds like the sales associate took a career that does not do much for her either.
I wouldn't call it 'bad service'. They are certainly being helpful. A better description would be 'biased, overzealous service'.
The Ann Taylor at the Summit is not like this. Nor is Ann Taylor loft. Clearly not the same store management.
Posted by: megabeth at February 14, 2008 09:25 AM
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