How NOT to sell me a pair of jeans
First, be so engrossed in your conversation with another salesperson that you make me wait until you finish before asking if you can help me.
Then, look at me doubtfully when I tell you that I’d like to try on jeans and that friends and acquaintances have recommended Seven For All Mankind and Citizens of Humanity. Tell me that I can try on a pair if I want, but that all the jeans in this department are low-rise.
Lead me to a rack of jeans and comment that these are the jeans that moms usually buy when they shop in this department.
Don’t ask me my size, but instead grab a few pairs of jeans that you think will fit me based on your unspoken assessment of my size.
Sound very surprised when I tell you that three out of four pairs were far too large, and that the fourth was not only a bit too big, but were distressed across the hip area – something I’d already mentioned I wanted to avoid.
Ignore the four pairs of rejected jeans that I’m holding. Lead me to another rack of jeans and hand me two more pairs. Ask if my dressing room is still open. Head back to the register and get on the phone.
Finally, barely glance up when I leave the department without bothering to say another word to you, which shouldn’t surprise you considering how helpful you’ve been already.
True story. Took place at Nordstrom on Saturday.
February 17th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
And you DIDN’T sigh loudly and muse aloud about how it must be hard to maintain a good attitude when one is frittering one’s youth in a nine-bucks-an-hour-dead-end-retail-job? Or take a razor to their stupid mom jeans?
You’re a better woman than I am.
February 17th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Oooh, how rude. I recommend going to Nordstrom’s website and looking for the Contact Us link, and telling them the story in an email. Bet you get a written apology and some coupons out of it. If you ever want to shop there again, that is.
February 17th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
You’ve got my hackles up with that one and I wasn’t even there!
February 17th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Nordstrom’s? Not surprising. ‘Cause, you know, even though they’re only working the cash register they all feel like they own the place.
February 17th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
“these are the jeans that moms usually buy when they shop in this department.” WTF? Because once you have a kid, you HAVE to wear the Mom Jeans? Is that some Nordstrom law or something?
Geez. That’s infuriating.
Come to DC — there’s a great shop nearby that sells a lot of the high-end jeans, and they’ve got awesome customer service.
February 17th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
Damn! The fabled Nordstrom’s customer service takes a huge hit. How rude.
February 17th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
She clearly was not a ’salesperson’ because they want to make a SALE. Her job title must be ‘customer rejection specialist’.
February 17th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Wow. That’s about the worst customer service I’ve ever heard of.
And what’s up with “mom jeans”? You’re a mom, so therefore you’re only allowed to wear certain styles?
February 17th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
If it had been me (and I’d be really annoyed too) I would write a letter to Nordstrom. Because as a company it really prides itself on good customer service. And you never know, a complaint could get you a little “sorry for our lapse” gift certificate. (Which I’d use in a different department. You can always use more shoes, right?)
February 18th, 2007 at 7:23 am
I seem to attract poor customer service so I nodded in recognition with every step of that horrendous transaction. You are a strong woman for not freaking on that sales persons head. Because I would have gone WACO!
February 18th, 2007 at 9:25 am
And I thought Nordstrom’s was renown for it’s customer service? New York & Co is looking better all the time! Oh, and there is an ad below for Zafu jeans “Find your perfect jean, try the zafu jean finder” – the content related advertising is working!
February 18th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
nordstrom’s is notorious for its shitty customer service. i would NOT recommend a department store for jeans. you will only end up annoyed and jeans-less. suckypants
February 18th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
you need to write and tell oprah. she needs to know this is happening to innocent women in search of jeans like us. (heh!)
February 18th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Who says that good customer service is dead?
February 18th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
That would have royally pissed me off. Some day she’ll understand that just because you’re a mom, doesn’t mean you can’t be sexy or stylish.
February 18th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
When I first moved to Seattle I worked for Nordstrom and this obvious customer dis-service would not have been tolerated. I think that in retail across the board, customer service has taken a hit. If management would pull their heads out of the accounting books trying to cut and manage budgets and pay attention to their sales people and re create customer service, we would all be a happier people, when we do have to go out and shop. Contact them, they can’t change if they don’t know.
February 18th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
“you only work in a shop, you know, so you can drop the attitude.”
–jennifer saunders as edina monsoon, “absolutely fabulous”
funny, i went looking for jeans this weekend, too. only my search ended in disgust at target because they no longer have any “short” levis–only “medium.” we’re not all 5′5″, goddammit…
February 18th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Ugh! You poor thing. Hope you find a pair that makes you look and feel fabulous soon!
February 19th, 2007 at 6:33 am
Oh No! Sorry to hear that. I reccommended Nordstrom and the Seven jeans to you….sorry
I must say that has not been my experience with Nordstrom. I would bet if you let the store manager know, you might get a deal. That “helpful” salesgirl needs a good flogging.
February 19th, 2007 at 6:39 am
Oh hell no. If you’re looking at jeans in that price range, stay away from the department store and hit a store that sells just jeans, like Lucky brand or a boutique. The prices aren’t going to be any higher and you’ll get more personalized and less assy service.
February 19th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Hmm, probably the same hateful trollup that sent me a size 20 dress instead of the size 8 I ordered. What the hell is it with these people? Amen to Mrs. Chicky and the reality that a great number of these women that work at salons and upscale stores think that they are above us when in reality they’re just “the help.”
By the way, I love that the ad down here on bottom is for finding the perfect jeans.
And Mitzi, at 5′10″ I can’t find jeans long enough.
February 19th, 2007 at 9:19 am
I actually had great customer service at Nordstroms when I bought my one-and-only pair of Seven jeans – and the saleschick’s cooing and helpfulness was probably why I caved. Don’t they work on commission? Isn’t it their job to say, “Oh yessss. Your butt looks verrrrry small in that pair. Let me see what other great things I can find for you.” Sheesh. Sorry for your bad experience.
February 19th, 2007 at 11:28 am
This reminds me of the Seinfel with Elaine looking for huraches and received horrendous customer service from the owner.
Sorry about this! If you still feel strongly about it, I would definitely write to management about it. They will not know until alerted.
February 19th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
zafu.com claims they can find the brand(s) of jeans that fit your body best based on a survey. they found 36 brands that supposedly fit me to a T. i plan to test this theory this weekend.
February 19th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Nordstrom’s is interesting. I’ve been pampered there and I’ve been ignored there. And so, I make sure I look as fierce and upscale as possible before setting foot there; otherwise, I am just a nuisance getting in the way of bigger commissions… or so they think.
February 19th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Nordstroms? Wow. I used to love Nordstroms.
I think I’d actually complain; they’re usually much better when it comes to customer service.
February 21st, 2007 at 10:39 am
Ugh. Despite usually getting good service at Nordstrom, I usually feel looked down upon by them. No matter what dept I’m in. Once in the kids shoe dept I was given the hairy eyeball because my 3 yr old twins were, gasp!, pulling shoes off the displays and trying them on. Not making a mess, mind you. Just pulling off pairs of shoes and trying them on.
FWIW, I love my Seven jeans. And I’m a mom.
February 23rd, 2007 at 11:45 pm
Oh, Nordstrom. I usually have a good experience there, but I don’t shop there often. Whenever I get up to the cash register I am surprised anew that they only take cash, check, or the Nordstrom card. This makes no sense, and is obviously just a ploy to seem exclusive.
March 1st, 2007 at 11:40 am
haha! while i was reading this post, i thought to myself, “this sounds like what happened to me at Nordstrom…!”
looks like Nordstom’s got it down pat: making people feel horrible and ashamed. and also–without a pair of jeans to go home with. i’ve given up on the fancy jeans. give me the gap or levi’s.