Thrifting Queen

Hmmm...maybe not after all

July 30, 2014

I went last night to try on some of the Olsen Europe items I've been lusting after for fall (and driving you all crazy with lately - lol!). I'm afraid I had a very negative shopping experience that has left me not wanting to pursue any of those items.

The SA was pushy to the point of being aggressive and made no change to her behavior even after I asked if she could give me a few moments. When trying on items in the change room, she kept knocking on the door literally every couple of moments to ask to see the item on. I felt like I couldn't breathe or think. And when coming out of the change room for her to have a look, she insisted everything looked fantastic even when I knew the fit was wrong. To use an old expression "she was on me like hair on an ape"!

I finally gave up, left the clothes in the change room and very politely but clearly said that I was not going to purchase anything this evening since I felt too much pressure - then I went to Starbucks. I was literally quivering with anger and anxiety.

A few days ago I went on eBay to my favorite seller's site (the one I have purchased 80% of my EF items from) and put a few goodies on my wish list for fall. I'm thinking of going this route instead. As you know, I absolutely LOVE EF quality and fit for my odd little body. My fave seller has a fabulous return policy and very reasonable shipping costs.Anyway, here are the items I'm having a peek at - anything stand out to you as a good possibility? Not buying anything yet but once I have a wee bit more cash in the Fashion Fund jar, might apply it to something here.

And check out these kinda funky Naot shoes - in case I need to stick with that brand for my fussy feet.

I know I've been a bit of a forum hog lately and I do apologize - just working through a few issues re: dressing, shopping, spending and it's very helpful to post here for feedback. Thank you :)

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Posted in the Shopping category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

26 Comments

  • Nebraskim replied 9 years ago

    Oh my. Sorry you had to endure that. I'm glad you told the SA why you were leaving. Hope it was a learning experience for her but I suspect she'll blame you and not herself. I, too, despise pushy SAs. Interesting how that experience with a front-line associate can ruin a store's reputation. And they wonder why so many of us are opting for on-line now. I like the Naots in 7 and 8 the best. They are very different but I can see either working for your lifestyle. The ones in No. 6 look a tad too high in the heel. but maybe that's just an illusion. Good luck.

  • Janet replied 9 years ago

    Oh, what a disappointment! I really can't stand pushy salespeople, and I don't blame you one bit. 

    But onwards and upwards -- your selections look really nice. I especially like the idea of 1 and 5 for you, and those shoes in 6 are really appealing. 

  • BethL replied 9 years ago

    Oh, ugh, Shannon. I would have done the exact same thing. I'm sorry you had to go through that experience. I really like the EF things you put on your wish list, especially that jacket. You're making me lust after it, too. Are the pants the same ones that are in the NAS? I think they're called Slim Knit Ankle Pants? If so, I just want to warn you that they're longer than ankle length. I'm 5' 5" with longish legs, and mine are probably going to have to come up about an inch to achieve PPL. I don't know how that translates into a petite size. I hope you're able to get some of your things!

  • Jenny H replied 9 years ago

    Ugh, sounds like an awful SA experience. Aggressive SA's drive me batty too.

    I'm no help on the items you are considering as I think they all look lovely!

  • replied 9 years ago

    What an awful experience! That would drive me insane and I'd be shaking too.

    The EF items however look great! I love all the items, so I'm no help but for total enabling :)

  • MsMary replied 9 years ago

    Good grief.  How disappointing and aggravating! 

    Love all the EF items, especially that amazing skirt!!  I'm swooning!!!

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    How annoying! Just goes to show you, life at the Bay -- it's famine (with the regular departments) and shark-tank (with the special departments). I'm being a bit unfair and I don't blame individual SAs (except yours in this case) but honestly -- it's no wonder they lose business. 

    I hate being harassed in stores. It's no way to get me to buy. And if I do buy, I never can feel good about the purchase. 

    I like all those items as possibles and the shoes in 6 look especially good to me. I think the platform probably mitigates the heel. 

  • Kim replied 9 years ago

    How about taking the Olsen stuff over to the regular dept. change rooms, (Olsen has their own change rooms, staff, and cash register, even though they are inside the Bay).  I'd grab some things and head over to the ladies dept. where there's NEVER a salesperson in sight....LOL

  • Nicole D replied 9 years ago

    Kim, that's a great idea!  Or buy it all, try it on at home and return what you don't like.  Good for you for letting the SA know that you felt pressured and that was your reason not to buy...one hopes it may have been a learning experience for her.
    I love that top in 5 also taken with 1,2 and 3.  Not sure about the purple sweater - I think it's just the fuzziness of it for me.  Glad you were able to find a great e bayer.
    BTW:  You don't have an odd little body, lady!  Unless by odd you mean adorable and impeccably dressed.

  • Grey Rainbow replied 9 years ago

    Love the Naot shoes. From what I've seen here they'd all look great on you and with your wardrobe. For the EF items, I have the skirt. It'd surprisingly "structured" for a knit -- a tighter knit, the shirt tail hem, and a very tailored waist despite the elastic all help. Love it and wear it in regular rotation Fall and winter. The purple sweater, tried that when it came out last Fall. Much much shorter and wider IRL than it appeared on any of the stock pics. Neckline higher, sleeves shorter. No drape, stands away from body. Adds bulk to torso. The grey pants are a fabulous heavier weight jersey, comfy and flattering, easy to wear and mix with almost anything. For me, not work wear but wonderful for weekends and cool weather travel.

  • Traci replied 9 years ago

    A coworker has the first pair of shoes you show and they look even better on the foot than they do alone in pics.  I've coveted pair 2 a few times myself now.  All the other items look fantastic for you as well.

  • UmmLila (Lisa) replied 9 years ago

    I'm even less tolerant of salesperson attitude. I was at Barneys in Boston a couple of weeks ago and between one associate clearly examining my shoes and finding them wanting, and another one trying to tell me that "a la nuit" meant jasmine in French (I went in for a new bottle of Le Labo Jasmin 17 and they didn't have it), that was the end of any possibility of me buying anything else.

  • deb replied 9 years ago

    Love, love the purple shoes. What a bummer you could not try on in peace.

  • Alana in Canada replied 9 years ago

    I am so sorry you had such a negative experience. I am no help at all with your picks, though. They are all fabulous--especially the first two pairs of shoes!

  • Debbie replied 9 years ago

    I love the jacket. Think it would be a great piece.

  • replied 9 years ago

    Shannon, I love the shoes in #8. They look cute and funky at the same time. Sorry about the obnoxious S.A. I like the idea to take their merchandise over to the "economy class" fitting rooms to try! :)

  • rachylou replied 9 years ago

    Man, what is up with people who do that? Sheesh. Hehe.

    The shoes in #6... they have my attention :)

  • Diana replied 9 years ago

    Ugh, I hate it when SAs are pushy like that.  There are certain stores that I don't go to because of this.  I'm sorry, but I don't need to show you everything I am trying on.  I don't even know you.  (Also, at one particular store here they always insist that you try everything on with 4 inch stiletto heels.  Which they then try to sell you.)

    I like your picks though!  Especially like the teal top (well, duh), the skirt, and the purple Naots.  I can't wear most of their actual shoes (although I have lots of their sandals and boots) because my foot is too low volume.  But IIRC you have high volume feet, right?

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    Kim - you know I briefly thought about gathering up the Olsen merchandise and heading over to the "economy" class (Claire - lol!) change rooms but by then I was so turned off it was just time to go. Sadly this is not the first negative experience I've had with Olsen SA's. It's too bad really.

    And I do realize that I shouldn't let a frustrating shopping trip stand in the way of possibly good purchases for me but I sometimes find it hard to divorce the two, you know?

    BethL - these are not the EF slim pants currently part of NAS. These are actually a slouchy slim ankle pant. But yes, they are petite.

    GreyRainbow - thank you so much! I appreciate your "real life" feedback on a few of these EF items.

    Diana - if my feet were any more high volume, they'd be bricks! I have a pair of Naot shoes that are coming back into rotation and they fit beautifully - oh so comfy...

    Thanks for the feedback and commiseration. I've been a bit of a roller coaster lately with all my emotions regarding shopping so my apologies if I'm coming across as some sort of weirdo - lol!

    It's interesting that I had these EF pieces on my eBay watch list before I started gazing at the Olsen items and am now going back to looking at them again - I wonder if it's some sort of strange fate that I had the experience at Olsen last night...

  • Gaylene replied 9 years ago

    Ugh, that sounds like an unpleasant experience, but good for you to tell her the reason you didn't make a purchase before you left! Maybe if more of us did that, those pushy SAs would learn to adapt to what the customer wants instead of pushing their own agenda.

    I'm finding Rachylou's comeback perfect for getting those pushy SAs to back off: "Well, aren't you a dear, but could you give me some time to myself". I practiced delivering this in front of a mirror with a slightly raised eyebrow and a faintly weary tone of voice. Works like a charm, especially in high priced boutiques. Rachylou is a genius!

    Oh, and that EF jacket is beyond fabulous, as are the Naots. Thumbs are definitely up!

  • replied 9 years ago

    You're not a weirdo Shannon, just a justifiably frustrated shopper.....to which all retailers need to pay attention. They need to ask themselves the tough questions instead of telling us what we want .  The Bay and Olsen in particular are awful - honestly, if there were other options locally, I'd never grace the inside of that store again, but....

    Anyways  I love all of the clothing picks you have here- especially the jacket and knit pant.  Olsen is expensive anyways, and not always worth the $$.  

  • Gigi replied 9 years ago

    Wow, what a nasty shopping experience. I wonder if it is worth it to talk to the manager and complain? I am sure you are not the only person who has been frustrated enough to leave. This SA is certainly costing them money in sales. I just hate to have you lose out on some clothes you might like because of a nasty SA.

  • replied 9 years ago

    Further to your Olsen "boutique" experience:  today I was on my way through The Bay and thought I'd take a peek at your picks. I was examining the word print tshirt , which I may have picked up had the sale associate not yelled: " do you wanna try that on?"  from about 20 feet away. I pretended I didn't know she was speaking to me - which I didn't, really - and continued to look. Again with the yelling from the desk .No "good afternoon, hi how are you, isn't that a cute top, would look great with the skirt you have on etc"  .    I looked up in mock confusion and said, no thank you. Put it back and walked away.  Good grief.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    Oh Lisa - why am I not surprised?!

  • rabbit replied 9 years ago

    On the one hand, my first thought is maybe it's part of the training or tied to pay.  Very few people are naturally pushy, it has to be taught/ingrained. I'm forever hiding from the gentleman trying to sell me new roofing for my house while I'm looking at tights at Sears....   (I've also been a door-to-door canvasser for non-profits so I know the pressure that can be exerted in certain kinds of 'sales' jobs, in that situation if you don't make quota two days in a row, you are fired.)

    On the other hand, it's ripe for a prank.   Maybe an over the shoulder signboard that says 'no thanks, I'm only browsing'  or 'personal space bubble, do not enter.'  :D

  • lyn* replied 9 years ago

    Ugh, another reason why I hate going to B&M stores ... I think you were very gracious and kind to her. I would have told her where she should go in unladylike terms.

    I really like the teal top :)

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I started playing dress up when I was 4 years old and haven't stopped since! My income doesn't match my tastes so it's all about figuring out how to thrift my way to a fashionable life while tossing in a few delectable items.