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Have you ever been banned from a shoe store? No? Well… I have…
Before I begin, I will tell you that I will not use names or brands, just because I am classy like that…
I once bought a pair of sandals designed by a supermodel and I loved them. I wore them twice, then while walking on the beach with my sister, one of the shoes broke. I thought it was no big deal, I still had the receipt and the bag at home so I just brought them back. The lady was a bit snippish, but did the exchange and I was on my way.
I wore the second pair twice, and again they broke. I was a bit annoyed and wondered what to do. I decided I had paid {Mr Cool’s} hard earned money for them, so I should get good value for them. I went back into the store to front up the blonde snippish sales assistant again.
I told her what had happened and that these were my second pair. I decided that that was all I was going to say. I would just wait and see what she would do. I have a way of talking myself out of situations and these shoes were taking up a lot of my time! So, I leaned on the counter and locked the sales assistant’s gaze. She told me that never before had anyone returned two pairs of the same shoe. I didn’t have anything to say about that, so I said nothing. She told me that she would have to ring her area manager and ask for advice. I said, ‘fine.’ I felt like I was being such a tough customer…
While she left to call the area manager I looked around the store for something to replace the shoes with. I was definitely leaving with a pair of shoes and NOT the same as the ones I had bought twice… There was nothing else in the price range that was even close to what I was after. So, I decided on a pair of sandals by the same super-model-who-once-dated-Leonardo-Di-Caprio. They were black leather strappy sandals and were not quite as edgy as the first ones I bought, but they were cute.
When the sales assistant returned, she spoke to me in even more snippish tones and told me that I could select another pair of shoes, I would not be given a receipt. I said ‘fine’. She then lead me to the door and told me that I am not to return to the store ever again.
I was a bit taken aback… I looked at her and asked her to repeat what she had just said. So she repeated it, “You are never to return to this shoe shop.”
Oh, how I wish I could tell you that I said something truly excellent in rebuttle! But I didn’t! Oh – how I let such an opportunity like that go without a smart-ass remark is a mystery!! I wish I could have said something truly truly outstandingly smart back… but I didn’t. I left. With a pair of shoes in my hand, not even in a bag… I went to my car and felt a bit lost… I had been banned from a shoe store…
On a lighter note. The THIRD pair of sandals have lasted me YEARS! They have travelled to Townsville, Tonga, New Zealand, Sydney, through pregnancy and to work on occassion. They have been stellar.
Have I been back to the shoe shop? Sheesh – of course I have! As if they have a photo of me under the counter saying, “Don’t sell this girl shoes!” No, of course they don’t…
Given I missed my chance to say something snippish to the sales assistant… What should I have said?
Pop on over to The Diary of a SAHM for some other great posts written on – ahem – Tuesday…
Lol. That’s hilarious.
Those are the sorts of occasions that make me wish (for a nanosecond) that I’d crossed over to the dark side of commercial media. I’d love to be able to threaten to sic a dodgy current affairs show onto people like that…
Thankfully we have the interwebs for the purpose of sending complaints viral… Remember this?
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/fashion/customer-complaint-email-and-response-by-gasp-clothing-goes-viral/story-e6frf8o6-1226151874005
Lolz.
Haha! Funny!
I do love that you were banned from an entire country – you will have to tell me about it sometime…
Mwah!
B
B recently posted..Team Friday – I need a hug…
That is awful!
I would have said “would you like to ring your manager back and tell him that this store is in breach of section 52a of the trade practises act, and that I will be putting a formal complaint into the department of fair trading. Go on, I’ll wait.”
Selling products that are not fit to be used for the purposes they are sold for, is in direct contradiction of this act, the dept of fair trading closes people down on a whisper of this. Retailers crap themselves when you mention this clause!
You where entitled to your money back. Not giving you a reciept is also something to tell the dept of fair trading about…
Glad you loved the 3rd pair!
xx
Oooh – you know the lingo and everything! Very cool!
I was too gobsmacked to say anything… I did feel as if I had stolen the shoes, but, I had not got what I had paid for…
Don’t like sales assistants who are snippish, there really is no need. Manners are free….
B recently posted..Team Friday – I need a hug…
Oh wow! I would have been lost for words as well.
Rhianna recently posted..It’s a dog’s life
I thought of plenty to say the day AFTER! Next time….
B recently posted..Team Friday – I need a hug…
How rude!!! I think I have cracked the code and worked out which chain (I have been watching Sherlock and am very inspired). I will never shop there either. Rachel xx
Rachel from Redcliffe Style recently posted..10 things – Reasons I love shoes
Haha! I was wondering if anyone would work out the store. Begins with N ends with ovo. Unfortunately, where I live, they are one of a very few shoe stores that sell shoes that are a little bit edgy… I have been back, and bought shoes… Mind you, it took about 6 months before I went back!
B recently posted..Team Friday – I need a hug…
Wow that is insane. I wonder what they thought your game was with the shoes? I would’ve completely frozen and not been able to say a thing.
Rhia recently posted..Glass Half Full – Or Just Plain Wrong?
Yeah – I don’t know… I am not at all a shady kind of character…. The shoes I picked out were less than the original ones too…
B recently posted..Team Friday – I need a hug…
What a classic! Good for you for going back. I don’t think I would have said anything either – I may have laughed though! And then got home and blogged about it like you!
Rachel @ The Kids Are All Right recently posted..The Lunchbox Rebellion
This happened about three years ago! I think if it had happened more recently, they would have received a really good piece of my mind.
B recently posted..Team Friday – I need a hug…
I would’ve said, “Well, I wouldn’t have had to come back the first 2 times if your (insert swear word) shoes were made properly!”
Actually, I wouldn’t have. I’m the same…I get totally stumped and always miss my opportunity.
At least this pair have lasted!
Oh, and which supermodel was it ? Gisele or Bar ?
I wish I had said something like that. Dang missed opportunities!
B recently posted..Team Friday – I need a hug…
Wow! I am pretty sure I too would of been speechless. But in my imaginary life I like to think I would of stood at the doorway for the next hour – hopping in and hopping out of the store he he he….
Oh yes, that would have been BRILLIANT! Hahaha!
B recently posted..Team Friday – I need a hug…
I would have been gobsmacked! Then come up with like a million great comebacks later. I’m not sure they can ban someone like that, good on you for still going back in!
Stacey-Lee recently posted..Shaking that ‘Blah’ feeling!
It took a while before I went back in… I did skulk past the shop for a bit, then realised that there is no way that they would not sell me shoes. They didn’t take my photo or anything… PLUS – I didn’t actually do anything wrong! Took me a while to realise that too!
B recently posted..Team Friday – I need a hug…
I’m not much good at thinking of things to say in situations like this either … but a letter afterwards to express your disappointment never goes astray!
Hmph – I NEVER think of writing letters! Must remember that if it ever happens again…. ;0)
B recently posted..Team Friday – I need a hug…
I was going to say I’d have been back the following week! ROFL!
carmen recently posted..Who’s tough?
It took me a while to go back in… Mr Cool thought it was HILARIOUS and always teased me when we walked past… Grrrr….
I wouldn’t have said anything either – I would have laughed! Out loud. Maniacally. In her face. The nerve!
Emily recently posted..30 is(n’t) the new 20
Indeed! Except that my brain froze and I had a baby with me and I was so shocked!
B recently posted..Team Friday – I need a hug…
That’s unacceptable. Shame on them.
Exactly. Shame on them. They have not had {very} much of my shoe budget since! Hmph – that’ll teach ‘em!
B recently posted..Team Friday – I need a hug…
No way! That’s hilarious!
Can’t beleive she was so grumpy with you, when it was clearly not your fault.
I wouldn’t have thought of anything smart today either. I’m just glad you have been back!
Jess recently posted..The Grass is Always Greener
It is funny NOW – at the time I felt like a criminal! Now, I realise that some people need to look out for the good in others and realise that not everyone is trying to rip people off… Thankfully, there are more than one shoe store around.
B recently posted..Team Friday – I need a hug…
Ha Ha, I love this. I am also very impressed that you went back – I wouldn’t have had the balls to do that
BossyMummy recently posted..Welcome to my new site…..sort of……
It took a long time before I went back… a good 6 months… Time enough to lose the memo about me {they wouldn’t have done that though would they?}
B recently posted..Team Friday – I need a hug…
I used to be really quite quick and witty, and sometimes I still am, but often I am stunned into silence. I probably would have responded with something like, “Well don’t worry about that, I’ll be taking my business to Williams, where they make shoes that actually last more than 2 wears.” What a nerve! So did you get your black sandals and have they been better?
Aroha & Colours of Sunset recently posted..First PT Session & Fitting Into Jeans
Yep – the ones I got are still going strong -which is good and bad. Good that they have lasted, bad that I have not needed new ones!
B recently posted..Team Friday – I need a hug…
OMG I think I would have been to stunned to say anything. What a rude cow! I know I wouldnt have gone back. but I would have stewed about all the awesome things I SHOULD have said. I never think of them at the time though
x
Sonia Life Love Hiccups recently posted..Why I Say It’s Totally Ok To Slap Someone if They Cough On Your Kids!
I did some serious stewing and then just had to let it go… Some people are out to make other people feel small and insignificant, I have no time for people like that. Hmph…. My shoes have been purchased elsewhere since.
B recently posted..Team Friday – I need a hug…