A Bewildering Moment While Clothes Shopping

What’s happened to customer service?

An Unsplash + Image

I’m not a typical female who loves shopping for clothes, mainly because it’s depressing how poor the selection is for larger-sized women. The racks are littered with sizes fit for skinny-mawhinney’s, and although I used to be one of them, I ain’t anymore! So when I see something in a store I like in my size, I’m elated.

Given I’m heading to see my daughter and Steven’s third collection at Paris Fashion Week on March 3, I’m tasked with finding a suitable outfit to wear. Admittedly, it was more daunting when I went to their first and second shows last year, but I now realize that no one is looking at me: there are plenty of other fashionistas to whet the papparazzi's appetite. As long as I stay in-cognito, I could wear jeans and a t-shirt, and no one would care.

In all honesty, if I had a jacked bod, I could wear nothing more than a g-string and sneakers. Their audience is eclectic. Anything goes!

Taken by Author at the Fall/Winter Fashion show by Les Matières Fécales

However, I don’t think it’s appropriate to show up wearing the latest trends from Walmart, so I have migrated to explore more up-market stores, which sadly come with a hefty price tag.

To date, my sleuthing has failed miserably. If I do find something, it’s either not available in my size or it looks hideous on. Oh, to be 20 pounds lighter!

Sales attendants are either hovering over you like a wasp intent on launching its sting, or they’re nowhere to be seen. The latter is particularly irritating when you’re half-naked in a dressing room and want a different size. Where is Louise Foerster and Cinderella’s closet when you need her?

Last weekend, I had three items to try on in Calvin Klein, but no attendant was manning the locked fitting rooms. I considered slithering underneath one of the doors, but I envisioned myself getting stuck halfway and would also likely be covered in dust bunnies.

I waited for five minutes and still no sign of anyone, so I unmercifully dumped the clothes on the nearest display table and headed for the exit. I am incredibly patient as a nurse, but when it comes to waiting unnecessarily, I have little of that personable trait.

Go figure! (literally!)

As I passed the cashier, who was standing there doing nothing, I stopped and suggested someone monitor the fitting rooms because they had just lost a sale.

Her reply: Well, there are only two of us in the store today.

I was gobsmacked.

If that were the case, then why did they lock the fitting rooms? I understand the rationale: it’s a thief's paradise to walk into a room armed with a few items and be tempted to keep a couple on underneath your clothes as you walk out. But it doesn’t take much logic to worry about theft when customers are walking out empty-handed because they couldn’t try on any clothes in the first place.

When I worked in retail as a teenager, my boss insisted that the customer was always right because, essentially, they were paying my wage. Even if it were closing time, I had to patiently wait until they left the store, even if it was empty-handed.

No sales? No store. No job.

Clearly, this young woman missed that memo — or Calvin Klein makes so much profit that they choose to poorly staff a store on a weekend when traffic is presumably heavier. Even if someone had called in sick, wouldn’t it be prudent to have a backup plan? Workers on speed dial if someone did do the dirty? Canada was playing against the USA the same day, and in my opinion, that’s one good reason to ditch work!

Her response should’ve been something more to the tune of, Oh, I’m so sorry, let me open one of the rooms for you right now, rather than blaming my complaint on poor staffing.

Heck, just last week, I moaned to the cashier at a Korean grocery store about how the dumpling wrappers had doubled in price from four months ago. Her response? Here’s a free bottle of Honey Siracha Sauce! It was unexpected, but the perfect way to seduce me into coming back.

So, Calvin Klein, the bigger issue here is that I’m an elephant; Not just in size but with my memory. I never forget. Not only did you lose a potential sale, but you also lost a customer because of a surly response from a rookie sales gal.

Forever.

Unfortunately, the US won the hockey game. But, like most Canadians, I congratulated the winner. Their goalie was incredible, and despite shots on goal, the one that passes the goalie when the game is tied is what counts.

Sadly, my stubborn pride may well also see me showing up at my daughter’s collection wearing Walmart, but the wonderful thing is, she wouldn’t give a rat’s arse.

Just being there is golden — and way better than a medal to prove it.