In the previous post, I remarked on one shopkeeper's disinclination to talk me into buying a hat, compared to "so many sales people [who] have nudged me beyond my initial resistance." But now that I think about it, I think there's a general difference between New York and San Francisco shopkeepers. The culture of shopkeeping is entirely different.
In New York, when you go into a nice store, a salesperson takes charge of your emotional experience. There is no aggressive sales talk, but that is what is so completely psychologically aggressive about it. You are being managed. You feel welcomed, befriended. Suddenly, a beautiful girlfriend (or boyfriend) is shopping with you, talking intelligently with you about the things you weren't really thinking of buying, getting you to feel that a normal part of this friendshop — oops, I mean friendship! — will be a discreet exchange of credit card for shopping bag. You walk out the door, fulfilled, and it won't be until later that you'll wonder why you bought something again. It's like these stores are hypnotizing me.
But that's New York. It's not like that in San Francisco. The people who work in the stores are hanging around, perhaps chatting with each other. They may notice you and say hi, but they don't envelop you and affect your mood. They'll be there to take your money if you choose to buy. But you're on your own. You can look around and leave, and it doesn't seem to matter. How very odd!
I mean, it seems odd to me because I've been under the spell of New York for 75 days.
November 4, 2007
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17 comments:
You need to shop in Chicago next to continue this survey.
That post is like reading the secret diary of a 14 year old girl.
I can't believe a middle-aged woman wrote it, let alone posted it for all the world to see.
Wow. Just wow....
Bingo Althouse. The San Francisco shopkeepers are much more mellow. Even the ones at the designer stores.
The ones in NYC are your best friend and design consultant.
Unfortunately, some of the NYC sales queens have my phone and when some shipment comes in they call me. I feel special, I know pathetic, and usually run over there to pick something up.
The salesgirls at Sak's and Bloomy's are nicer to me than my own family members! And for this all they want is money? A bargain at twice the price!
Sullen Indifference I can get anywhere; maybe they should pay me to come in their store just to tolerate their sloth!
Your post title...hmmm, I suppose Claude Rains did indeed pitch the Free French garrison at Brazaville to Bogey at the very end of Casablanca...
Was Althouse buying lace and getting the 'special friends of Ricks' price?
I prefer the San Francisco approach, but maybe that's because I'm a male. The New York department store psychology generally works better on women. When I go to these stores, I am going there with the intent of buying a specific item. If I do engage with the sales people, it's out of politeness.
In the case of perfume, it's painful to listen to the sales patter, since I've studied perfumery and know the materials and techniques of the industry and most of what the salespeople say about it is absolute bunk.
But the bunk works, and is sufficient for most consumers so who am I to judge?
How's Premier Figuier working out for you?
Saks and Bloomingdale's exist in SF -- go there and compare sales techniques. Also shop for bricabrac at the homegrown Gumps.
As a shopkeeper in New York City, I know that you should engage your customer in the proper manner if your store is to run smoothly. Many people in New York lead lonely lives and are far away from family and friends who can help with shopping decisions. They want someone to help them find the sizes and styles that would flatter them. The key is not to be a high pressure salesperson, offer assistance, but always tell the truth. In my wife’s store we don't let someone buy something if it doesn't fit or looks terrible on them. The key is choice along with helpful courteous service. This past Saturday, we had a woman from Madison, Wisconsin. She was shopping with her two daughters who live around the corner from my wife's shop. She had a great time, some coffee, some pastry, and loved shopping with her girls She was a lovely woman. Who knew people from Madison could be so nice.
Palladian: "How's Premier Figuier working out for you?"
It's making me feel green and complex. And figgy.
Trooper York: "Many people in New York lead lonely lives and are far away from family and friends who can help with shopping decisions."
Yes, why go to a therapist? People in stores are always ready to befriend you, and you get to decide whether to spend the money, and if you do, you get some stuff to take home.
"Who knew people from Madison could be so nice."
Well, we all act nice when we're out in public, but you should see what we really think. It comes out sometimes.
Professor, that's why it's called retail therapy! I am glad that you Madison people can keep your cheese-rage under wraps. It's makes for a much more enjoyable shopping experience. Just come in the store and hand over the cheddar and no one will get hurt...
Althouse has gotten a dose of the Bay Area laissez-faire attitude. It's different from the traditional Boston treatment of ignoring you just long enough to put you in your place, or the New York approach Althouse described perfectly.
I don't know what's wrong with noticing and commenting on this sort of thing, as you see in the gripes upthread. I'm a middle-class guy who basically hates to shop, but I do have to dress for business. I've bought reasonably good clothing over the years in San Francisco, LA, Boston, New York, Paris and London. I hasten to add I'm no Titus, just a guy who wears suits and has traveled a bit. And even I have noticed what Althouse is talking about.
I've also shopped at Saks and Bloomingdale's in SF, Boston, and New York. As you might expect from corporate entities, there's little difference, except the New York staff seem a bit more professional and on top of things, especially at Saks compared to other locations.
My wife tells me that the old City of Paris in San Francisco was the department store to die for, so elegant and with a throughly professional staff, including her great aunt. My wife remembers it from her childhood, but like so many local and regional department stores, it's long gone ("Jordan Marsh, Jordan Marsh, New England has a store of its own.").
Speaking of Paris, my own fave shopping experience was in la Samaritaine. I needed a good raincoat in a hurry, and I was able to find a perfect lightweight coat fast and cheap. They had to hunt for a large size, as I am tall, and the display merchandise was geared toward French men. The staff was perfect: professional, efficient, helpful, not ignoring you and not trying to be your friend. I suspect you have to speak tolerable French to get this treatment. C'est normal, non?
"I don't know what's wrong with noticing and commenting on this sort of thing, as you see in the gripes upthread."
I know. Christopher probably got jealous about either the acquisition of material goods or the idea of of a beautiful girlfriend/boyfriend. If you talked about a business method in some setting that doesn't blind him with jealousy, he might be able to read competently and to write something somewhat less inane than "wow. just wow..." I mean like isn't that like what 14 year olds write in their... whatever... diaries?
Rob: Should I bolt every time I get that feeling in my gut when I meet someone new? Well, I've been listening to my gut since I was 14 years old, and frankly speaking, I've come to the conclusion that my guts have shit for brains.
Barry: Why don't you stop posting on the internet and just concentrate on selling records like you are supposed to dude?
Laura: But the shit for brains part is pretty accurate.
(High Fidelity 2000)
Simels is back! Or is he?....
I knew it was a vortex day here. But there's some question as to the magnitude of the vortex...
Damn you, Trooper, I, too was composing a "shit for brains" comment, but you beat me to it with something much better.
Oh well, the guy with little brown cells has slipped away, perhaps realizing that it's necessary to actually read the thread before using the talking points the Central Committee has so helpfully supplied.
How come everybody wants to be your friend?
You know that it still hurts the world renowned POP MUSIC CRITIC just to say it.
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