Adventures at Oxmoor Center

Yesterday I went to the mall with my sister to look for Christmas and birthday presents for people in our family.  Holiday shopping is never an enjoyable experience but one of the tests of our holiday season is that our mother is a December baby.  What do you get her that isn’t holiday themed so she still has and enjoys her birthday as a special event like those of us born during March or June? 

One of the places we stopped while at the mall was Swarovski.  We usually get my mother a gift from Swarovski for the Festival of Saint Nicolas (night of the fifth, morning of the sixth), her birthday, or the Mass of Christ (the 25^th).  We’re late in our game because normally we give any decorations or special clothing needed for the other holidays at the Festival of Saint Nicolas.  I should not have waited.  

While we were in Swarovski I was surprised that they had things out in boxes where you could touch them.  I made the faux pas of touching one of the boxes to see what it contained a little bit better.  I understand fully now that you shouldn’t touch anything in the store.  How did I learn this?  Chady, the dumpy sales clerk slapped my hand. 

I realize that I don’t look my age, like I make a tremendous amount of money, or like I would normally buy something from a place like Swarovski.  However, I make a lot of money selling automobiles to people – more than most of my coworkers – because I don’t prejudge people coming into the showroom.  I certainly would never slap someone’s hand away from a Phaeton.  I was pretty shocked that someone hit me, much less even touched me in a store. 

This wasn’t humiliating enough, Chady had more in her dumpy shop of horrors.  She said, “Feel free to look around because that isn’t expensive since you can’t afford anything.”  Game.  Set.  Match.  She is right, I probably can’t afford to spend money with a company that hires haughty salesclerks that would deign to physically assault someone in their store.  I was so shocked by those two behaviors that I followed Chaos Bean out of the store. 

Poor Chaos Bean, she was in a white-hot rage.  She didn’t enjoy the rest of the trip to the mall.  She didn’t enjoy the shoe stores or looking at scarves and she didn’t even enjoy people watching.  Chady (nearly) ruined the one night a week we all get to spend as a family.  When I had calmed down I called the manager on duty at the store and recounted the story.  She was equally as horrified and very apologetic.  Getting Mom a present from Swarovski is a part of December like those bell ringers outside the grocery or poorly conceived ads from Target. 

In general, I am tired of salesclerks who present themselves as better than the people they’re helping instead of representatives of their brands.  I’ve been a salesclerk and I knew then that I didn’t speak for the Chocolatier for whom I worked nor was I as rich and fantastic as those who could afford it.  I also knew that people like to be treated like they’re rich and fantastic when purchasing a luxury or extravagant item – like Belgian chocolates or Swarovski crystal. 

I do very little holiday shopping and I hope the rest of it isn’t as bad as this experience. 

 

I’m not saying “don’t buy from Swarovski,” I’m saying, “don’t by from Chady.”  

Comments

[Alex Vance]

I've never been slapped by a salesperson. Although car dealers have gotten pretty shirty with me.

[Mariah]

I dont like Chady. Truly, she is fortunate I wasnt with you.. I would have went off on her so hard, she'd been in tears.. Sorry you had that experience... I hope she gets fired. Merry Friggin Christmas, Chady.