Recommendations for personal shoppers

[El Pibe]

Really, those jeans cost over ?1000?

They were hand-made by medically verified virigins from a small tribe on the rocky shores of the Menai Straits, and made from only the finest Egyptian cotton washed in babies' tears, the seams stitched using unicorn mane.

The likes of Cilla Black and Julio Iglesias would never be seen dead in them because they're still alive, though I'm not a hudred percent sure in the case of cilla black......or julio iglesias for that matter.

[Undisputedtruth]

Well they say, money can't buy you style, EP.

[Huguenot]

There's good reason to visit a food store every day, but there's no good reason to visit a menswear department whose clothing line up you consider to be complete and utter rubbish.

Unless you're a mad in the head delusional paranoid who thinks they have relationships with people who don't know them.

[Undisputedtruth]

No Hugo, you silly billy, I have to go past the menswear to get to the escalator to the foodhall.

[Jeremy]

To be fair, any thread which starts by describing buying a couple of outfits as "exhausting", was always bound to end in farce. The involvement of UDT has at least made it strangely entertaining.

[Guest]

Palore, thank you for your suggestion; that sounds perfect. You also win this week's forum prize for actually reading the posts before answering.

I wasn't going to comment on UDT's bizarre posturings - a gentle drawing aside of skirts seemed kinder - but have to say I'm loving the use of 'eta'. I'm going to drop it into a conversation some time today and see what reaction I get. I'm guessing a slight recoil or maybe a smirk.

[Moos]

Noted

[Guest]

Sorry, Moos, no reprimand intended! Thanks for your suggestion; just not what I'm after at the mo.

At that moment I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by a combination of UDT's posts and Jeremy sneering at me for finding clothes shopping (actually even the thought of shopping) exhausting and having the temerity to ask for recommendations. Apparently I should have been focusing on providing entertainment.

[El Pibe]

To be fair to Jeremy, I don't think he was sneering at you as such, more that he knows what a rum bunch we they are on here who would pounce on anything with a whiff of hyperbole about it.

[Huguenot]

I can see why anyone would want be waited on hand and foot for no fee. That's a no brainier surely?

I just can't see how the shop chooses who to give it to: they can't give it to everyone, I can't imagine stamping your foot and demanding it being a good reason, I can't imagine that just being tired by shopping is a good reason (isn't everyone?).

The only logical reason would be the Richard Gere / Julia Roberts reason, but if you're not committed to buying anything then why bother?

[Huguenot]

You know what we're gonna need here? We're going to need a few more people helping us out. I'll tell you why. We are going to be spending an obscene amount of money in here. So we're going to need a lot more help sucking up to us, 'cause that's what we really like.

[Jeremy]

Ms B Wrote:

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> Jeremy sneering at me

Not really sneering, just teasing you over the rather dramatic exaggeration in your opening sentence!

[El Pibe]

I feel vindicated :)

[red devil]

I'd watch what you're saying Jeremy, according to one of the Olympic threads, Ms B has the physique of a male Indonesian weightlifter...

[Moos]

Ms B Wrote:

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> Sorry, Moos, no reprimand intended! Thanks for

> your suggestion; just not what I'm after at the

> mo.

>

> At that moment I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by

> a combination of UDT's posts and Jeremy sneering

> at me for finding clothes shopping (actually even

> the thought of shopping) exhausting and having the

> temerity to ask for recommendations. Apparently I

> should have been focusing on providing

> entertainment.

None taken, and it's understandable that you might be a bit exasperated by some of the contributions. I personally find the show/hide button useful. Or I used to..

[Guest]

Daresay I'll regret taking you seriously enough to respond again, Huguenot, but I don't see what's so hard to understand. (Unless you're just seeing this as an opportunity to imply a variety of nasty things about me? I don't see why you should but that seems to be what some people come here for.)

Apart from at the top end, the big stores mostly stock the same ranges at the same prices, so it's largely atmosphere, service and overall shopping experience that make you choose one shop over another. Also a way for shops to get people to come in and spend money who would otherwise stay away and make their existing clothes go another year or two, and if they can make it easier for you then you're more likely to go back to them next time, aren't you.

[Guest]

Jeremy and El Pibe, you'll have to take my word for it that that's how I genuinely feel. Please find someone else to bully.

[Huguenot]

You think I'm having a go at you Ms B? Not at all. I'm just interested that's all.

I can see that for you it make absolute sense. It's the shop I can't understand.

What you say is logical, but it's inefficient. There's a cost on staff, catering and even floor space and overheads.

Debenhams isn't a high margin store, it's low margin mass produced stuff. Unless you spend quite a lot on clothes at one sitting then they'll make a loss on everything they sell you - they might as well not have you as a customer. They'd be better off without you.

The only argument is to run it as a loss leader, but then everyone would want your special treatment and they couldn't provide it. They'd end up pissing off more customers than they won.

Selfridges and Harrods make sense because of the margins and ticket price, but you've already said that you want to save money, not spend it.

It's the first time I've come across the idea that this service is available to low margin high street customers as opposed to Premiership WAGs.

I just don't get it.

[Guest]

I assume it works or they wouldn't do it, would they. Increased customer loyalty and perception of added value = increased market share.

[Huguenot]

Well no, increased market share at a loss isn't worth winning unless there is some other benefit.

That's why I think I've missed something here.

Anyway, I'm watching this thread with an eagle eye, and the second you let us know where you get it I shall be on the case and find out what it's all about!

[Jessie]

It's a good bit of PR for the shops - presents a customer-focussed image - and though I've never used one myself, I can see the bonus of using a personal shopper. Shopping *can* be exhausting, especially as most women's clothes are designed for 6 foot 5 skinny boys!!

[Jeremy]

Ms B Wrote:

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> Jeremy and El Pibe, you'll have to take my word

> for it that that's how I genuinely feel. Please

> find someone else to bully.

"Bully"? Could this thread get any more ridiculous?

[El Pibe]

It was the Kenneth Williams reference wasn't it.

[palore]

I find that being over forty with a lack of ability to choose clothes easily from racks, working full time and running a home with four children, the personal shopping experience to be a wonderful self indulgence. I have been several times over the last few years and of course if they find the outfit you like with all necessary lingerie and shoes, wrap, jewellery, or whatever, and sometimes you can't resist, or are even grateful, for the chance to buy more than one outfit because it looks so good, then obviously the service pays for itself, and I would be extremely disappointed if it ever became unavailable, not being very keen on spending the extra time travelling up to London. It amazes me that people spend so much time criticising questions on this forum instead of being helpful!

[dulwichgirl2]

Highly entertaining thread one way or another.

Ms B, in my well off days, I went once to Harrods and used a girl there. I bought lots of things and took most back the next week. They were highly suspicious and my customer loyalty evaporated!

Friends swear by John Lewis service.

I'm surprised Debs does it for the same reasons Hugeonot explains. IPhone spelling sorry.

I have all the issues you explained in your opening post. I tend to look on the Internet at some length first and then go into town with more of a focus. I also find that you can get things on eg Phase Eight website that are not available otherwise.

El Pibe, your "knowledgeable customer" post was hilarious.