Thumbs down to Tiffany''s!

[MichelleCarmen]

Okay, yesterday I went to Tiffany''s with my kids with plans to purchase a necklace! Generally when I go shopping at *any* place with my two-year-old and four-year-old sons, things are chaos and about half the time we end up leaving because they won''t cooperate. BUT, we leave because I become grouchy or fed up, not for any reason on the part of the any store employee. . .

Of course I don''t *expect* a sales person to watch my children while I shop, but it''s pleasing to see a sales professional be considerate while I''m browsing. THE BEST place to shop is Nordstrom''s make up counters (especially MAC) because while I''m trying out makeup colors, the girls always talk to and play with my kids and keep them busy. And, guess what? I ALWAYS buy something. They''re happy due to making a sale and I''m happy to walk away with a couple little pots of fun shadow colors! But, like I said, I don''t expect this, but this bit of customer service IS nice and positive reinforcement. . .

But, yesterday in Tiffany''s the sales chick wasn''t all that nice. Okay, face it. Tiffany''s IS pretentious. The stupid guy opening the door with the earpiece, the stuffy atmosphere and the overpriced diamond jewelry all make for a silly facade. . .however, they do have some cute pieces so I have shopped there and own a few necklaces! My son was ruckus in there, but due to all the cases being locked from behind and everything (aside from the procelein vases) being in cases, as well, the WORST my little boy could have done was cover the front of the glass cases with finger prints, so I let him play while I pointed to the necklace I wanted to try on. Then after the necklace is on my neck my son runs over behind the counter where the engagement rings are kept under lock and key. No one is over there for him to disturb, but the woman who was helping me told me this wasn''t going to work and had me leave the store! Can you believe this? It''s not like I planned for them to babysit my son, but to actually turn down a sale because my two-year-old was secretly planning to rob Tiffany''s of their precious 100K 3-carat ring is ridiculous!

I was literally about to pull my wallet out of my purse when she started getting all ruffled up over NOTHING!

I''ve shopped/browsed at numerous jewelry stores and NEVER once has anyone been so stuffy about my kids

Anyway, we left and walked across the little span of the mall hall and shopped at Baby Gap!

Blah, lame store! I''m not sure I''ll shop there again.

 

[ame]

Id file a BBB complaint and call that store''s management and corporate and raise hell. That is total garbage.

At least you didn''t waste money on their overpriced garbage.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Do you think I have the right to complain? What about that "we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone," philosophy? I do have the sales lady''s name since she sold me another necklace last year and I still have all the paperwork.

I''ve heard that Tiffany''s has terrible customer service when it comes to complaints so it''d be rather interesting to see what sort of response they provide.

 

[skimmy]

i have a girlfriend who works at tiffany''s and they have an employee store where employees can purchase jewelry at discounts (the inventory does vary). at the employee store, it is $15 for almost all of the silver rings, which retail for over $100+. she bought the diamond half-eternity band set in gold with shared prongs for $650...retails for $1850.

talk about a MARK-UP!!!

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 1/12/2005 4:34:19 PM
Author: MichelleCarmen
Do you think I have the right to complain? What about that 'we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone,' philosophy? I do have the sales lady's name since she sold me another necklace last year and I still have all the paperwork.

I've heard that Tiffany's has terrible customer service when it comes to complaints so it'd be rather interesting to see what sort of response they provide.

In all brutal honesty, no I don't think you have the right to complain. I wasn't there. Maybe she was trying to be snooty. But, there is always the chance that she saw a situation "in her mind" that was harmful to both your boys and her store. I've heard of an instance where some young kids were playing and one cracked his head on a showcase. Supposedly, the mom sued the store.

When one isn't around rambuncous boys being boys, the situation looks much worse than what it is. Perception of the reality can be two different things. Was the sales person young?

Or maybe she was just a plain snoot. To tell you the truth, I can't remember the last time I set foot in a Tiffany store to actually shop. I love the Architecture of the NYC store; so, sometimes I'll just go in for that. I can't really say whether they are snooty or not.

Buy a similar one off of ebay & save yourself some money. Everything comes and goes.

 

[fire&ice]

..tired of editing...

Regarding reality & perception - my friend with two active boys that are a couple years apart like yours can really turn into a force. At a show, the younger brother just darted. The older one yelled "call security!!" and darted after him. No big situation except that the little one wanted to run. The older one just repeating something related to what he wanted to communicate. Anyhoo - someone actually called security & thought the younger boy was being kidnapped. Talk about perception - the reality was quite different.

 

[ForteKitty]

This has nothing to do with Tiffany''s, but..

I once wrote a complaint to Disney World regarding racist cast members who kept calling us "foreign Jap kids" (uh, HELLO, I''m Californian, you have my ID in your hand. And just because I look Asian doesn''t mean I can''t understand you), and guess what they did? They sent an Asian person to deal with me. Although she was very apologetic, the fact that they sent someone who is my ethnicity to deal with racist issues didn''t sit very well with me. I mean, come on, what am I supposed to say to her? They''re racist, fire them? Well, I did say that, but who knows if they even reprimanded them. For all I know they could be encouraging their behavior back stage.

Evil corporations, i tell ya!

 

[MrsFrk]

I am not a fan of Tiffany's. But I don't think your son should have been playing in the store- those jewelry cases are chosen with care, it does matter if they are covered with fingerprints, and I think it is reasonable for them to be upset that your child was wandering behind cases. I don't think that the salesperson dealt with the situation well. She should have asked you to control your child, not evicted you from the store.

In my work life, I have been in many a situation where the lack of supervision caused an injury to the child, and then I or my place of work was blamed. We live in a very litigious society, I don't blame any business for erring on the side of caution. Don't get me wrong, I adore children- I am a nanny for 3 children, including a set of twins, so I know what's it's like to try to do errands with little ones in tow. I just think that Tiffany's isn't an appropriate place for small ones.

 

[ame]

Date: 1/12/2005 5:16

9 PM
Author: ForteKitty
This has nothing to do with Tiffany''s, but..


I once wrote a complaint to Disney World regarding racist cast members who kept calling us ''foreign Jap kids'' (uh, HELLO, I''m Californian, you have my ID in your hand. And just because I look Asian doesn''t mean I can''t understand you), and guess what they did? They sent an Asian person to deal with me. Although she was very apologetic, the fact that they sent someone who is my ethnicity to deal with racist issues didn''t sit very well with me. I mean, come on, what am I supposed to say to her? They''re racist, fire them? Well, I did say that, but who knows if they even reprimanded them. For all I know they could be encouraging their behavior back stage.


Evil corporations, i tell ya!

Damn. That has a Denny''s Style lawsuit all over it.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Okay, yes, I agree. . .and F&I is right about others not being used to little boys. I guess it's hard for me to see perspective since my two boys all in the span of five minutes do things like take their clothes off, climb up on top of our entertainment center and toss all our DVDs across the living room and I'm use to these sorts of activities

lol But, still, I think especially since there weren't any other customers in the store and about five employees just standing there behind the counters looking bored out of their minds, they could have been at least *a bit* helpful. I mean I WAS there to spend money on their product and due to the abrasive comment of this sales lady, I left w/out purchasing anything. . .

But, yes, the woman was snooty (and around 38ish). This is Tiffany's we're talking about.

lol

(oh, and the architecture of the store I was in is rather bland as it's inside a mall. . .I'll wait until going to NY before visiting the store again. I love architecture too

 

[twinkletoes]

I don''t think you really have a right to complain. Yes, the salesperson was a bit harsh in asking you to leave, but at the same time your children are your responsibility and they shouldn''t be running around behind counters and the like. When your little one was taking off running, did you do anything about it? It might have been the attitude that you were ok with letting your little one do whatever he wants in their store that made the salesperson uncomfortable. I don''t know. Maybe next time try to go with your hubby, a friend or relative who can help watch your children while you shop. It would probably work out better for everyone.

And yes, Nordstroms has awesome customer service. I used to work there and although I loved helping people out... some totally took advantage of it. I loved the discount, but hated being on my feet all day! I would limp to my car at the end of a long day. LOL

 

[MichelleCarmen]

When your little one was taking off running, did you do anything about it? It might have been the attitude that you were ok with letting your little one do whatever he wants in their store that made the salesperson uncomfortable.

And yes, Nordstroms has awesome customer service. I used to work there and although I loved helping people out... some totally took advantage of it. I loved the discount, but hated being on my feet all day! I would limp to my car at the end of a long day. LOL

Of course I chased after my son and brought him back over to where my other son and the sales woman were standing. It was just when he ran off a second time that this chick became all steamed up. Maybe if I was trying on a 15K necklace instead of a $150 one she would have had a better attitude. lol

I try so hard never to take advantage of people and THIS is why I had my children with me. . . I NEVER ask anyone to watch my kids so when I want to go out, they usually come with me (unless they''re in their PT preschool program - which I pay for so I have time to exercise, do accounting stuff, etc., and never have to ask anyone to babysit), so I''m realistic in my approach (I thought) but, like I said Nordstrom ROCKS (LOL) with their service!

Maybe I should be shopping their fine jewelry department instead. . .hmmmm. . .

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 1/12/2005 5:54:32 PM
Author: MichelleCarmen
But, still, I think especially since there weren''t any other customers in the store and about five employees just standing there behind the counters looking bored out of their minds, they could have been at least *a bit* helpful. I mean I WAS there to spend money on their product and due to the abrasive comment of this sales lady, I left w/out purchasing anything. . .

Yes, but you weren''t there for babysitting services.

It''s a slippery slope. A good customer service person would have identified the situation & redirected the boys to something that they could be interested in. BUT - in a perfect world

I think most sales people would leave the situation alone because the parent may take it the wrong way - and think they are trying to disispline their child. The flip side of the coin.

I dunno - this is a tough one.

 

[fire&ice]

Your life will become much easier when the older one goes to kindergarten. My friend's did. Not so much that the boys changed. It just wasn't double trouble to contend with. And, the TWO little minds at work INTERUPTED!

 

[sevens one]

Sorry MC sounds like she was a real b*tch.

I know you people in "sales" are going to be miffed.
A sale is a sale. She obviously wasn''t interested in yours.

I''ve taken my kids into jewelry stores. I try to always have them "locked down" in the double stroller.
I must say that the sales staff in Bailey, Banks and Biddle always take the time to talk to the kids.
When I''m at Tiffany''s my children have this magical power of becoming invisible to the sales staff. It''s pretty cool actually.

Anyway, sorry about your experience. Like someone else said "get it off ebay".

 

[sevens one]

Come to think of it, Jared''s has a "play room" in their store. It is equipped with video games, tables, coloring books/crayons and a "fort".

That was smart thinking on their part.

 

[Jennifer5973]

There is no excuse for any salesperson, Tiffany's or otherwise, to be rude to you or your children. Also, to ask you to leave without politely addressing any issues is overkill and rude. This situation was not handled properly whatsoever. I think this is the real issue. I do not think anything goes when it comes to kids in public places, however.

Generally speaking, if children are being loud and disruptive and in the process, putting themselves at risk of injury or the establishment at risk of liability, they should be controlled. This is the parents' responsibility. There have been many times when my husband and I--at 8, 9, 10 at night, mind you--have been out in an upscale restuarant, spending $100+ on what is supposed to be a relaxing dinner, and some kid is screaming, or running around so violently that the floor shakes, or wailing in my ear, or blabbing. It is inconsiderate. I don't mean to offend anyone but there is a balance between the rights of children and their parents and the rights of others. Growing up, my little brother was a HORROR whenever we went out to eat. He was told once, maybe twice, to behave and if he continued to act up, he was promptly removed from the dining room, as to not disturb the other people.

Sometimes, I think our society has bent so far over to the other side on some issues, it's gone way out of control. Yeah, kids are great and beautiful and the future of our world, but come on. I hate to say it but I agree with George Carlin: Children are like every other group of people; you have a few good ones and the rest are a**holes. Part of the reason my husband and I are very hesitant about having kids is because we're afraid that, in spite of our best efforts, we'll get stuck with a little a**hole. i just couldn't handle it. And that's the thing about having kids--you have to be willing to accept what God sends down with the stork...there are no "10 day return periods" like at Whiteflash!

PS I find the fact that this happened at Tiffany's to be quite amusing--whenever i walk past the Tiffany's in our local (upscale) mall, it's a real mishmosh of people in there--nothing to brag about in terms of "upper crust clientele" for sure.

PPS Michelle, I can let you in ona little secret: I worked for Estee Lauder while in grad school and went through extensive sales trainning. We were taught all kinds of techniques, such as "shadowing" and "mirroring" the woman's speech and body language so they'd feel comfortable and trustful of us, and coached on how to establish relationships with customers, including probing and asking questions, and....acting intgerested in their kids, even if they were lunatics, and keeping them entertained if possible, so the mother would buy more stuff. I think you sense this based on your comments but it's actually taught!

 

[qtiekiki]

I have to agree that it wasn''t unreasonable for the salesperson to be cautious with your kids playing behind the counter, however she could have been more courteous about situation. I think rather or not the salesperson play/entertain your kids is a personal choice. A lot of time the sales play with the kids because they like kids instead thinking about helping the customer so she can shop. On the other hand, I think that if you feel like you were mistreated, then you should file a complaint with the manager. Yes you don''t know if they will do anything about it, but at least you did your part to let them know that their employee isn''t living up to their reputation.

 

[MaryAlaina]

Date: 1/12/2005 7

2:19 PM
Author: Jennifer5973
if children are being loud and disruptive and in the process, putting themselves at risk of injury or the establishment at risk of liability, they should be controlled. This is the parents'' responsibility.

I agree with the above comment and don''t think you have the right to complain. You stated that you KNOW how your boys behave. You had every reason to expect they would misbehave somehow. Tiffanys is not a store for children, and they do not need to accomodate them. You said that you never ask someone else to babysit or care for your boys, but I think that if you plan on doing any shopping at a place above the level of a Target, that you should. Not only it is possibility dangerous to the child to be running around, if is VERY ANNOYING to other customers. When I''m in there trying to buy something, the last thing I want is someone else''e little brat running around, making a mess or commotion, and disturbing me. When mine were little, they were either controlled and behaved, or left at home.

 

[sevens one]

Date: 1/12/2005 7:32:36 PM
Author: MaryAlaina

Date: 1/12/2005 7

2:19 PM
Author: Jennifer5973
if children are being loud and disruptive and in the process, putting themselves at risk of injury or the establishment at risk of liability, they should be controlled. This is the parents'' responsibility.

I agree with the above comment and don''t think you have the right to complain. You stated that you KNOW how your boys behave. You had every reason to expect they would misbehave somehow. Tiffanys is not a store for children, and they do not need to accomodate them. You said that you never ask someone else to babysit or care for your boys, but I think that if you plan on doing any shopping at a place above the level of a Target, that you should. Not only it is possibility dangerous to the child to be running around, if is VERY ANNOYING to other customers. When I''m in there trying to buy something, the last thing I want is someone else''e little brat running around, making a mess or commotion, and disturbing me. When mine were little, they were either controlled and behaved, or left at home.

** Ouch, BRAT. **

 

[mrmedoes]

As someone who despises children and has worked in retail, I can honestly say that many people become way too adept at ignoring their children. Things that the kids normally do that parents chalk up as "normal" seems to be completely over the top. Parents have that ability to tune their kids out.

While I agree that the salesperson could have handled the situation better, I also must say that if the children were out of control, that''s just as big of an issue. I realize that not everyone has the ways or means to have their kids watched while they go out, but they also need to keep the children under control.

Sadly in the world we live in, a kid could go and cause problems by getting injured, taking or breaking something, and this would be considered the store''s fault. Keep in mind that if the salesperson had walked up and touched a child to pull them away from behind the counter, people would be crying bloody murder.

I don''t think anyone should really comment because they don''t know the situation. Who knows if someone had a kid in that store that did steal for their parents while they distracted. Who knows if a kid cracked his head open before, or if that salesperson had been briefed. By no means am I a Tiffany supporter, but I can''t sit here and act like it''s the worst thing ever.

 

[pearcrazy]

Go home Michelle and pray that the snooty saleslady becomes pregnant tonight with triplets-- all boys--kind of like the ones on desperate housewives!! That''ll teach her!!

 

[sevens one]

Date: 1/12/2005 8

4:13 PM
Author: mrmedoes
As someone who despises children and has worked in retail, I can honestly say that many people become way too adept at ignoring their children. Things that the kids normally do that parents chalk up as 'normal' seems to be completely over the top. Parents have that ability to tune their kids out.

While I agree that the salesperson could have handled the situation better, I also must say that if the children were out of control, that's just as big of an issue. I realize that not everyone has the ways or means to have their kids watched while they go out, but they also need to keep the children under control.

Sadly in the world we live in, a kid could go and cause problems by getting injured, taking or breaking something, and this would be considered the store's fault. Keep in mind that if the salesperson had walked up and touched a child to pull them away from behind the counter, people would be crying bloody murder.

I don't think anyone should really comment because they don't know the situation. Who knows if someone had a kid in that store that did steal for their parents while they distracted. Who knows if a kid cracked his head open before, or if that salesperson had been briefed. By no means am I a Tiffany supporter, but I can't sit here and act like it's the worst thing ever.

Please go have your tubes tied tomorrow. Thanks!

Never mind- you're a dude. I should've known.

 

[mrmedoes]

Please go have your tubes tied tomorrow. Thanks!

Never mind- you''re a dude; I should''ve known.

Obviously you have three different crowds here... women with children, women without children, and men.

 

[pearcrazy]

OK, well how about this. I am a woman with 3 children. They are 7 and 4(twins). They are Hellions I wouldn''t dream of taking them anywhere near a place with vases that cost more than I make in a year.

That said, there are more tactful and considerate ways to convey their request that Michelle corral her kids.

One also needs to have hellions of their own to understand how Michelle felt (which I do)

 

[aljdewey]

I have to chime in on this one, too. I honestly feel that you have no basis to lodge any form of complaint.

Several of you have suggested that the store clerk could have "politely or courteously" asked the mother to control her child. I'm sorry, but I have to say it......how exactly would you propose to do that? If you have to point out to any parent that their child is out of bounds or out of control, you may as well be criticizing their parenting skills. Some may take it as an insult....."don't you think I have eyes of my own to see that my kid's running around like a maniac?"

While it's a nice sentiment that you don't want to ask others others to sit for your children so as to not take advantage of them, I'd gently suggest that you're still taking advantage of a group of people.....it's just others you don't know.

It means that others......storeplaces and clerks.......have to cope with children in a setting that isn't designed to keep them occupied. If you're concerned about not imposing on Mary to sit for you (even though your kid might sit contentedly watching cartoons or playing on a swing set for 3 hours there), why not have the same concern for Linda the sales clerk who isn't adept with children and who will panic from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave that one of your kids' heads will end up bleeding through the middle of the locked glass showcase?

I'm sorry to say, I don't believe that children's presence is appropriate in every single haven. If it were so, the concept of babysitters would never have caught on.

I cannot tell you how many times I've nearly stepped on a toddler who darted in front of me from in between clothing racks. I cannot tell you how many times I've seen 2-3 year old children running down the store aisle with the parent(s) chasing after them. How do you think I'd feel if I hurt one of them? Knowing it may not have been my fault or preventable wouldn't make me feel *any* less awful about it happening.

I firmly believe that what you let your children do in your own home is your business. If they want to climb up on the entertainment center and whip the DVDs around like frisbees and you're okay with that, more power to you. If you don't want to place restrictions on them about where/when they can behave that way, then they should remain at home where that behavior is acceptable all the time.

I love children....I don't believe in the "children should been seen and not heard" platitude by any means. I think they should be seen, heard (preferably laughing), and enjoyed. But I do think they should be capable of behaving in a socially acceptable way in public situations out of common courteously to your neighbors. And during those times when, despite a parent's best efforts , a child is unruly, the parent should have the good judgment and courtesy to remove the child (in a dining area scenario) or to shelf their wishes to shop until a more convenient (or more behaved) time in the future.

 

[strmrdr]

sorry but I would have asked you to leave if you had been in our office at work under the same situation.

Its not that I dont like kids its a safety and liability thing.

 

[pearcrazy]

That's how it works in a perfect world aljdewey. Unfortunately not all of us have nannies or people who can babysit on a moments notice. I have the unfortunate task of having to drag all three of my children with me on shopping excursions sometimes. My husband and I want to dine out with our children sometimes. We don't take them to a 4 star restaurant but more in line with Chili's or Friday's. Hopefully they don't leer at you over the booth. Hopefully they don't chew with their mouths full and show you how a chicken nugget looks like after the first stage of digestion. I hope they don't dart out in front of you and get mowed down by your grocery cart, but if they do I well understand that accidents happen. I'm sorry if they're annoying little buggers sometimes. I do my best to promote appropriate behavior when we are in public and indeed when we are at home. I won't however ,be keeping them confined to our basement until they've earned their high school diplomas. We do all like to fly to see grandma so you may be annoyed by one of them on your next flight. I'm annoyed too. I can't remove them from the plane at 30,000 feet. Likewise if they are running amok in the grocery store, I'm not leaving my half full cart of groceries to be considerate of my neighbors. I bite my lip, fume and finish my chore. Believe me, as annoying as they are to you, they are twice as much to me. If I leave then I'm faced with starting all over again, there aren't enough hours in my day.

As a general rule I have learned to mostly ignore advice and comments by people who preface or end their statements with "I don't have kids but......."

 

[sevens one]

Date: 1/12/2005 9:20:33 PM
Author: pearcrazy
That''s how it works in a perfect world aljdewey. Unfortunately not all of us have nannies or people who can babysit on a moments notice. I have the unfortunate task of having to drag all three of my children with me on shopping excursions sometimes. My husband and I want to dine out with our children sometimes. We don''t take them to a 4 star restaurant but more in line with Chili''s or Friday''s. Hopefully they don''t leer at you over the booth. Hopefully they don''t chew with their mouths full and show you how a chicken nugget looks like after the first stage of digestion. I hope they don''t dart out in front of you and get mowed down by your grocery cart, but if they do I well understand that accidents happen. I''m sorry if they''re annoying little buggers sometimes. I do my best to promote appropriate behavior when we are in public and indeed when we are at home. I won''t however ,be keeping them confined to our basement until they''ve earned their high school diplomas. We do all like to fly to see grandma so you may be annoyed by one of them on your next flight. I''m annoyed too. I can''t remove them from the plane at 30,000 feet. Likewise if they are running amok in the grocery store, I''m not leaving my half full cart of groceries to be considerate of my neighbors. I bite my lip, fume and finish my chore. Believe me, as annoying as they are to you, they are twice as much to me. If I leave then I''m faced with starting all over again, there aren''t enough hours in my day.

As a general rule I have learned to mostly ignore advice and comments by people who preface or end their statements with ''I don''t have kids but.......''

Amen to that!!

 

[mrs jam]

Eek. This thread has me thoroughly convinced that hubs needs to go in for the ol'' snippy snip. I think we''re better off being DINKS. I adore being an aunt, but I don''t know how you moms do it.