xaphod Posted January 30, 2002 Posted January 30, 2002 Hey guys, how about sharing your heely shopping experiences here ..... good and bad
Beeblebrox Posted January 30, 2002 Posted January 30, 2002 I sometimes put my experiences on paper, so here is one from 2001 in february. Last week in Saturday I was in town and shopping for my self. In one of the shops I noticed a nice pair of shoes in red leather with a 2” (5 cm) wedge platform on my size (41 euro) and about this time I’m just looking at them. I went on and visited a lot of shoe shops and finally a came into a shop who had a really nice platform boots with 13 cm heel and 4 cm platform (5 1/5” and 2 ½”), looked and walked away. I was thinking about if I would try them on in the shop, image my adrenalin level, it would be first time for me trying on high heels in the shop. I made up with my mind and went back to the shop that had the platform boots. To better understand there was many people in the shop, not 5 or 6, at least 20 or so. In the shop I took the desired boot and took my cowboy boot of and tried it, on my left side were two teenage girls who said not a word about this. They felt great and went to the saleslady and said, I will buy these boots, ok she said and after a couple of minutes the boots come up (they have them in the basement). She took them out of the box and asked if I wanted to try them on, yes I said and put both boots on. There were people on both sides and behind me and no one said a single word, no lathing, NOTHING. The sales lady acted just like it was the most natural thing in the world that blokes like me buys high heeled boots and tryes them on in the shop in front all costumers. I put my own cowboy boots back on, they have an 7.5 cm (3”) high heel and paid. No one looked at me when I left the store and I felt great. I went into the other shop to try the wedge shoes on and the shoe fitted fine, the two blokes behind my back said nothing, no one in this shop said anything, but the sales lady didn’t ask me in this shop to try them on, but I would if she asked me. So the sentence of this long story is that even in Sweden there is no problem to buy and try high heels in the shop, they even ask you to try them on, isn’t that great. Cant wait to buy next pair of boots in the shop were they ask you to try both pair on. Does anyone in Sweden or other countrys experienced similar thing in shoe shops?
Yamyam Posted January 30, 2002 Posted January 30, 2002 Definitely had several experiences like that. I remember several conversations with assistants, all of whom were doing their best to help me out. At one point, a while ago, I was in Schuh, and I had one assistant finding a pair of popsox, as I had thick blokey socks on, and another suggesting an alternative style to the one I was trying on. Everyone, including one male assistant, was just helping me out as if this is something entirely normal and everyday. I've worst experience I've ever had is the stereotyped "completely useless" assistant, who will just take the shoes, zap the barcode, charge you, then go back to staring into space. But even that hardly ever happens, and I've tried all sorts! The secret is to go for it! Confidence is everything (once you can fake that, you're sorted ) Obsessed is such a strong word. I prefer to think of myself as "differently enthusiastic"
xaphod Posted January 30, 2002 Author Posted January 30, 2002 This is just a brief note of my shopping today, primarily to get Beeblebrox another pair of cowboy boots from Sacha in High St Kensington. I'm getting possibly too good a reputation there because Karin, the young Swedish girl there, said ' Oh Hi, what are you buying now ?' as she emerged from the stockroom. BTW Bbrox, your boots will be on their way soon. I also decided to check out the bits of Oxford St we didn't cover on UKheel. Yes there were some sales in Selfridges, but generally couture names when my dinky size 39s are the BIGGEST they do (with one or two exceptions). While tasting the exotic parts of shoe-shop-ville I took a walk down South Molton Street and back up Bond Street. There were some fine styles available in the sales, but consideration has to be given to the 60% reductions (from a starting price of 250 pounds .... ouch ! ) I had some fun when I noticed a pair of shop assistants boggling at my spiky sachas as I passed on the opposite side of the street. Aha, thought I, I might check out their shop, Clio. They had some interesting boots and lots of courts (pumps) in various colours, which is good if you have had enough of boring black. The part I like is that, although I tried a size 39 which i could get a little finger between my heel and the shoe, they had a size 38.5 which fitted perfectly. This shows the value in getting sizing absolutely correct when choosing pumps. The downside to this is that the shops have to stock twice the number of boxes to cover a range of shoes, and the price reflects this. The guy in Clio also said that they go up to size 42 in some ranges, but less so in the sales. Sanity set in, so, despite temptation, my wallet emerged from these encounters unscathed. The day was rounded off with a trip to the Science Museum, recently free of charge, which is about the only thing our socialist Government have done for me lately. Personally, I think I'm paying for the whole damn Science Museum, because I must return to filling out my tax return AAAAGH .... upchuck !
Firefox Posted January 31, 2002 Posted January 31, 2002 Great idea for a thread. It's non heel realted but I met up with Emma (kangoo jumps girl) from lakeside in Oxford street the other day. She asked me how I was doing and where my heels were (I had just come from a site survey. Clambering round filthy roof spaces is not a task for 4" so I had my hiking boots on and had to make my excuses!). Anyway, she certainly has a good memory and she sends her regards to everyone.
Trolldeg Posted January 31, 2002 Posted January 31, 2002 Does anyone in Sweden or other countrys experienced similar thing in shoe shops? Sure, I always try the shoes on in the shop before I buy. Never had any probs. Why would there be?
Platformdude Posted February 15, 2002 Posted February 15, 2002 I was checking out some shoes and boots at a large department store in a big suburban mall one evening, and one of the sales associates approached, asking if she could help. She was an older Hispanic woman, and we ended up having a very pleasant conversation. She got the sizes I asked for, and was very attentive and helpful. It's something I've experienced before with women who work in shoe stores, and I'm thankful for it. I wonder at the reasons for this. Is there a sense of comraderie from the fact that I've expressed interest in things that also interest women? Maybe they appreciate that, in this crazy part of the world where domestic violence is epidemic, there are some men who think women's tastes and opinions are valid. Any other suggestions from out there? Anyhow, my deepest regards to this fine person, who made my day most pleasant, and restored my fading faith in humanity.
ShockQueen Posted February 15, 2002 Posted February 15, 2002 My latest trip to Rave's was wonderful as always. I had been listening to some campy 60's sci-fi music (Barbarella), and saw a pair of stretchy go-go type boots with a 3" block heel on the back in black. They did come in a 14, so I bought some of those to knock around in (they look great with my black slacks!), and then just for something different, I thought to buy a pair of pumps in..... W-H-I-T-E! Anyways, these were 5" with an ankle strap. Since Jante usually runs a bit small in their sizes, I found them in a 15 instead, and the fit like a GLOVE! I hadn't bought a pump with a strap in a long time, and like the way the strap kind of traps your foot inside, so that felt really good. I picked up both, wearing the boots out, and proceeded on with the evening with some excursions in the boots. I have to re-train my feet for 5" spikes since I have been out of them for a while. They are awesome though, and the best part was: The boots were only 50 bucks and the pumps were only 40 bucks, which I prefer over the overcharged store downtown. These boots were made for walkin'......... SQ SQ.....still busting societal molds with a smile...and a 50-ton sledge!
hhpumps Posted February 15, 2002 Posted February 15, 2002 speaking about buying heels by jante, i have purchased several pair over the internet but for much less $$ than that. try looking at 007heelsandlingerie.com for jante shoes. 5" and some 6" pumps are only 18.95. great buy. patent leather and classic high heel pumps area.
terayon Posted February 28, 2002 Posted February 28, 2002 yesterday i went to the mall, and i went into a shoestore, and found the MOST AMAZING boots ive ever seen...knee high small platform wedge boots...i said they were for my girlfriend, but they didnt make them in my size =( i was so bummed =
Yamyam Posted March 14, 2002 Posted March 14, 2002 Well, as I said in the Achievements channel, not so long ago I went off to a shopping centre in heels. The assistant who'd served me the last time I was there was there again. She remembered me from the last time, and we spent a while chatting about shoes again. She showed me quite a nice pair with a square toe and a blade heel, and fetched out a size 8 (she even remembered my size). I tried them, they fit well, and so I bought them. As I was trying them on, she noticed my vanes, and asked where I'd got them. She asked how long I'd had them on - it was about two hours by then - and said I was doing pretty well in them. All in all, a top shopping experience. So, if anyone's in Meadowhall, I recommend the shop called 'logo'. It is a clothes shop, but has an excellent shoe section too. Obsessed is such a strong word. I prefer to think of myself as "differently enthusiastic"
Firefox Posted March 14, 2002 Posted March 14, 2002 Hi Yamyam. Meadowhall is definitely on our list of shopping experiences to come. Francis, one of the mods here who you may know is thinking of moving up there so it will produce a good excuse for a trip! I'm pleased to see you have flown the flag up there
HeelDog Posted March 14, 2002 Posted March 14, 2002 I was in another state for training and while hanging out with some classmates on the the weekend we walked past a store where I happened to see red boots on the back wall. I took another quick glance and noted the back wall was full of high heeled shoes. A tinge of excitement hit me, but I was with my friends so that's all it was. I thought about the store all week and since I had never purchased any high heels for myself before, I came up with the plan to hit the store that coming Sat morning when it first opened to avoid anyone. I went in and immediately started looking at the shoes on the back wall. The sales woman came up to me and asked if she could help me. I asked if they had the white 5" pumps in size 12. Alas they didn't have them in my size. She came back and said they did have silver glitter 5" pumps with the ankle strap in my size and asked me if I wanted to try them on. I was prepared to say they were for my GF, but I was shocked because I was caught. She sensed this and said I could try them on in the back if I wanted to. I numbingly did so and she took me behind the wall. She gave me a stocking and went back to check the store front. I put the right shoe on. My heart was beating very fast at this point and my breathing was short and excited. I walked around briefly and looked at the sizes of the other shoes for anything else in a 12. She came back and asked me what I thought. I was still in this stunned state and she tried to relax me by saying they have many men that come in and buy these heels. I said I would take the shoes and thanked her for her kindness. I proceeded back to the apartment and immediately tried them on with the stockings I had purchased, admiring them and attempting to walk. All in all it was a very nervous, exciting adventure that I enjoyed very much. I still get a big thrill thinking about the idea.
Firefox Posted March 14, 2002 Posted March 14, 2002 Nice story Heeldog. A couple more times and you'll be trying them on in full view
Arctic Posted March 14, 2002 Posted March 14, 2002 Cant wait to buy next pair of boots in the shop were they ask you to try both pair on. Does anyone in Sweden or other countrys experienced similar thing in shoe shops? Same thing here in Finland. No big deal, I usually try on ALL 41s in the shop no matter who's around. I get very rarely any strange looks. Especially the shops with young assistants are cool. I went shopping in Tampere (180.000 people city in central Finland) yesterday, and for some strange reason the average age of the shoe salesladies seemed to be 55 or so. I got some looks and whispering there, but who gives a damn? I found yesterday some nice Vagabond 41's in a Finnish chain (www.spiritstore.fi) for just 62 EUR. Good deal, only 7 cm heel but that's how low you have to go to get acceptance from the wife. br,Bert What's all the fuss about?
JB Posted May 3, 2002 Posted May 3, 2002 Last week, I go in the shopping mall to see what shoes and boots they have for the new season, dressed in slightly flared pants that show all of my 4" heels. I go in the Naturalizer store, where they only have "women" shoes. A man in his forties stands behind a counter whom I take to be the store manager, while a younger woman employee is doing some odd job. I have a good look around the display on one side, pass in front of the counter at the back end of the store where the manager is standing, and continue looking on the other side. When I get to a position about 12 feet from the manager, almost sideways from him, he says: "sir! do you want to buy shoes for yourself"? I answer: "If I buy shoes, it will be for myself"; to which he replies: "We only have shoes for women here". I answered: "That's ok". Not finding anything to my liking, I left the store. My thoughts were: How can a shoe store manager not be interested to see what footwear a prospective client wears? And: How can he not see that I'm wearing 4" heels? And: Does he think I'm a dimwit who does not comprehend or notice that the store only sells "women"'s footwear? I was amazed at such a lack of professionnalism on his part.
5_Inch_Pumps Posted May 3, 2002 Posted May 3, 2002 I've got to say the absolute best heel shopping experience I've had was at Miko's in Providence RI. I was in that area on buisness and an online friend of mine had told me I should check them out. I went in there looking for a pair of black thigh high stilletto boots, not only did I find them in my size, the sales lady kept bringing me more shoes to try on! I think she had just as much fun as I did. It was a major thrill trying on high heels in public and being waited on by such a nice lady. I left there with the stiletto boots I wanted and also another pair of black 5" pumps to add to my collection. As a matter of fact, they're the one's I'm wearing right now.
loveheel Posted May 4, 2002 Posted May 4, 2002 JB, The sales experience at Naturalizer stores has been mixed for me as well. On occasion one gets a great sales person, but quite often they Naturalizer seems to get people in their store that don't have the least interest in shoes. I have had much better luck with sales people at stores such as Aldo (You should find that up there in Canada).
loveheel Posted May 4, 2002 Posted May 4, 2002 On 2002-05-03 19:25, 5_Inch_Pumps wrote: I've got to say the absolute best heel shopping experience I've had was at Miko's in Providence RI. Is Miko the fetish place ? I have heard about them, but never made it there on my trips to Providence. My favorite in Providence is the Nordstrom store. Awesome selection and many shoes in larger sizes.
Firefox Posted May 4, 2002 Posted May 4, 2002 What an amazingly unprofessional approach, JB. The job of the storespeople is to maximise the sales of shoes. It's precisely non of his business who you are buying them for. I'd have found out the name of the chap and reported him to the head office as being incompetant.
5_Inch_Pumps Posted May 4, 2002 Posted May 4, 2002 Loveheel, yes, Miko's is a fetish shop. If you ever get back to Providence, you should check them out. I was suprised to say the least at how helpful the sales lady was. Not only was she helpful but she and the other ladies kept wanting me to try on more shoes! I have only been to one fetish store that the ladies weren't friendly and that's one I'll never go to again. They looked at me like I was crazy for wanting to buy womens shoes for myself. Miko's was an unforgettable experience for me. They're the only place I'll shop at when I'm in that area.
5_Inch_Pumps Posted May 4, 2002 Posted May 4, 2002 JB, I agree with Firefox, I would have reported that guy so quick he wouldn't have known what hit him. I work in customer service and have zero tolerance for people like that. 10 to 1 says the guy probably tries on shoes there after hours anyway
Maryanne Posted May 5, 2002 Posted May 5, 2002 JB: That was completely unprofessional, belittling behaviour that you received in that shoestore. A letter (snailmail, not email) or even better a personal visit to the headoffice to speak with a member of senior management is certainly in order to report this incident. That man won't be (and certainly shouldn't be) keeping his job. I work in a senior position in a private company (not a shoestore though), and if any of our employees treated a client in such a way, our firm would go bust in no time. The man in the shop really needs to be reported. Maryanne.
ShockQueen Posted May 5, 2002 Posted May 5, 2002 I agree with the rest here, JB, in that bad customer service is not the way any store, even a shoe store, to be run. I guess that guy has been living under his rock WAY too long and should look around what is out in the world sometime. SQ.....still busting societal molds with a smile...and a 50-ton sledge!
JB Posted May 7, 2002 Posted May 7, 2002 I did write to the company, Brown Shoes, (Naturalizer is the name of one of their lines of shoes) and they answered me that they had forwarded my letter to the regional head office in Laval, Quebec. If and when I have some news or see a change of face in the store, I'll let you know. Cheers!
Firefox Posted May 7, 2002 Posted May 7, 2002 Good move JB, we don't want any of our fledgling male heel wearers discouraged by some dickhead so the sooner this guy is sacked the better.
ShockQueen Posted May 7, 2002 Posted May 7, 2002 Would a large burlap bag do for the 'sacking'? :smile: SQ.....still busting societal molds with a smile...and a 50-ton sledge!
prettyboots Posted May 11, 2002 Posted May 11, 2002 well I'd say that this salesman is the dimwit for sure to treat a potental customer like that JB, VERY un professional!! (to say the least) I fully agree with firefox in that I would report him to the district office or company headquarters even! I mean gee wiz, talk about an idiot! I've seen that type many times in years past in both of my local malls where I live,so I know just what you mean JB.
azraelle Posted May 11, 2002 Posted May 11, 2002 I wonder if it might have been company policy at one time to hire a certain type of individual to manage Naturalizer Shoe stores. I remember a small Naturalizer store in one of the malls in Las Vegas about 15 years ago--the only person I ever saw in there was a middle age guy who apparently saw it as his duty to chase out every male that did more than a quick pass through--judging from how he treated me, and one other guy later on. He wasn't too gifted with the women customers either, so I don't think he was a Womens' foot fetishist either. _________________ Hi-Heels and Back-Zipper Pants Forever... <font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: azraelle on 2002-05-11 08:11 ]</font> "All that you can decide, is what to do with the time that is given you."--Gandalf, "Life is not tried, it is merely survived -If you're standing outside the fire."--Garth Brooks
loveheel Posted May 12, 2002 Posted May 12, 2002 Well, the Naturalizer store I used to visit, just when out of business. Maybe they should consider hiring more interested sales people.
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