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7 Tips for Shopping at Luxury Stores

To find out how to receive the best service possible and walk out of the store with exactly what you want, read this article!

By Faryn Wegler

By Faryn WeglerView Author PostsAug 29th 2018

It’s a situation we all know too well: you walk into a luxury store with the intention of buying something, only to become intimidated by the salespeople or expensive merchandise and then walk out empty-handed.

Over the years I have learned certain tips on how to make luxury shopping a much less daunting experience, and now feel it is my duty to share the things I wish I would have known sooner. To find out how to receive the best service possible and walk out of the store with exactly what you want, read on below!

1. SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Instead of just walking into the store when you want to buy something, call to make an appointment in advance (if possible). This way instead of having to compete with multiple customers for the salespeople’s attention, you will be able to get more personalized service, and they will dedicate a longer period of time to helping you find exactly what you’re looking for.

2. DO YOUR RESEARCH

Taking some screenshots on your phone of the item you’re looking for, or knowing the exact name/style number will help speed up the shopping process as the salesperson will then be able to get you what you want right away (if it’s in stock). If you’re unsure of the exact item you want, having a general idea of what colour/style you’re looking for will help the salesperson in making suitable recommendations.

3. DRESS APPROPRIATELY

Worrying about being “Pretty Woman-ed” at a luxury store is a fear many people have (and for good reason…that scene in the movie was terrifying!) However, getting better service by dressing a certain way to the store is no longer a guarantee IMO; sales associates nowadays know that just because you’re wearing a t-shirt and jeans rather than diamonds and a fur coat doesn’t mean you don’t have money to spend.

Instead what you should focus on is wearing the rest of the outfit that you plan on wearing with your new purchase to the store. For example, if you are buying a new shoulder bag for winter, you should wear/bring your down coat to ensure that the straps fit over the shoulders.

4. ASK TO SEE WHAT’S IN THE BACK

Since luxury stores usually have fewer item displayed on the sales floor than regular stores, a common misconception is that’s all they currently have in stock. However, often times they have additional merchandise / leftover stock from previous seasons in the back of the store (which they will sometimes sell for a discounted price!) Ask the salesperson if there’s anything in the stockroom that’s similar to what you are looking for.

5. TRY IT ON

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This little guy ?? #chaneladdict

A post shared by Johanna Emma Olsson (@johannaeolsson) on Jun 21, 2016 at 2:25am PDT

Don’t be embarrassed to model your potential purchase in front of the mirror! When you’re spending a lot of money on a single item, it’s important to ensure that it fits properly and that you like how it looks on. If you’re purchasing a handbag, they will sometimes let you put your stuff in it (wallet, keys etc.) to ensure everything fits.

6. ASK QUESTIONS

When buying a luxury good, there’s no such thing as asking too many questions. A few questions you might want to ask the salesperson are:

What’s the material of this item? (i.e. For bags – lambskin, calfskin etc.)
Can this item be worn different ways? (i.e. A Chanel wallet-on-a-chain can be worn a multitude of ways; ask them to show you!)
How does the item wear over time? (Sometimes they have older, more worn-in sample versions of the item they can show you.)
Is there an upcoming sale where I can get this item cheaper?
What’s your return policy?

7. THINK ABOUT IT

If you’re unsure about whether or not you really want to splurge on the item, ask if you can put it on hold for a few hours (or days) while you think about it. Or if you’ve already fallen in love, then it’s checkout time!