Sale Shopping Could be Harmful to Your Health
January 5th, 2010 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum
I sprained my ankle in Zara yesterday. I was strolling, minding my own business, hoping to spot a pair of gloves, (which they did not have–thanks for nothing Zara) when I spotted a stunning black coat. At that very moment, a very enthusiastic lady spotted the pair of beautiful boots on display under the coat. Additionally, it’s safe to say that both of ours interests were further piqued by the big red sale sign above the rack. I turned gracefully to my right, to touch the coat while the lady must have gotten nervous that I would snatch up her boots. She ran at full speed, knocking me down, and allowing a bead of her sweat to fall onto my eyebrow. She fell over me, landed directly on my ankle, and before she could apologize, she reached for the boots. Once they were safely in her hand, she realized what had happened. I couldn’t blame her–she had been a victim of Sale Tunnel Vision. It happens to the best of us.
“I’m so sorry!” she panted. “I’m so embaressed!”
“That’s OK,” I nodded and rubbed my ankle as she rolled off of it.
“It’s just that these are beautiful and I can never find my…” A sales girl passed. “SCUSE ME!” the lady had forgotten about me already. The sales girl, probably thinking the lady was calling for my assistance, scooted over to us and began helping me up. She couldn’t even make sure I was OK before the lady asked, “Do you have these in a size 12?”
At this point, I was standing and had worked up the nerve to take my first step on the injured ankle. The sales girl looked at the size 12 lady blankly nodding no, I took the step, fell to the ground and in excruciating pain, looked back up and said, “You’ll have to go to Barefoot Tess for that.” I then produced my card, the size 12 lady herself lifted me up with extraordinary strength, and we embraced. It felt something like “Pay It Forward” and I know she will do just that.
The blog comment contest is officially back up, so tell me your shopping horror stories for a chance to win $50 this week.
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- Posted in Big Feet, Deals and Steals, This Girl's Life
January 8th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
There is a Sports Authority near my house who should really treat me with more respect as I have almost as much affection for sports apparel as I do for non sports apparel and would certainly add to their sales, were they not seemingly adverse to selling anything. Alas the sales people are hapless, never have any idea what they have in stock or when their next shipments will come in. Sometimes they don’t even know what I am talking about, and they call themselves the authority. Frankly, I’m amazed that they are still in business. I went there to buy men’s running shoes since I have not yet found women’s running shoes in my size except for basketball shoes, go figure. (Sidenote to Barefoot Tess, can you please get the Reebok Shape-Up in large sizes?!)
I was met with the requisite puzzled stare from all shoe sales people that everyone on this site has experienced and the query, “You want a men’s shoe?” Forcing down the urge to reply, “Oh, I just took a wild guess at what size shoe I wear, you see I’ve been traveling around in a bubble much like the good witch of the north when she visited Dorothy have had no need for shoes until just now”, I nodded. The salesman went into the back, probably twiddled his thumbs for a bit and then came back with the reply I usually get from Sports Authority, “We don’t have it in stock”
“Do you know when new stock will be coming in?”
“I think we were supposed to be getting some yesterday … maybe in a week, would you like a size 13?”
Sports Authority continues to dazzle me with their non-authority, anyone who knows anything about running would not suggest to someone that they should wear a shoe that is not their size. I mean, a running shoe is pretty much the only requisite equipment for running, why on earth would a runner want to buy a shoe that didn’t fit them?! Runners have a reputation for liking pain, but improper running shoes? That is ridiculous.
Declining his offer, I headed for REI, the next closest store, and was met again by a puzzled salesman who thought I was mistaken about my own shoe size (at least they didn’t think I was a man?). He one-upped his competitor by bringing me a size 12 women’s shoe at first, which I did not chuck at his head but handed back to him and explained once more that I needed the men’s version. After this final misunderstanding I recieved my shoes and was relieved of meeting any more untactful salespeople. If only it were easier to try on shoes over the internet.
January 8th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Wonderful website, I really found it to be good. I’m looking forward to visiting once more to learn what is current.
January 12th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Sorry that you were knocked over– I hope you didn’t get hurt, but I know how that lady feels. I’m an 11, which is a size that many stores carry, but they literally only ever carry two or three pairs. So if I don’t snap them up within two days of their coming out, I’m out of luck.
I had a similar experience at Nordstrom once. I saw this pair of shoes that hadn’t been out the day before (the frequency of my Nordstrom visits is a little embarrassing) And I got this panicked feeling that if I didn’t reach them right away they’d be gone forever. At that moment a tall girl picked them up and started talking to the sales guy and I was all the way across the shoe dept looking at the stupid ugly Uggs! I raced over, crushing a lady’s foot with my crutches (ski accident) I said sorry as I raced on and caught the guy just as he was going into the back. He brought out the 11s for me. Good day at the mall. Well, not for crushed-foot lady. Sorry!