Merchants of Shame

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A few years back a friend of mine went shopping for a bridal gown. “Sue” was a tall, statuesque woman, big-boned. Yes, she was overweight, but due to her bone structure and excellent posture, carried it quite well. Only the most rude cretin would have ever referred to her as “Fat”. Being a little older (about 30), she was not going to spend months using bridal gown shopping as a fun little hobby for her and her girlfriends with multiple repeat visits to the same store to try on the same gown – she wanted to find a dress and buy it with little drama in one visit. She was also quite wealthy and money would be no object in purchasing a wedding gown (or her bridesmaids gowns or the million other accessory items for a wedding). In other words, a merchant with an ounce of sense should be on their knees thanking the shopping gods that Sue walked into their store that day.

Unfortunately, we did not have that experience with ANY bridal salon. Every single one was incredibly rude to her. We finally went to THE most exclusive salon in the state, assuming wrongly that the ‘nicer’ the salon the nicer you would be treated. We walked in and the clerks just stare at us. STARE at Sue, I mean. No one greets us, although I see subsequent customers being greeted, fawned over, and given complimentary drinks. I finally went over and quietly asked a clerk if someone could help us. The clerks laugh and one finally sneers at me and says very loudly,  “NO! We don’t sell to FAT brides here.”  I was absolutely dumbfounded. It takes a lot to render me speechless, but I was. And my poor friend – she was aghast and humiliated, not only at the insult but at the scene this clerk was causing.  I immediately demanded to see the manager. The manager comes out and I tell her the story and her response was, “Well, my associate is correct. We do NOT provide service to fat brides. They will give potential customers the wrong idea of the quality of our merchandise when they schlump down the aisle.”  I have never been so appalled as a customer in my life. Never.  I said to her, “My friend here was willing to spend thousands of dollars, today, and you’re telling me—“  She interrupts me, “I don’t care about today’s  money. Long term, dressing a fat bride will ruin me.”  Needless to say, we left. I wrote a letter on Sue’s behalf to the owner and never received even the courtesy of a reply. Sue ended up having her gown made by a seamstress. She looked lovely.

Years later, I myself worked in the bridal business 1500 miles away and made sure to always give everyone the same excellent treatment and ended up having a lot of larger size customers from around the state. They all told me how badly various salons around our state had treated them if they were a size 12 or higher.  If I were ever going to go into a business for myself, I would have opened a salon specializing in merchandise and service for larger size brides.

I have never forgotten that moment. And I sincerely hope all of those rude salon employees end up weighing 300 pounds later in life and learn a valuable lesson about treating everyone with respect. Especially when they have an open wallet in hand.

Merchants0105-07

Read the discussion of this submission on the forum!

I had been getting my nails done by the same salon for nearly 2 years. During that time, I found the owner/manager to be a little eccentric, but we swapped jokes, I knew everyone on a first name  basis, have always been a generous tipper, etc. 

One morning I went in just a few minutes after the store opened. The owner/manager was dusting the cash register area. I cheerfully said, "Good Morning!" to him as I entered. He did not acknowledge me at all. He was no more than 2 feet from me. I moved a little closer, and again spoke to him, still no reaction or response. He continued to dust and act like I was not even there. Confused, I light-heartedly asked him if he had gone deaf? Still nothing, he continued to dust the glass shelves. 10 seconds later, a woman entered behind me. He looked up, looked right past me, and politely said, "Hello, may I help you?" I was livid. I never went back there again. That is NO way to treat a loyal customer. 

Merchants0416-07

It's a short one, but this left me extremely hurt. I am a 6' woman, and I wear an appropriate shoe size for my height - US Womens' 11.  Sometimes 11 wide.  Despite the fact that women are getting taller and taller, larger shoe sizes are difficult to find.  Department stores around here either don't carry anything over a 10, or have it in "limited styles."  

Since I've had no luck with finding the right fit with internet shopping, I've just taken to walking into the shoe department and asking, "What have you got in (color/basic style I need) in an 11?"    In one large department store, I asked that exact question.  For context, the building had been occupied by a basic department store which went under and was replaced with a more expensive department store.  The sales clerk replied, "We don't carry *plus sized* shoes here. This is an upscale department store now," then turned her back and walked away.  The other sales clerk giggled.  From her tone of voice, it was as if she considered large feet to be a disease rampant among po' folk, and if she got too close and I breathed on her, she might have caught it and grown a huge pair of her own.  

To this day I can't figure out why it would be inappropriate to have a full range of shoe sizes at an upscale store.  I know I should have let it roll off my back, but I sat in my shower and cried that night.

Merchants0429-07