260 Sample Sale, Soho — Attraction in New York

Worst shopping experience of my life…

Went in with my partner to shop. Guys at the coat check in the front asked my partner to check her windbreaker for some reason even though plenty of other people had jackets on but whatever.

I was browsing shirts when my partner was looking at the jewellery. She called me over and showed me a bracelet she had on her wrist. She asked the associate to take it off because the clasp was stuck. After taking it off she asked the associate to put it on me so that I could try it (men’s bracelet). The other lady from behind rushed forward and said “you can’t try that on” and snatched it out of my partners hand. I asked if there was a specific reason why I (south asian male) couldn’t try it on and she said policy is to not let customers try jewelry on?? Alright fine but no need to be rude and disrespectful with your tone, since clearly they were letting others try the jewellery on. She proceeded to take back all the jewellery on the counter and stash it under away from us as if we were going to steal it lol.

My partner tells me that before I showed up the same associate grabbed another chain out of her hand and said “this is a men’s bracelet” and called over another male associate. She then said “you like this bracelet don’t you?” And gave it to him. Seems like the sales associates want to keep products for themselves. We got upset

My partner and I left the jewellery section but I let the floor manager know what happened. He came back afterwards and said that the associate let my partner try the bracelet on as a courtesy, and that they shouldn’t let people try jewellery on past a certain price point… weak excuse since there must be a reason the same courtesy couldn’t be extended to me. If you don’t want people to try on $60 jewellery don’t sell it lmao. Would rather pay full price and have half-decent service somewhere else. Will not be shopping at 260 sample...

I've been going to 260 sample sales for years and was so glad when they opened up this Soho space because of its convenience, being downtown, and because of its more intimate, smaller space, making it less likely to draw the crowds and very long lines that its Nomad stores attract.The brands they offer for sale here and at their other locations are top brands of quality clothing that are offered at a fraction of their standard cost. Equally important, at all of their stores, and the 477 Broome Street store in particular, the staff, from security/management, to coatcheck personnel, to in-store sales personnel, to merchandise stockers, are all lovely, helpful, friendly and truly committed to ensuring that their customers have comfortable and pleasant shopping experiences. Greetings and consideration, and going out of their way to help such things as finding your size when you can't, are typical for them, especially surprising given that this isn't a typical chill boutique or department store, but a busy sample sale event venue where shoppers are bustling and eager to snag bargains in their size that they covet.The head of security/store manager here, Soufiane, and I may not have spelled his name correctly, is a particular helpful and considerate person whose calm and welcoming demeanor sets the stage for a pleasant and positive shopping experience, whether I succeed in finding something to buy or not. Those are the kind of people that 260 employs. I wish all NYC venues...

This is a terrible store. Only shop here if you want to be disrespected. The staff is rude and misogynistic which is odd considering the sample sale target demo is primarily female. You would think they’d treat their customers better but they literally could care less. I came to the store today, willingly handed over my bag but asked if I could keep my jacket on since I’m recovering from a severe cold. I told them they could fully search my jacket on the way out - every pocket, every inseam - but that i needed to stay warm. I am also an exec in a high end retail store in the area and we have a similar bag/coat check policy but whenever a customer has a health condition we’re obviously accommodating and address the loss prevention issues accordingly. I understand theft is a major concern but if the customer is offering a more than reasonable compromise and there’s health involved general human decency allows for some exceptions.

Not at 260.

The “manager” not only refused he smirked, rolled his eyes and seemed to enjoy making me uncomfortable and putting my health at risk. I have never felt that disrespected in my life and this man’s clear pleasure in abusing his power honestly made me very uncomfortable as a woman. Shop at your own risk, I wouldn’t trust any of this staff around a communal...