Saks OFF 5TH — Local services in Orange

So first off I am going to say this, if you’re going to have outlet shopping, how about to take Neman Marcus, Saks, Bloomingdales out of the equation. Those stores are so expensive that they really don’t need those metal detector tags on them. People who can’t afford that won’t even walk in. So their customer service sucks. I’m walking through the store (one of the only stores with more men’s than women’s clothes) I find this ‘Versace Collection’ really thin sweater, very nice, and a black ‘Versace Collection’ polo shirt. I’m on my way to check out and I’m looking for my mother and then I walk into the suit area. No one was there, no one to help out. This baby blue/red stripe silk suit jacket by ‘Burberry’ was just hanging off the hanger, SMH. I call my mom to see where she is, no answer. So I hung up the 2 items I had and began to walk out of the store. Now I did have an Old Navy bag from earlier purchases, but that was it. This white guy who was tagging jewelry decided he needed to follow me to the door. Okay so I’m a creole guy (black/Spanish) and US Marine Vet who happened to be wearing my OIF hat. No reason to believe that I was trying to steal anything from the “Saks Off 5th,” and I’m no thief. Instead of saying anything to me, the guy walks out to the door and then stands there for a minute while I’m talking to my mom on the bench and stares me down, and even when he walks away he is still looking. Common sense says that no person that is trying to steal something would just stay there at the store! So F it, I walk back in and tried to speak to him calmly “Excuse me, Excuse me Sir, excuse me,” but he continued to walk away from me. Spoke to another guy in that area that had more bags than me. So I just told him “I have too much honor on my heart and I’m a man, not a thief.” I can afford some ‘Versace Collection.” The total for everything was less than $200, the only reason I didn’t get to purchase it was because I had been looking for my mom. $89 for a shirt, $178 for the sweater. After that I didn’t even want anything from that store. There were other people, other guys that walked out on his watch, why not follow them? Why didn’t he speak to me, but to everyone else. This is what happens when you turn luxury into a common thing. He had the guts and balls behind the glass door, but wouldn’t speak when I said excuse me. Yea it’s got some good prices, but why when everyone can get it and why when I’m going to be treated like some rat thief? These businesses are going out of business because of terrible customer service and the fact we can order stuff online and in apps. I actually have the Saks 5th app on my phone and lemme tell you, a “Versace” T-shirt is more than $178..... So for that I am going to shop online because obviously this isn’t the first time there has been customer service issues here, and they’re going to continue to hire people who don’t care about the customer, just that minimum wage check they make at ‘Saks...

Worst Customer Service EVER! If I could give NO stars, that would be more truthful.

Saks Off Fifth is similar to all the other "discount" designer stores such as Nordstrom Rack, Loehmanns, and Neiman Marcus Last Call. As a consumer, I expect to get less than stellar service when I go into these places. However, having just been to Nordstrom Rack, I can tell you Saks has a long way to go to come up to the level Nordstrom delivers. If I didn't really need the item I was buying, I would've walked out.

First, the dressing rooms. You're only allowed to bring 6 items at a time into the room with you. You have to put the things you don't want outside the room in order to take any more back in. Which means you have to go outside in various stages of undress. Hey Saks, ever considered that a person might want to buy more than six items? What's the point of the limit? PS: There's no one to help you - this being the "no frills" form of dressing room attendants. PSS: The prices are way higher here than at Nordstrom Rack, and Loehmanns.

Now, if you've found something you want, you go to the nearest register to pay. Today, I was the only person standing there waiting to pay. There was a gal behind the counter messing around with some shoes. I waited patiently for her to help me but alas, it was not happening. There were 6, yes 6, other people standing around the register. I made eye contact with everyone of them and nope, nobody acknowledged me. So, I finally asked the gal behind the counter if anyone wanted to "take my money." She said, "Yes, just a minute." Really? I have to beg to give you money? At Nordstrom Rack, any associate in the store can check you out. All you have to do is look for their green shirt and tell them you'd like to pay. Heaven.

The last really funny part is that they don't take debit cards! What store these days only takes credit? Maybe one that wants you to incur interest on your purchase?? That may not be so but what other reason could there be? As a business owner myself, I know it's way less expense for the merchant to take debit cards instead of credit cards. AND, wait for it....it's a lot more convenient for the CUSTOMER.

Run away from...

Poorest customer service! From the cosmetic to the regular store staff. While I was standing in line to pay, something from somewhere on one of the shelves next to me fell down on the floor and broke. Few minutes later, a store employee came over. I couldn't believe my ears of what I heard from a store employee:. "did you break it?" instead of asking if I was ok. When I answered "no I didn't". Then she answered "WHATEVER". What kind of customer service is it? The worst I have ever encountered so far. Spoke with the shift manager. I don't have high hopes for the action correction. Don't Sak 5th educate employees of Customer Service 101. Aside from this, I usually haven't had great experience with the cosmetic counter either. In general, be emotionally prepared when coming to places like this if you absolutely have to. PLEASE CONSIDER ANNUAL EMPLOYEE EDUCATION ABOUT CUSTOMERS...