Louis Vuitton is the most popular handbag brand among Asians and maybe in the world. It is common to see long lines outside its stores in major cities like Hongkong, Paris especially at the Galeries lafayette, Manhattan New York, Milan, Vienna, Prague. In areas where there are no lines, customers are still crowding inside the stores.
At the LV store in Barcelona, we went back again because my sister wanted to buy a bag. There was a long line that extended to the sidewalk.
As a customer, we should be mindful that the sales staffs are busy attending to hundreds of people a day. We must not take our sweet time because the line gets longer outside. It’s like eating in a full-packed restaurant. Be mindful that others are waiting for a table and standing. As soon as you’ve finished eating, do not linger and talk about non-sensible things while other people are waiting with empty stomachs. Be considerate of others.
My advice to those of you who are not ready to buy an LV or are only looking, browsing, deciding, you may do so without disturbing others. Go around the store and check out what they have. If you are not really buying, just say “I’m just looking, thank you”.
When you want to buy but don’t have a clue what bag you want, go to the stores and window shop. DO NOT go there and pretend that you are ready to buy by asking the sales staff “may I see that?”, how much is this? Ah that one, that. Not this one, may I have that one, the one on the top shelf, may I have that? Where is your mirror?” Is this nice?
Ah not this one, that one is nice too. May I see that? Click, I will viber to my friend, wait “Hello, hello, maganda ba? Bagay ba? Oo o hinde? Mahal syempre. “Miss, I am still choosing, wait for a while”.
Hmm, I like this one, do you have a different size? Bigger maybe?”
After a few minutes, “Oh this is too heavy, do you have a smaller size?”
How much is that again?”
Being mindful and considerate also equate to being decisive.
When we walked in at this Barcelona LV the first time, I didn’t touch any item. I had no plans of buying anything but at the same time, trying to see if they have something new that I will like. My eyes and wallet were open just in case I found something worth buying. So as not to bother other people, I just went around the two story store and looked at things by myself without the assistance of a sales staff.
The dresses and shoes were on the second floor.
I didn’t try on any of these wedges although they caught my attention. I only allotted 10 minutes for my browsing so I had no time to linger around this store.
Len, Bong and I went back to the LV store the next day.
We waited in line outside the door for about 15 minutes. Even when we were already at the first line inside the boutique, we still waited for more than 20 minutes while all the sales people were still busy attending to the others. We stood there in front of the display cabinet for a good 15 minutes for the next available sales person.
I noticed there was a Filipino family on the left side who were all busy choosing. By the number of handbags that were being shown to them by the three sales ladies, I could tell that they were way ahead of us.
My sister already knew which bag she wanted, the size, and the price. She compared the Euro price if she would buy the same bag in the US and she had already ascertained the night before that she would be saving around $300 if she buys from the LV store in Barcelona.
When a sales guy approached us, the decision-making process was quick. He also intimated that some customers spend half hour deciding. They take photos and videos of the bags and send to their families/ friends in China.
While Aileen’s bag was being wrapped, the Filipino family hasn’t decided yet. Nauna pa kami. They were still speaking to someone on facetime, naka video yung mga bags, isa-isa ipinapakita dun sa nasa Maynila siguro. Po-pose yung nadito sa store, while hawak yung isang bag, tapos isa naman, tapos merong camera naka video, tinatanong kung maganda ba o ito ba, magkano? etc. I saw someone looking like an older person on the camera screen. I was wondering if that person’s the one paying for the bag. Based on their actions, the one on the screen is not the one buying at saka older people may no longer be as meticulous and particular about what kind of bag ang bitbit nya.
What’s taking them so long to decide what bag to purchase? Based on my experience, when one couldn’t decide which one to buy, it’s because of the price. The person is not prepared to spend that much.
The three LV sales personnel were still composed and trying to be accommodating but I could tell that they were tired and not happy at all with the indecisiveness of this Filipino customers. I sensed that this family was not ready to shell out that amount of money or else they would not waste their time and other people’s time before making that decision. They were totally engrossed with the facetime thingy, oblivious of their surroundings and of the 50 + Asian customers waiting in line under the sun.
