This is the second time that Oprah Winfrey had some bad experience while shopping in Europe. I remember last year or early this year, she was in Paris trying to enter a high-end boutique when the sales lady locked the door and didn’t allow her to enter when it was still fifteen minutes before closing time.
The sales lady at the bag’s boutique certainly didn’t know who Oprah was or didn’t recognize her. Paghindi kasi naka make-up ang mga celebrity mahirap makilala agad. But of course, there must be no distinction and racial profiling. If you’re selling a bag and someone want to look at it, don’t say “you cannot afford it” even if that’s what you think. Edmund was wondering if Oprah had no bodyguards or personal assistants while she was shopping.
I have told this story a few times before.
I had a similar experience in Frankfurt.
But it didn’t bother me kasi sino ba ako.
Okay lang. Useless na mainis. I was with Aileen, window shopping kami in Frankfurt, napakatagal na ito, siguro 15 years ago. I saw a nice dress worn by the mannequin at a display window. I think it was a Versace. I entered the small boutique. As soon as the old blonde lady saw me, she stood up and with panic in her eyes, she stretched out both her arms and prevented me from walking closer to where the dresses were hung.
She said “What? No, no, outside only”.
I said “I want to look at the dresses”.
She said “Look outside only”.
She was old, maybe in her late sixties or 70. I didn’t want to quarrel with her. I would definitely lose. She would call the German police, baka kung saan pa ako itapon. Aileen and I just stepped back and we went inside the adjacent Etienne Aigner boutique. It had 3 floors. At first, the two German sales ladies looked so formal, bordering on doubtful look and alertful, baka siguro kala mang-uumit kami. One followed me wherever I went without saying a word. When I reached the second floor, I saw a light blue blouse made of silk. I grabbed it and went to the fitting room. In fairness to her, she didn’t stop me.
When I went out of the fitting room, I went down to the cashier and placed the blouse on the table. When I handed her my American Express card, her facial expression changed. She gave me a faint smile and after I have signed the receipt, she even asked me to look for some more, like a matching skirt or pants.
Here’s the blouse. It’s old but still looks okay because I have only worn it maybe 4 times.
By the way, there’s a Filipina dentist based in Vallejo who carries around a $55,000 Hermes bag made of crocodile skin. Her close relative told me.
same thing happened to my hb and I. We were in our early 20s then on our honeymoon. We went inside the LV store in Monaco and planned to buy bags for our mothers, my hb took a liking to the epi line which was more expensive than the monogrammed ones, and asked to see a particular bag. The old SA refused, adding we could not afford it. My hb showed credit card and cash and asked “these are not enough?” So grudgingly she showed us the bag and hb bought it. I think it was really racial discrimination as in against our race, and not so much that they think we could not afford it. Parang naiinis pa sila na our race could afford it and they have to serve us.