So earlier today, I shared my voucher for Hobbs, where you can get a free pashmina, in a lovely purple colour, if you use it by Wednesday 4 May 2011.
I also had, and had been waiting to use it on something lovely, a £25 discount card that came on the front of Red Magazine in January. That ran out today, so I went there specially to use it. With Lovely Bloke, E (age 4) and W (3 next month) and the buggy. To the Hobbs shop in Cambridge. The stand alone shop.
I have the same experience every time I go there. It’s like the scene from Pretty Woman – you know, where Julia Roberts is told that there’s “nothing for you in here” etc. It was just like that – they looked me up and down and did that “you’re not worthy to shop in here” huffy stuff. Seriously??? Do they know how much I’ve spent in Hobbs over the years? Lovely Bloke has since estimated that it’s more than £12,000 (I used to wear their suits in London and in Hatfield…)
E and W gear up for their rolling around on the floor antics, so I pick up a blue and white striped top and head to the desk to pay. A customer in front of me is mid transaction which is fine. But the other two women stand there chatting – about non work stuff. They can see me but they don’t come to process my transaction. I’m irritated by this but keep quiet.. Then when the customer is done and leaves, I present my voucher and request my scarf. Shop Assistant A asks Assistant B for help. They then bicker over who will go to get the scarf out of the back for me. The boys are being physically held apart by lovely bloke at this point.
And then Shop Assistant B who felt she was too grand to help me with my shopping started on me saying I couldn’t have two discounts or offers in one shop. I explained I wasn’t looking for that. I just wanted my pashmina with the voucher. And to use the £25 card for the t shirt. I didn’t expect a further 10% off it. Shop Assistant B goes over it twice more and it’s only when Assistant A returns and says – “yes, she knows that” that I’m permitted to have it.
I don’t have Richard Gere to come in and make people be nicer to me in a shop so it’s up to me to make this situation better for myself. Do you know how I’ve done that – Lovely Bloke and I have committed my wardrobe funds to Fenn Wright and Manson, John Lewis, LK Bennett, Phase Eight and anywhere BUT Hobbs for the foreseeable future. And I’m going to tweet and facebook this everywhere.
Just because I am a Mum, and I’m not the slimmest size that crosses their threshold, and I don’t wear matching Hobbs stuff from head to toe, it doesn’t mean that I can’t afford to shop there, or don’t deserve to wear their clothes, or should be looked down upon by them.
Here’s hoping that some other people decide not to push money their way and then maybe they will start to be a bit friendlier to people……
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