How would you react to a sales rep saying "well you're not young, why do you like that style of wedding gown?"

Question

I'm 30 and definitely don't look older and am quite petite. I'm sure she'd seen older brides just while I was even in the shop.

What would you say to that?

Answer 1

I would have told her I would take the dress, had her ring it up and then told her I had changed my mind....I saw the same exact dress at another store (even if it wasn't true) and the sales people were SUPER friendly, complimentary and helpful and I was going to buy the dress from them.

The dress is gorgeous and you are definitely NOT old!  Not by any stretch of the imagination.  I am sure you will look absolutely stunning in it!

Congrats and may your wedding be magical!

Answer 2

I would ask her if she worked on commission? Then I would tell her that i have changed my mind and before i walked out of the store i would request to talk to the manager and tell her how insulted i was.

Answer 3

My comment would be.

Because I do, but since you insist on not selling it I will go somewhere else to spend my money and march off.

Then kindly mail the manager.

PS.You wear that dress if you like it. Personally I don't but it is to be your dress and you (and only you) have to be happy with it  

Answer 4

The gown is beautiful and you should be able to wear what you want. I would tell the salesperson that you will wear what you like, her definition of "young" is obviously not the same as yours and that you will take your business elsewhere.

Not quite the same thing-but several years ago I was shopping for a new car.  I'm not a fancy dressing person and was in blue jeans and t-shirt. I was looking at new SUV's and minivans.  The salesperson looked at me and said, "Let's go over here and look at what you can afford."  I told him, "No thanks" and left and went to another new car dealer. Later that day, I called the first dealership back and talked to the manager and told him to inform the rude salesperson that he lost out on a big sale because I bought late model year new van with less than 1000 miles on it. I had an insurance check for $11,000 in my purse (my other van had been stolen) for the down payment. I also told the manager that I would be letting everyone know how I was treated by their salesman based on my appearance and that I would never even browse at their dealership again.

  That's how I would handle rude salespeople.

Answer 5

I would have been really upset..I would have said "becasue that's what I like and what the h**l does taste have to do with age?? I didn't know you had a junior department here!??  

Answer 6

Maybe the pick-up style is more popular with the younger brides, as in less than 25. I am an "older bride" myself at 33 LOL.

She was inappropriate. I guess you could have said something like "Ah, but I am young in spirit!" Or seriously, ignored her, and told her you wanted to try it on anyway. Then, talked to her manager.

Answer 7

It would depend on how it was delivered.  I've become friends with the lady who owns the shop that I'm using and she has found that mostly young brides are more enamored with the gowns that include pick-up accents.  The bridal shop sales rep was probably trying to make conversation, but wasn't very adept at it.  Either way, it sounds clumsy and the delivery would really determine my response.  If you were offended, then I would probably avoid using that shop.  

Most bridal shops are thrilled to have 30 and over brides because we're generally easier clients for them.  The young girls planning to be a "princess for a day" drive them nuts, so it's usually a pleasure for them to work with a woman who knows what she wants and can afford to pay for it.  These shops see all kinds of craziness with the younger brides.

Best wishes!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

Well, I agree with her. Those pickup skirts look like prom dresses.

It's not necessarily just an age thing - she probably thought you just might look better in something a bit more classic/elegant.

http://www.foreverbridals.com/gownpix.as...

http://www.foreverbridals.com/gownpix.as...

http://www.foreverbridals.com/gownpix.as...

http://www.foreverbridals.com/gownpix.as...

http://www.foreverbridals.com/gownpix.as...

Answer 9

If you are a true petite, which means you are 5'3" or under, that dress might swallow you up.  You won't know until you've tried it on, gotten some photos from all angles, and maybe even had your mom or best friend make a video of you walking in the dress - again, from several angles.  (I'm 5'3", and although my wedding was quite a few years ago, I remember very well how some of the dresses that I adored were simply too overwhelming.)

But age?  There's nothing about being 30 that says, "You must wear an ugly sheath dress that looks like a slip just like Carolyn what's-her-name wore when she married John Kennedy Jr."  In fact, at 30 you're still young enough to wear lace and bows and frills and flounces if you want them, and you're mature enough to pull off a sleeker, more sophisticated silhouette if that's what you want.

I think that sales lady doesn't need your business and the store owner/manager needs to be notified that her employees need a good manners brush-up.

The dress is lovely.  You will know the minute you put it on if that's YOUR dress.  And if it is, rest assured you will be a beautiful, YOUNG bride.

Answer 10

She is one of those people who do not have a verbal filter.  You can't be offended by everything someone says to you.  If you can go somewhere else, I say go elsewhere, and make sure management knows that's the reason you decided not to purchase from them.

Answer 11

I would thank her politely for her advice, smile sweetly and walk out to never come back. There are plenty of other bridal shops who would love to have you as a customer.

I think it is a lovely dress....... and certainly not a dress you cannot wear when you are 30!

Answer 12

I like the Pretty Woman comeback mentioned!

And 30 IS YOUNG!  I'm 31 myself, and still single.  

No matter, that lady was beyond rude, whatever she "meant" by it.

So what did you actually say to her, how did you handle it?

I most likely would've said, "Excuse me?  And WHAT do you mean by THAT?"  And she'd probably either fumble or dig herself deeper, then I'd ask for her manager to complain and take my business elsewhere.

Answer 13

Just like in "Pretty Woman" - "Do you work on commission? Big, big mistake!"

Answer 14

Probably she meant it as a compliment.

Younger women that do not know better tend to pick princessy/puffy styles. The gown shown is a pick-up-style, and it's very passe now...

You being a svelte, mature woman should pick up something trendy and sophisticated.

Good luck

Answer 15

I would have said something along the lines of "I don't think I will be buying from this store and I think my bridal party will go somewhere else to until manners become more important than criticism." And then I would have left without another word.

Answer 16

If you're quite petite, that dress will overwhelm you.  

Answer 17

I'd probably not say much, but quickly leave there and not buy anything from them. I wouldn't give someone like that my business.

Answer 18

That is a pretty dress, and if your figure is similar to the model's, you would look great. Trust me, 30 is not old at all...it's fairly young.

However, if your are a bit heavy, she may have been trying to discourage you from the dress in a polite way.

Choose a dress that is flattering to your figure..don't worry about what everyone else is wearing. I see women all the time that will look back one day at their wedding pictures and wonder what they were thinking when they chose their wedding dress.  

Answer 19

I would have said that she needs some manners and went to a different bridal shop. the dress is beautiful i would see if you can find it somewhere else where the associates are more polite

Answer 20

Well, your are obnoxious, why are you working at a bridal place?

Just take your business elsewhere... or come around some other time and ask to speak to anyone else who's actually willing to sell a dress. That should tick her off more, since the commission that should have been her's for being your "original" salesperson, just goes to her fellow salesperson.

If she's the one greeting you, just tell her, I'd like to speak to someone who doesn't make a habit out of insulting her customer's.

Or ask to speak to the manager/owner and ask them "Have you employed anyone who actually wants to sell me a dress"

Good Luck, and sorry you had to go through that... But revenge can be sweet...

Answer 21

I'd tell her she wasn't looking all that young herself for what she was wearing.....then I'd walk out and take my business elsewhere.

It's NOT her place to comment on your age or the style of dress you wish to wear....and it's her opinion, it doesn't mean it's true.

Answer 22

for what it is worth the dress is beautiful and you will look beautiful in it .this sales associate is just a dumb A** who is jelous that she can't look as good as you in that dress on maybe she is jelous that she can't find her a man so she can benifeit from a dress half as pretty as your best of luck with the dress and congradulations on your up coming wedding

Answer 23

My first reaction would be to look at her and say "Excuse me?" as if I didn't hear her correctly.  That lady was tactless and rude.

My second reaction would be to say if this was an example of the customer service they provide, I needed to look elsewhere for my gown.

Answer 24

"What does my age have to do with my taste in gowns? In fact, I've seen this at another shop and I am sure they will appreciate my business there. Thank you for your help!"

And then I smile and walk out.

Answer 25

What an evil b*tch!!  That gown is beautiful and you are young.  That is a terrible and tasteless thing to say.  Go to a different shop to purchase your dress then either go in and talk to her manager or write a letter to the manager and tell her your experience and that they lost your business.

Answer 26

Sounds like a sales rep who isn't interested in making a commission!  What an idiot.  Take your business elsewhere and get treated like you deserve to be treated.

Answer 27

If she has longish hair you could have said, "it's kind of like your hair...you are a bit old to be wearing it that long"

Or you could have said something totally off the wall and if you noticed a wedding ring said, "Hey, it's not my fault that you married so young"

or if you did not notice a ring, say "Hey, it's not my fault no one wants to marry you.....don't take your frustrations out on me".

I think you should schedule another appointment with her and run her around like a dog.  Try on 50 dresses and act all indecisive and unsure.  Say her name alot too...because that is really irritating..."Sheila, what do you think of this, ...Sheila, Zip me up, Sheila, I want you to hold the back of this dress so I can see what it would look like if I altered it to be a straight skirt and not a ball gown style.  You could keep her busy with trying on 25 pairs of shoes alone.    

Answer 28

I personally would have total him frankly it is non of your business how old I am I did not come here for you to judge what I should buy because of my age.  Now if want to keep your comment to your self I will continue to shop here if not your not the only bridal shop in town

By the way I think the gown is beautiful

Answer 29

WOW that's super rude!!! I would take my business elsewhere!! 30 is NOT old by anymeans!

Answer 30

First of all, that is a GORGEOUS gown, and nothing about it says "young" to me... it says "I'm a classy bride". Also, when did 30 become "old"?!?! Don't even think twice about what that rude woman said.

And to the sales lady, I would say "Thank you for your time, I'll be going elsewhere to spend my gobs of money at a reputable bridal store, where the sales representatives will appreciate the commission they get from me. Have a great day." ;)

Answer 31

I would probably say something like "Oh, I wasn't aware that the dresses here have an age limit" to the sales person and then walk out of the store and never return. I would be very offended by what the lady said. Obviously her customer service skills are at a big fat ZERO.

BTW it is a beautiful dress :)