Why Brick & Mortar isn't doing too well

Ok, yes, I understand the economy is in the tank. I understand we're in a recession but not in a recession. Gas prices are sky high and food prices are increasing daily. I get that. But, with four (4) days of unintentional research, I can tell you why brick & mortar stores aren't doing well:

One word: Attitude

Example 1: Sunday, I found the cutest shirt EVER. EVER. Seriously. This might help solve at least one crisis in the middle east. Turns out, I know the store owner who was selling the aformentioned shirt. (And by know I mean I know who she is and she knows me as someone who is always happy to spend money in her store.)

Me: Do you have this in my size?

Her: I only have what's out there.

She didn't get up from her chair or look herself 'cause usually clients are stupid and can't see what's in front of them. She didn't care that I couldn't find the overpriced shirt and she didn't even try to show me something equally as cute and overpriced. She even knows me & Todd 'cause we always buy the same line (*cough* Hello Kitty *cough*) and didn't even attempt to mention or show us oh, I don't know, the 3 racks of new stuff she had. She just sort of hung out in her chair.

So yeah, I went home did a few searches on the google and ordered the shirt online. Five magical days later I had the shirt.

Example 2: Monday I wandered into J.Crew on my lunch hour and started trying things on.

Me: Hey, I was in here 2 weeks ago and you had these awesome denim capris but I was helping a friend shop for a business trip so I didn't feel I could try them on. Could you help me find them?

Saleslady: Yeah, we don't have them any more. Why don't you try these on and then I'll order you the size from the catalog.

Me: Uhm, those are a completely different fabric, size, style and fit.

At this point I'm still talking but she's looking at me like I'm speaking Japanese...not that Japanese isn't a lovely language, just a language the saleslady doesn't speak. So yeah, I walked out.

Example 3: Tuesday I ran out to the pet store to get Advantage for the kids. Not only was it almost twice the price as buying it online, which I was willing to pay to get it immediately, but the line at the register was four deep with no other sales staff in sight (and this isn't a small store) to help and the chick ringing wasn't exactly speedy or even trying to be speedy.

Yeah, walked out, went to the dry cleaner and then ordered it online. Two days later, with free shipping (!), I had the Advantage and tortured the dogs with it.


Example 4: Wednesday I went to Bath & Body Works as they one of the only stores to carry my nail polish. I stood at the wall o' nail polish and they didn't have ONE SINGLE THING I needed. They didn't have the color my mom has worn for YEARS or any of the new stuff from either spring or summer or even the new top coat. So I walked out, came back to work and, all together now....ordered it online. Two weeks later, poof, like magic, I have three polishes, one for mom, two for me and a new topcoat to try out.

Here I am, breaking all the current spending trends by buying stuff I don't necessarily need, but definately want and no one is helping me. And I've worked retail...for years I worked retail. I've worked at Express, Bloomingdale's, Fred Segal, Frette...I've done $9 shirts and $150 jeans and the jeans were $150 15 years ago. So, I'm not very patient with the excuse that people who work retail don't make much...I know that...I had that paycheck for almost 10 years and yet I still helped people because that was my job.


So, when I'm watching or reading the news and all the retailers are complaining that sales are down and woe is me and blah, blah, blah...here's an idea, how about you help the people who are in your stores. Maybe you could start there 'cause until you're nice to the people spending their money on your merchandise, I'm not going too feel too sorry for you.