Oprah and the Swiss Shop Clerk - Racism or Consideration

[NinaBrooke]

http://gawker.com/racist-shop-clerk-...ive-1077561016

and

http://gawker.com/swiss-shop-clerk-s...ium=socialflow


I think that is one of the biggest example of a misunderstanding between Euro-Habits in Customer Service and American Habits of Customer Service.
I will explain my thoughts more thouroughly later ... More later ...

[ICU 812]

Neither: I'd guess it was condescension.

I have experienced a simila reaction from clerks in Houston's Galleria at Sack's and at a purse store I cant remember the name of (just as my wife has no idea who makes the shotguns I own).

[BFCjosh]

I'm sure the salespeople at those type of stores treat women of all colors like shit if they don't think they can afford the items they're looking at.

There is only one person who knows if it was racism in this incident and it's the saleswoman. But if you think she is going to come out and say it you're out of your mind.

[*GoddessDallas*]

Oprah is going to be in the new movie "The Butler."
Just trying to get publicity for the new movie.

I have been treated the SAME way at Sak's, Nordstrom, and Coach, and am not bitching about it because I am white.

[Guest041216]

Agreed Goddess!

[John Bull]

Word, Goddess!

[pyramider]

Hell that happens to me when I go into Walmart. Hey Oprah, grow a set and get over it.

[R.M.]

I would not want to see Okra's taint or new movie coming out.

[Nurseguy76]

Ophra is accomplished, astronomically wealthy and voted worlds top 50 most recognized people. None of you on this board including myself are in her zip code. Not only is she the 1% in the states but she is in the world. I'm sure she felt slighted like alot of famous people and was thinking "bitch do you know who I am?" Ophra could buy that store and every item in it. All of you comparing your experience at the Gucci store please Stop!! Lol
But really sales people do make assumptions based on how you're dressed whether you can afford their merchandise. I had the same experience at an Audi dealership in which one occasion I had on a tee shirt and shorts and I waited in the lot 15 minutes before a salesperson approached me. The second time I went in uniform and got the red carpet treatment. Its more a presumption of class than race in most instances.

[NinaBrooke]

Originally Posted by *GoddessDallas*

Oprah is going to be in the new movie "The Butler."
Just trying to get publicity for the new movie.

I have been treated the SAME way at Sak's, Nordstrom, and Coach, and am not bitching about it because I am white.

That`s what rumour has... Plus, I also get treated arrogant in swiss customer service. It is a fact that swiss are not very friendly in customer service. Specially in Zurich. I don`t think they do that on purpose, it is just a swiss character thing. They don`t have the "ass crawling" serving attitude like for example germans and especially austrians do have, because in Switzerland it is not an offense to be a "service personal" and therefor you have to look up to people (this is the case in germany and austria, they are seen as inferior to normal people, like someone who did not go to university and whatnot....it`s a typical euro style in job description..). That is why austrians are searched there for customer service . We are just perfect ass crawlers and yay sayers . (Of course this is an extreme description.....) So, Oprah is just pissed, I guess, that no one was crawling up her precious behind and gave her the "You are superior to other people" treatment that she is used to.

On the other hand: The americans are just PURRFECT at handlicn customers. So it might well be that the kind of cold, disinterested, a little "I tell you what you should do" - attitude in europe (switzerland specially) might seem as an offense to americans especially. I remember when I was living in the states, I felt treated like a special person everwhere I shopped. That is because the shop assistants make money on you in a percentage. They knew my name even a year after when frequenting the same shop (Maybe I was such a persistent bugger :-) ..) This is something with an all inclusive salary you don`t get in Europe so often. In some shops you actually have to scream for help to get service. Even in high standard shops. That said. Oprah travels a lot and should have been aware of that.

So - my conclusion: Are swiss shop personals unfriendly and arrogant? Yes. Are they necessarily racist? No. I think the stretch is a little to wide. They treat anyone like that :-). (lol)

[NinaBrooke]

Originally Posted by Nurseguy76

Not only is she the 1% in the states but she is in the world. I'm sure she felt slighted like alot of famous people and was thinking "bitch do you know who I am?" Ophra could buy that store and every item in it. All of you comparing your experience at the Gucci store please Stop!! Lol

True, but she was not introduced like that. Usually special VIP special people and whatnot and richest of the richest (and I assume there are plenty of them in Switzerland - or at least their money is there :-) ) Usually don`t just walk in shops and ask questions.

So am I right in assuming that people who behave like regular people should be treated like regular people? What is so wrong with that? She does not want to be treated like an equal? My god Or shall I say "goddess"
Money does not make you a good or better person. It`s good for Oprah that she is thinking about buying a bag that costs as much as some people earn in a year,

but what happened to welfare? I mean - the crocodile from the crocodile bag does not scream to oprah about "crocodilism", does it? Nor do it`s offsprings get a celebrity bonus.

I mean, I know it`s D&T but what about a dose of reality every once and a while

And in all honesty: I have not ever once in my life seen the Oprah Winfrey Show. Ever. And I don`t feel a little bit guilty for that at all. It`s a miracle to me that people can make so much money with such things . Sad for all the people who don`t live of other people`s indiscretions or scandals.

[NinaBrooke]

Originally Posted by BFCjosh

I'm sure the salespeople at those type of stores treat women of all colors like shit if they don't think they can afford the items they're looking at.

exactly. ANd it is not even meant that way. Its just a general habit . Plus: Europeans are not as friendly as americans in general. There might be several reasons for that, but to dive into that cultural differences is too much for now. I remember when I was starting to work as an escort and went to luxury boutiques for the first times. I was so angry all the time because I was treated like shit. It made me just appear like an arrogant person myself and then all of the sudden it worked . Nowadays I buy online mostly, I am tired of interacting with people at all when shopping. Shops are too mindboggingly huge and it gives me anxiety attacks . I love small Wolford shops where you have a hard time turning around and don`t get ADD like attacks of "WHAT THE HELL SHALL I BUY HERE" because it is so overwhelmingly much!

[NinaBrooke]

And as usual I actually always think the comments are much more worth reading than the actual article. What people write when using pseudonyms that can`t be attached to actual personas at all (different from escorts like us, I tend to believe) makes my toes curl:

This person - astralgirl - talks about racism and uses words that show how much of a stereotypist she actually is:
"8

Okaaaaay? I had a friend that used to work at the (dearly departed) Helmut Lang boutique here in NYC, and she used to make SIX FIGURES a year by putting up and shutting up with snooty yuppies and egotistical Eurotrash. Even if I was a big ol' racist, I bet I could deal with a supposedly "uppity negro" (like Oprah supposedly is... or like me, ha) for 20 or 30 minutes. Even if she made a lil ol' 3% commission, she would have made $1050 off of that $35K bag! Hell, she coulda cussed Oprah out all the way to the bank!"

and another fun comment:

Hey, working class native, when a billionaire American celebrity tourist speaks to you you better show proper deference to your betters, m'kay?

or

In the few times I've traveled to Europe, I can tell Americans stand out and do ignorant things that must annoy the residents. Still no excuse for the French going out of their way to be douchey and condescending to us, but I hear they are like that to everyone? 8/12

or

I've worked retail. If Hitler himself came into buy an upscale bag, I'd've sold it to him



And I assume by "Eurotrash" she probably means the upscale newly rich russians ... They are a lot of fun when dealing with them at customer service, I have to admit )))

[ForumPoster]

Originally Posted by *GoddessDallas*

Oprah is going to be in the new movie "The Butler."
Just trying to get publicity for the new movie.

I have been treated the SAME way at Sak's, Nordstrom, and Coach, and am not bitching about it because I am white.

Plus one. Its very conveniently timed

[NinaBrooke]

ooopps