Filed under: Comment
So I was in Topshop [don’t ask] last weekend and bought a rather tasteful [read: not very tasteful] t-shirt.
I went up to the register to pay only to be told by the man behind the till that I was at the wrong counter.
“Oh, sorry …” I replied, “… could you tell me where I go to pay then please?”
He looked at me with a weary stare before saying, “… the other side of this counter”.
Because there was no way he could of meant the till that was two feet to my right, I actually looked to see if there was a pay kiosk on the other side of the store, but no – the silly sod literally meant I had to take a small step to the right to be at the correct till.
I would like to say I questioned the sanity of this decision but I was so shocked – especially when I saw the guy move to the side and then act like he’d never seen me before – that I quietly stepped across, handed over my cash and left wondering what I’d just experienced.
I appreciate Topshop and Topman probably have different P&L’s, but this is ridiculous.
I’m sure their store scanning devise could automatically separate items purchased by division and even if they can’t, a simple button on the till would allow staff to make that call.
Hell, what does it say about the kind of staff Topman/shop employ if they feel if necessary to have a totally different till for them to make that judgement???
I know there’s a lot of clothes that seem unisex, but even I – with the fashion sense of a 14 year old boy from 1984 – could work it out so I’m sure they could too.
I have a nasty feeling a ‘brand consultant’ came up with this idea to drive ‘brand individuality’ [hahaha] – however it doesn’t matter how individual your brand is if you piss off all your customers is it?
Almost as fucked as those shops that have an escalator going down into the store but only stairs coming up.
“Come in … come in …” they cry in their seductive tone, only to kick you out without a second thought as soon as they’ve got what they wanted.
Abit like teenage boys really, ha!
Sort it out Topman/Topshop – it’s mentalness and not in a good way!
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that’ll learn you for going to topshop then, won’t it… next time you’ll realise that fighting with the ferals and shopping at primark is the way of the future.
Comment by lauren October 30, 2008 @ 7:37 amI didn’t mind Topshop… simple clothes for everyday that aren’t pricey but still look half decent. It’s a good business… but that employee just sounds like a total knobhead. What’s with people being so involved (and almost scared to deviate) in their role that they forget to act like a fucking human?
Comment by Age October 30, 2008 @ 7:52 ami bet you look fucking lovely in your kate moss designed skirt campbell or did you plump for one of their tshirts with some inane phrase on it like “save animals, kiss a beaver”?
compared to this sort of shit the writers of police squad, carry on films and most fucking ad agencies look cutting edge, thats how totally fucking pathetic they are.
except your jesus the mexican gardnener and my love my penis. they fucking rule especially when we wear them in inappropriate places which is basically everyfuckingwhere
how many times do i have to tell you this sort of “fashion” doesnt make you look any younger campnbell it just makes you look a whole lot more fucking sad but i have to say you wear the clothes rather than the other way round which is the nice way of saying youre a sad bastard
said with love as always 🙂
Comment by andy@cynic October 30, 2008 @ 8:14 amYou wear a t-shirt with “I Love My Penis” emblazoned on the front and you call my fashion dodgy?!
You’ve got more front than Brighton beach – both metaphorically and physically. 🙂
Comment by Rob October 30, 2008 @ 11:19 amTopman has always pushed the line between edgy and camp… I wonder which side your shirt comes under!
And it is silly really, why not just have a button to say “Topman / Topshop” before you pay on the till.
What if you AND Jill bought clothes, would you have to queue twice?!
Comment by Rob Mortimer October 30, 2008 @ 5:14 pmJill is embarassed enough to be married to me, let alone be seen in public buying camp clothing 🙂
Comment by Rob October 30, 2008 @ 6:27 pmbit of a god complex there… creating fate??
though it ties in nicely with certain clients who wanna control everything as well 🙂
Comment by Niko October 30, 2008 @ 6:35 pmTrust you to see that Niko. I was still logged into the Sunshine blog hence the mistake, it’s not a god complex. Well, not a public one 🙂
Comment by Rob October 30, 2008 @ 6:49 pmsure rob..and I can quit (insert random vice) anytime I want, I just choose not to
Comment by Niko October 30, 2008 @ 7:04 pmI’m selling “I love Billy’s penis” t-s if anyone is interested. Form an orderly queue ladeez.
Comment by Billy Whizz October 30, 2008 @ 9:56 pm“advertising doesn’t create a product advantage. It can only convey it.” Bernbach 🙂
Comment by Niko October 30, 2008 @ 10:10 pmI’d love to have one Billy but I hear they only come in xtra small. 🙂
Comment by Jemma King October 30, 2008 @ 10:19 pmJemma x
Very harsh Jemma but very funny.
I feel I have to say something about the Bernbach quote Niko has just posted. Back when he made that statement the advertising industry was a very different beast. Advertising’s role was fundamentally structured to “promote” because the World was economically, technologically and culturally in a different place. Because of this, publicity was often all that was needed to drive desire which would then create distribution and as a result, sales.
The situation today is very different and advertising has to go beyond just passive engagement to get anywhere close to what it once achieved in the 50’s and 60’s. We believe advertising is about getting involved in the creation of product differentation rather than just the communication which is why I feel if Bernbach was alive today he would retract his statement.
Mind you if Bernbach was alive today he would suffer a heart attack at what his great agency had become.
Comment by George October 30, 2008 @ 10:37 pmGeorge, are you suggesting we all chip in and buy the Kid some of those Nigerian growth pills??
Comment by Niko October 30, 2008 @ 10:50 pmI only have a small size for you Jem, for all the other ladies out there it’s extra fucking huge.
Comment by Billy Whizz October 30, 2008 @ 10:56 pmYou’re so cute when you’re upset Billy.
Comment by Jemma King October 31, 2008 @ 1:09 amJemma x
fuck me both jemma and george are trying to become me with their comments. i knew i was their hero.
jemma fucking wins with her fucking evil top comment but im proud of george for his little bit of spice its a big thing for the auntie 🙂
Comment by andy@cynic October 31, 2008 @ 8:12 amI almost felt sorry for Billy when I saw your comment Jemma. I said ‘almost’. 🙂
And I’m proud of George, it’s taken us 5 years to poison his mind but it seems to be finally taking a hold. Sorry Mary – it’s all Andy’s fault, ha!
Comment by Rob October 31, 2008 @ 9:17 am