It’s Good To Be Queen!
As a savvy and (now) persnickety shoe shopper, I have noticed that during that this economic “emergency” a positive fashion trend might actually be emerging (or reemerging)… Not that I want to give you a shocking flat or tip you off of your five-inch Dior’s (btw did you see those hot pink ladies in the Bergdorf’s latest spring preview—they’re definitely worth a toast or two…), but it seems that CUSTOMER SERVICE might actually be making a much needed come back.
“Better late than never!” says Sista. When cash is scarce and store stock (not my Macy’s stock) is high, boutiques large and small need to get back to basics and time-honored best practices that won customer loyalty in the first place… That’s why United Airlines new GM for Cabin Appearance AKA “Mr. Clean,” gets a super-sized hireheels kick-up! He’s bringing the “friendly skies” back to the poor slobs (and I mean slobs) who fly (see vid from NBC Nightly News)… Thanks for giving a touch-up to the make-up of those dingy aisles Mr. Clean— this road/sky warrior will be choosing your airline more often from now on.
As for the rest of you…, I suggest you clean up your acts. And US Air, you should have never taken free soft drinks off of the roster in the first place!!! I don’t mind paying for my super-shaken grey goose martini, but paying for my D.C. (Diet Coke) chaser is totally U A (unacceptable)!
It’s mile-high time that the CUSTOMER IS QUEEN AGAIN!!!
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
on February 24th, 2009 at 1:27 am
sista i wish berry clean up his act . but then again that asking to much it seems everythings above his paygrade .
on February 24th, 2009 at 5:56 am
I don’t shop much, but when I do, I must say that my shopping drug of choice down here in Texas is Nordstrom’s. They make you feel like royalty whenever you walk in! The sales people look like and act like real people, and are actually happy to see you. It’s always a wonderful experience to go there, no matter how much or how little you spend.
Compare that to the worst shopping experience I ever had: Chanel’s in Palm Beach…….the “wait staff” looked at me like I had just foreclosed on an orphange……..I didn’t look rich, so they actually snubbed me. I’m not rich, but I know I have more $ than those salespeople down there. And I guess they’ve never read Coco’s biography.
But, I still wear # 5 to this day, in spite of that experience.
…..back to Nord’s. I keep telling my friends to keep shopping, at least a little, during this economic downturn, so that wonderfully customer-friendly stores like Nordstrom’s will remain afloat! Their sales are wonderful, too!
We hear ya Cindy! Nordstrom has been a staple in the industry for decades and their superb customer service practices have been the model for many other retailers in the US and throughout the world.
on February 24th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Amen Cindy! Funny you should mention the Palm Beach Chanel. I was visiting a friend in West Palm a couple weeks ago and she was astounded that I had no desire to see Worth Avenue. I was coming down with a flu, which I suspect I picked up on the US Air flight down because I did not pay for water, and my throat was really dry when we got off the plane. Four days later, I was getting really sick. We took a taxi down Worth Ave so I could see the sights, and I tell you there was no one on the street. I can get my perfume from Nordstrom’s, thank you, no need to be insulted because I am over fifty and not a size two. The Chanel attitude, under its new management has been a problem for about ten years now. It is another example of the rampant class divide in our society. Hard earned middle class money is no longer good enough for them. They want the 10K purchase or nothing at all.
on February 24th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Back bay—
My husband grew up in West Palm….and although I had been on Worth Ave. years before, that particular time was my first shopping experience there, and my last!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed that chanel attitude. Mon dieu!
on February 24th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Cindy the whole attitude thing has spread even to staid Boston. Twenty years ago, I felt as if I could walk into any store on Newbury or Copley and be treated nicely. Saks had a Chanel boutique and once I splurged and a very good salesperson outfitted me. Then Chanel took the clothes out of the department stores because they wanted their own boutiques and they won’t open anywhere unless they are guaranteed millions in sales per year. The prices have tripled, and there is no way I can afford to replace anything now. I also don’t want to support this nasty corporate attitude. I do almost all shopping online now; stores are no longer a fun experience. You can’t browse, they just glare at you like, we don’t want anyone over forty in here! I haven’t tried the new Nordstroms in Natick MA yet, but if Sista thinks it’s ok maybe I will take a ride out there.
on February 24th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Oh, i do hope you have a wonderful experience at nordstrom’s. I’ll be very disappointed if you don’t.
i totally agree with you about the attitudes now. this “class system” thing these people are creating is so harmful and hurtful. And so 1950′s!
ya know, when i was 18yrs. old, I played in a symphony that toured france and other parts of europe. we performed on a stage Mozart had performed on, a granddaughter of wagner’s (the nice one from NYC) was our tour guide…and we recorded in paris for ” radio free europe” (back during the iron curtain days), but none of that matters to the current shopgirl/brownshirt regime… And because I wear whatever I want, and weigh whatever I want, these new elitists look at me like I’m a bag lady! But not so at nordstrom’s. At the Austin Texas nordstrum’s they look at me as if to say: “hey, didn’t you record in paris, you wonderfully blessed and talented woman, you?!”
happy shopping!
on February 24th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Cindy that must have been so wonderful, traveling and recording in Europe. What we are really experiencing here is ageism as well as class divide…a double whammy. We certainly saw how Hillary was attacked for her age. This country has no concept of mature beauty.
on February 24th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
ageism exactly. What is depressing to me is that Hillary will be almost 70 in 2016 . Then all of the hillary-haters will say she’s too old to run for prez!
on February 24th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
cindy – we’ll be running her campaign!!!!!! the 18 millionistas may be hush for now, but just wait…………
ps…. hireheelers never cease to amaze me…mozart?? beyond impressive
on February 24th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
That’s wonderful to hear! I’m so proud of you gals!
on February 24th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
I’m one who believes that Nordie’s has just about the best customer service there is. Shoe department is great for special orders.
Had to fly USAir after July of last year and paid $15 to check my one and only bag. I didn’t want to drag it through an unfamiliar airport to make a connection. Wasn’t it just a little while ago that the airlines were encouraging people to check baggage to prevent slowdowns in the screening/boarding process?
on February 24th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
LOL – your posts put a smile on my face. Too funny.
on February 24th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Love to see all you ladies and gents discussing this issue. Believe it or not,
this heel is a classically trained soprano– Cin we could collaborate on a ditty from Figaro together– but I digress. Right now the customer should be queen, king— the whole royal family. Princess and I will be offering some shopping tips (that actually save money), job leads and the like in the very near future. Times are tough out there. we need to stick together and take care and protect each other. It truly goes beyond politics. We can get through all of this together.
Let’s collectively think OUT OF THE BOX!!
keep up the good work.
— sis
on February 24th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
So you’re a singin’ sista! I knew you were classy!
It just so happens that I know the second violin part to “Voi che sapete”. Ha! ……except I haven’t played it since 1965 (ouch!) so may be a wee bit rusty . We traveled that summer with a soprano from the Houston Opera. That piece has always been one of my faves. (‘course I love Tom Waits, Randy Newman, and the Bette, too)
Shopping tips from y’all would be so thoughtful. And job leads for those who need them. Wonderful ideas!
on February 24th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
geat post sistah-may actually fly again….I just hated being treated like cattle…
customer service its time has come!
on February 24th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Voi che sapete che cosa e amor…
Donne, vedete s’io l’ho nel cor…
english: You who know what love is,
Ladies, see if I have it in my heart…
A bit of singing might lift all of our spirits a bit. Although my pitch isn’t what it used to be. Manolo Minx has perfect pitch btw– she’s a mezzo.
on February 25th, 2009 at 1:17 am
beautifully put, sista!
and, oh my god—I’m a contralto…. with tap shoes!
years ago I traded-in my fiddle for keyboard….so let’s take this girl band on the road! a 5-6-7-8 !
I’m sure there are some more highheelers with talent out there, too. You young gals can wear your stilettos, but I’ll have to stick with my Finn Comforts, for recording sessions and yes, even onstage. ( It’s not a pretty sight, but I suffer for my art, so why shouldn’t the audience?)
We should definitely dedicate our first cd to Hillary…..!
And manolo has perfect pitch? wow!
Y’all are just wonderful….. You’re the faces and the feet of the new feminism. A sassy symphony of the spirit.of women.
on February 25th, 2009 at 1:35 am
so what you girls plan on calling your band?>
on February 25th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Not sure boogie. Unfortunately “Queen” is already taken.
on February 25th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
can’t wait for the band..
on February 25th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
how about the boogie girls
on February 25th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
or even better boogies girls
on February 25th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Hi Cindy and Sista, I was a trained soprano too…can’t tell you how many times my teacher put me through Voi Che Sapete. And a million runs, it seems, on Deh Vieni Non Tardar. For two years I worked on Vilia but was never satisfied with the high B. Although when I hear what people call singing now, I think I should have persevered. Always wanted to be a mezzo with the dark sexy sound. Of course, huge Italian type voices were the only kind they took seriously in my day, and I am more on the lighter, French style.
on February 25th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
well, ms. back bay! consider yourself having passed the audition for the nameless girl band. You really sound accomplished. I’ll bet you have a wonderful voice!
I was actually a voice major, but drove my profs nuts because I wanted to incorporate a little streisand into my repertoire. I compromised for my senior recital and sang what they wanted , but wore a mini-skirt and sported the “brand new” sassoon/streisand look. they hated it. oy!
sista, you’re so funny—–yeah looks like queen’s taken….i’m too pooped to think of a clever one ’cause hubby and i are on the road in far west texas tonight.
I love this website and all of the hillary info! thankyou.
she is amazing and y’all are amazing.
and back bay, find a small cafe with a mic there in mass.—-one that’s condusive to your light french style of singing…It’d be fun don’t ya think? there’s nothing like singing. absolutely nothing.
on February 26th, 2009 at 2:29 am
you are so right cindy, i’ve often said that if i wasn’t making any money as a lawyer by the time i was fifty, i’d just give it up and sing in clubs. well, i am way past fifty now and still broke, so nothing to lose, i guess. i need to find a teacher to get in shape…and do some situps to get the diaphragm solid again..can’t believe you were a voice major. i am pretty good with broadway, kristen chenowith and bernadette peters range, of course, that was also very unfashionable when i was younger. when i heard kristen chenoweth sing “my white knight” in the tv production of “music man” I almost fell out of my chair. the song was cut out of the film; you may know Barbara Cook sang the original stage version. i could sing along with kristen just fine. so there are a lot of us frustrated vocalists here, hm? This is fun..as you can tell i’ve got major insomnia tonight. must confess i am terrified of singing in public…i can act, but i clutch on singing for an audience.
on February 26th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
thanks, cindy. i’ve often said that if i didn’t make any money in law by the time i was 50, i’d start cabaret singing. well, i’m way past 50 and still not making money, so i guess its time for plan b. truth to tell, i’m terrified to sing in front of audiences. i’m actually more at ease acting. but i do love music.
on February 26th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
sorry for the double (now triple) post, i am really clumsy on the keyboard this week.
on February 26th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
I’m over 50 (actually 62) and married to a lawyer, so we’re practically related!! har har!
listen, if you’re afraid to sing in public, then start out singing in a small bar. People who are drinking always put me at ease!
if life is rough for you right now, i’m so sorry.
i always wanted to go to broadway and sing…. it’s really never too late to do anything though.
and that’s the beauty of a site like hireheels…..they give you such confidence, i think!
and yes, I know “my white knight”….we did “music man” in college in oklahoma (where chenoweth is from).
so many great songs are cut when stage productions are turned into movies. it’s sad.
well, that’s it from far west texas today. the economy is really bad out here….very sad.
but, hang on and hang in there, girl!
on February 26th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
thanks cindy. hadn’t thought of that one…people who are drinking aren’t listening much anyway…you’re too funny!
on February 27th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I guess your theory doesn’t apply to Europe…
“Ryanair could make passengers pay for toilets”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090227/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_ireland_ryanair_pay_toilets
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