The Baby's Room, Bala Cynwyd PA is concerned only with how you look!

[lukkykatt]

I had to laugh when I read this, because I was born and raised in Phila, so I know JUST what you are talking about! It can be a full time job to pull off the right appearance on the Main Line!

Now that I have 2 kiddos, I so often dash out of the house without giving my appearance a second thought. Hey, I am dwelling in poo poo and spit up all day! So I know sometimes people are surprised when I actually buy something!

Thanks! You made me homesick...

[dotgirl]

I detest places that treat you differently if you're dressed differently, and I have to admit that I work for one of them. *shame*

I work for Nordstrom (hopefully everyone knows what store that is, or we need better advertising), but I'm a creative developer, so I just build things for the website.

So I went to a local Nordie's this weekend (about 4 times a year, employees get double their usual discount on any 'store' brands, and I wanted to buy some layette stuf). I'm at that "inbetween" stage, where I'm too big for my normal clothes, but too small to fill out maternity clothes (plus I haven't bought any yet!), so I was wearing a pair jeans which are way to big for me, but comfy.

So yeah, I looked like a slob. But goodness, the saleslady acted like I was some sort of vagrant, and actually avoided me until I cornered her to ask her a question about a sleeper. And then she actually wrinkled her nose at me!

I asked her for her name, and told her that I would be filing an internal complaint when I got back to my office at Nordstrom corporate. Boy did she try to make amends fast! I went to a different Nordstrom later in the day, got excellent service, and was happy to give *that* sales person her commission. *grin*

[momathome]

I'm kind of surprised about all of the Nordstroms' negativity. My local Nordstroms (King Of Prussia, PA) is terrific. Any sales person I've encountered has been very helpful and friendly without being obnoxious, including calling several other stores for me to try to find a particular dress for my dd that was on a clearnce rack but not in her size. I also am not one of those people who dresses up to go to the mall - I usually am wearing jeans and a comfy shirt and sneakers, certainly nothing that says I'm hear to blow a thousand bucks! I usually head right for the sale racks and the sales people are still quite friendly. Also, if you had bad luck at the Baby's Room in Bala Cynwood, try their other location on Rte.30 in Frazer - I stopped there yesterday just to browse and the woman who was working there was very friendly and I definitely was not dressed in my Sunday best! Good luck!
-Lauren

[josephsmom]

I hate to say it, but that's pretty much what I'd expect on the Main Line. The Baby's Room is a pretty snooty store on a pretty snooty street in a pretty snooty neighborhood.......

Helene
mommy to Joseph 12/29/01

[aggie202]

I had to give a little laugh when I read this b/c although I live on the Main Line, I swear I'm not ONE OF THOSE!!!!

I too, have been the victim of this snooty snubbing in a variety of retail establishments up and down Lancaster Pike. When it happens now (I usually shop in a baseball hat so it happens a lot), it seriously makes me laugh. Fools!!!! Don't they know that the customers pay their salaries?!?!?

I second the Baby's Room in Frazer--I go there on my lunch breaks a lot and have always been treated very nicely. Still on the pricey side, IMHO but they run sales quite a bit. . .

[Jeanmick]

It's interesting that I came across this topic today. My DH and I had an interesting experience yesterday. He decided to take the day off and together w/ our 2 year old and 3 month old, we ran some errands. After we were through, we thought that it might be fun to check out some new housing developments close to where we live. We weren't seriously looking at moving, but hey, if something floated our boat significantly, we may be swayed into buying. We were in our very casual wear. You're talking t-shirt, shorts for DH and blouse and (a tad bit wrinkled because who has time to iron?) capri pants for me. When we drove up in our mini-van, walked in the door and asked the saleslady to see the model homes, the lady sized us up and said, "I don't know if you're looking for a house this big..." How does SHE know what we're looking for? Then after we looked at the homes (they were nice and ones we wouldn't mind moving into), we came back into the office. The lady was a bit condesending, saying, "You're back so soon! Were there any homes that tempted you?" I responded that they were all tempting and then when she "humored" us and asked, "Well, would you be interested in moving in?" My DH said, "Possibly." I also responded immediately with "Oh yes, it's certainly possible." Her eyes kind of widened and seemed surprised by our response. Then she changed her tone of voice to us and began to make "nice" to us. Ick! :( One should not judge a book by its cover!

[blissful mom]

Since I started showing, I have problems in our local grocery stores. Once, I had been waiting in line for 15 minutes. I go through the same line every time, and I only make big trips--no express lanes for me! Anyway, everyone in this line ahead of me had bunches of stuff, too. Then, just when it was my turn, this snotty 20-something in a strapless dress walked in an huffed, "Where's the short line?" The cashier made me leave the line, after I'd stood there for 20 minutes, just so she could buy her six-pack quickly. He pointed to a sign that said "10 items or less" that was half-way obscured from view by advertisements and was nowhere near eye-level. I don't mind following rules, but the same cashier has never told me that and I always go through that line. It's just that a pregnant woman isn't going to be treated as well as some little hot thing.

At the other grocery store, mostly teenage girls work in the evenings when I shop, and when they bother to look at me, they look as if I'm some sort of scandalously disgusting specimen. They never ask for my discount card before they start ringing me up. They keep talking to each other while they're supposed to be helping me. Last week a girl employee wanted to go through the line I was in and she squeezed past me, shoving my very large belly into the counter. They're supposed to take your groceries out for you, but I always have to ask for help. Since dh isn't usually with me, I have a hard time managing all those groceries alone. It bugs me because they're different with other customers.

It's bad enough that people judge you for your appearance. Since I've been pregnant, though, people seem to judge me for being pregnant. Not all people, but enough to really make me upset and self-conscious. And when people act as if I'm either a thief trying to steal something, by trailing me incessantly, or as if I'm invisible or disgusting because of my belly, I really feel crappy.

But, on the upside, I was in a Dairy Queen Tuesday, and these two old women tried to break in front of me, and the lady at the register winked at me and made them get back. I felt like hugging her. I don't want to dehumanize clerks, etc. But I'd like for them not to dehumanize me.

Donna

[Lori in NJ]

What is with people??? Who in their right mind would try to cut in front of a pregnant woman at DQ???????!!!!!

I have been on very limited activity w/my pregnancy so I haven't had the opportunity to see how the public reacts to pregnancy too well, but from what I have seen, it's been UTTERLY disappointing. I had to jockey for position on the edge of a bench while a couple & their small child took up the whole thing and SMILED at me!!! I've had people cut in line in front of me and women my mom's age (mid 50's) RUN to a seat/bench in a restaurant before I could sit down!!!! I guess being pregnant has become 'SO chic' that no one notices anymore...