Luxury stores that display their luxury perfumes, bags, shoes and other irresistible products are in the spotlight, but this time not for their unique features or price, but for the rude behavior of their employees who make the customer feel miserable. Indian journalist Vir Sanghvi recently criticized the behavior of employees at one of Delhi’s luxury stores in the Vasant Kunj mall. Outraged by the rude behavior of staff, the 69-year-old described the snobbish treatment he received at Dior and Scentido India stores.
In a post on X, which condemned the unacceptable treatment of customers and elitist mindset of staff at designer stores, he wrote: “Always shocked at how snobbish salespeople are at so-called designer stores in malls in Delhi. At @dior on Promenade Vasant Kunj, the salesperson was unpleasant and rude. At near@ScentisidoIndia they were aggressive and patronizing.”
Sharing his recent harrowing experience, he added, “Why do Indians who work for foreign brands feel so superior to ordinary people? It defames the brands themselves and suggests that this is how they feel about Indians.”
Reaction on social networks
Social media reacted strongly to the issue, as a user wrote: “But the irony is this: the truly rich rarely dress loudly or try to prove anything. Many luxury brands around the world train employees to treat everyone with respect, because a person in simple clothes can be the biggest buyer. We still have a colonial hangover in India; working for a foreign luxury brand creates a false sense of hidden superiority. It’s not hidden confidence.”
Another user shared similar sentiments when she faced a similar experience last year. In a comment thread, she wrote: “I had the same experience last year in Delhi, but then I went to Iconsiam in Bangkok. We enjoyed Songkran and got in without a problem. We went straight to a luxury store there; the staff were so helpful and I bought a few things. In contrast, the staff in Delhi and Mumbai are so rude and arrogant.”
A third user said: “I experienced this at CP at the Mont Blanc store. I love Mont Blanc pens and have a decent collection. I was in Delhi and went to a CP store where the clerk wouldn’t let me write on the paper to check the flow and nib and was rather condescending as if I couldn’t afford a Mont Blanc.”
A fourth user commented: “There is a strategy to get people with low self-esteem to pay high prices to buy a product they don’t really need, except to prove to themselves and others that they came.”
A fifth user replied: “They mostly do it with the intention of hurting your ego! When self-esteem is hurt, most end up buying the most expensive product they wouldn’t have otherwise!”
A sixth comment read: “That’s because most Indians visiting malls are just window shoppers with no serious intention of buying…they just want to pass the time limit and luxury sellers just filter them out and save their time instead of wasting people who would never buy.@
