Has this happened to you?

[Barb Valentine]

I‘ve been going to a little lingerie store for a while pretending to buy for my wife
One day I looking for a new bra and the saleslady come over and asked if she could help
I got up the courage to say the bra is for me (never done this before) and if I could fitted.
She said “I don’t do men “and told me to get out of her store.

[heathr1]

No, but I went into a women's clothes shop several years ago and as soon as I looked at the skirts, one saleswoman approached me, held a skirt up to me and joked, asking if I wanted anything shorter, frillier etc. then joked about how I'd look in her own dresses and make-up.

The other saleswoman watched and laughed at me.

I never returned.

[Tina Dixon]

I‘ve been going to a little lingerie store for a while pretending to buy for my wife
One day I looking for a new bra and the saleslady come over and asked if she could help
I got up the courage to say the bra is for me (never done this before) and if I could fitted.
She said “I don’t do men “and told me to get out of her store.

Gee I guess your money just not good enuff for that b***h is it, don't you wish you could take every thing back and get a refund?

[heathr1]

Send a GG friend in to say 'I'm looking for a bra for my husband'.

See how she reacts then.:D

[Girly Sara]

Barb, that was a very unfortunate experience for you which i hope doesn't put you off in the future.

The best thing to do would be to contact a lingerie store by e-mail, letter or telephone and ask what their policy is? That will save the humiliation you have had to endure with the old dragon! lol

Doing the above has worked for me as i had my first bra fitting at a lingerie store here in London last October and the manageress even opened the store early for me! If you show respect and discretion for them, there's no reason why they won't for you (not saying that you hadn't of course)

Let me know how you get on and good luck!

Sara xxxx

[Sophia Rearen]

Sorry to hear that. I'm pissed! I'd send her a note or email and tell her you've bought there in the past and won't in the future. Tell her how unfortunate it is to have such a negative reaction to a customer that she needs to turn you away. Tell her how many men would love to be able to walk into a store such as hers and comfortably be able to buy things for themselves without feeling ashamed. Tell her, you've told at least 10 people about your treatment at her store. Tell her and tell us the name of the store on the internet. And, if you're really pissed, tell her to F herself.

[Laurie Ann]

Sophia with that cute angelic face I never thought that you would react like that.

[jenny cd 4]

i contacted la sensa to ask if they would fit me. got a phone number and they couldn't have been nicer. told me when 2 go and they were there expecting me. took me to fitting room, measure me and help to slect nice bras etc.

I also went into a local shop and found a lovely mini, i plucked up courage to ask assistant if i could try it on, she was delightful and led to fitting room


Jenny

[Sophia Rearen]

Sophia with that cute angelic face I never thought that you would react like that.

LOL, Laurie. Funny how you say that now. Check out my Bad Sophia thread in the picture gallery. She's got 'tude! Don't mess with my dressin'

[Sam-antha]

Precisely what did she mean, was she a street worker ?
But, since she was not, I do agree with Sophia.
Better luck for all the other times you go shopping.

[suzanne claire]

There is no reason for anyone to react in such a negative manner.Even if they are not concerned about you as a paying customer,people need to be treated with respect.I would only feel sorry for such a demeaning,narrow minded person.

[Rikkicn]

Barb,
I'm really sorry that you had to hear that and feel that. I haven't had that exact experience but I have been laughed at and stared at and whispered about. It made me feel bad for a while and then I got over it. You were very brave to ask. I'm glad you did.
To be yourself in our society takes great strength and courage. Don't let this side line you for long.
Keep being courageous even in the face of adversity. Try not to let people that you don't know and love effect you.
She was small and hurtful. She's the one that needs pity

[Butterfly Bill]

Every once in a while I get a sales person who is skittish, and won't let me try something on. I could probably count on the fingers of one hand that number of times that's been in the 14 years I've been out. It's always been in little stores, never in Wally Worlds or similar places. In the vast majority of stores I have been able to try stuff on in the men's fitting room to no disapproval. (Was there only one dressing room there? That may have had something to do with it.)

Just look for another place to take your money and forget about this one, and don't try to make a federal case out of it. Your new store will react more strongly to your positive reinforcement than your old one will to negative.

[trannie T]

I didn't know that one needed a prescription to buy a bra. I've never had a problem buying any clothing. Most sales clerks are very friendly and helpful. Businesses are there to make money and they can't make money sending away customers.

[PTPJen]

Barb,

I had a incident where I went into a specility shop Lady Grace and the women was polite but looked and ststed they did't have anything to fit me but she sent nme to Lane Brayant that did.:)

[deana cd]

Barb, I am sorry you had such an awful experience. This has never happened to me, but I can imagine how you must have felt. While I would definitely not patronize that store in the future, I would not let it stop me from being who I really am.

[Denise01]

Barb:

Sorry you had this bad experience, as it does place a bad taste to some one, and makes it hard for all the good places.

To the contrary, I was shopping to-day enfemme ( as femme as you can get with slacks in this cold weather ), went into a store i had been into before and started looking at the skirts and tops they had on the sale rack. I am a bit of a thrifty person, there fore look for the sales.
The sales girl came and asked me if i needed help. When i said i was just looking, she was satisfied and went on with her other chores.
I did find a skirt that was my size, and was carrying it around looking at what else there was.
As soon as she saw me carrying it, immediately came over and asked if I would like her to set up a changing room so I could try it on.
Did find a top, that i liked too, and went to try it on. In a bit, she came to the door, and asked if everything was going ok, and as soon as I said yes, that is all she wanted to hear.
Did buy both the top and the skirt. This is the second time i have bought skirts in that store, different sales clerks, but they were both very professional and asked me to come back when the sale was complete.
Nice to be treated like a lady when shopping

Denise:)

[sky0629]

no thank god, sorry it happened to you very un funny, my heart always races when i go shopping. wondering if someone one is going to ask if it's for me. been lucky so far. so i keep going, love to shop and look around. sky

[Barb Valentine]

I would like to thank everybody for there support & kind words
the store is now closed
but I'm shopping but for my wife ( :cheeky: )
It's so nice that I can finaly be able to talk to someone who
understands.I've been hidding this for to long
Love Barb

[tammie]

Hi All: I once had a middle aged old dragon do something almost as harsh. I was in JC Penny's with an ad (bring the picture) of a LLPG I wnated. I was very polite and when asked I said I wanted "this in a XXL in black please". She said she would get it as soon as she rang out a waiting lady customer. I waited about 25 feet from the register.

She went and got it, by the time she got back there were now 3 other women waiting to be helped. Although she was standing 25 feet from me, the old witch held the pantygirdle over her head and yelled "oh mister here R your panties"! I was embarrassed, but paid for them and left head high as I would not give her the satisfaction of letting her know I was humiliated. I believe she will get paid back some day for her insensitivity.

[Billijo49504]

Barb, may I suggest you go to Lane Bryant, for a fitting. I've been to about 20 stores, in 4 states. Always treated very well. When i was shopping in drab, I've been asked if I wanted to try anything on. And if I tried on a skirt or slacks, they would bring tops for me to look at or try on.
Also, unless that PERSON, the nices thing I could say, is the owner of the store, I would let the owner know what happened and that you have told your story on a international forum. They don't have to know that the name of the store wasn't told. Get your pound of flesh. And if that person is the owner, let her know that she was given muxh advertising for free, ALL BAD!! Don't let this stop you from shopping....BJ

[Sarah Rabbit]

Hi all

Contact the Store owner to make a complaint!!. If she was the Store owner, Just remember. If some one receives good service they will tell a friend, receive bad service and they will tell ten friends.

Hugs, Sarah R :bunny:

[loridawncd]

I go to victorias secret and fredericks to shop and they don't mind at all ,if I try on bras and panties. They even help me find some bras that push up my tits.

[Katrina]

The closest I ever came to that was a local lingerie shop (not a chain) and the older sales lady there basically cut me off from going into the back half of the store. She had a good reason - it was a giant fitting room but it had stock in there. She asked if she could help me. I responded that I was looking for a garter belt and she got instantly friendly and pointed me to several on a rack nearby. I brought one up to the register and she cheerfully accepted my money. Once she realized that I wasn't some perv trying to get a peek at ladies in the changing area, and was actually a paying customer, it turned her whole attitude around.

[Stormgirl]

What a bitch,this is exactly why I don't go out shopping and do it online.Did you at least complain to the manager? That store lost some buisness so in the end they lost.

[Jodi]

When shopping, I watch the body language of the SA closely. I tell them it is for me. If I detect anything negative, I smile and ask, "does that bother you?" If it does, I will get someone else to wait on me. I have only had one occasion, and it was aboout 4 years ago, where I was shopping at a VS in York, PA. The SA looked to be about 18 years old, and she was definitely uncomfortable. I explained that, don't worry, I would get the manager to wait on me, which I did. The manager was fine. I made my purchase of some hosery. I'm sure the young girl was talked to when I left.

The bottom line is money. If a store doesn't want my business, I will certainly oblige them. I very politely tell them that I will spend my money elsewhere. Also, any rude SA should be immediately reported to the manager. A good manager wants to know this and will take immediate action. When I worked for New York & Co, I saw a young girl fired right on the spot for being rude to a customer. After it occurred, the manager turned around to me, smiled, and said, "I hope you're ready to work the rest of the shift by yourself".

Jodi

[danielle_from_cal]

This is why I have never even considered buying a bra in a store. I actually made my first bra myself. Nobody looked at me in any weird way when I bought books on sewing!

[ladyelaine]

I haven't had that harsh an experience Barb, but I have seen a few of them coming and decided to flee and and live to shop another day. Occasionally, a pointed inquiry is made, and a misdirected answer is the only helpful outcome.

Once I was questioned about a foundation item and said the elastic was "multi-purpose," or better a dumb answer than a lame one. Better luck in the future, like the friend of mine who once downplayed his "activities" by saying "(we) sure do learn a lot about people this way."

Elaine

[carol ann]

In the UK,,I buy most of my clothes including lingerie, from the major department stores, M&S, BHS, Debenhams & Primark, occasonally Ethel Austin, House of Fraser, and Peacocks.

I have never had a serious problem and when asked by a sales assistant if they can help, I just politely decline and say i am looking for a present. ( I usually buy clothes, perfume, jewellery for my wife as well for birthdays and Christmas).

However, I would never ask to try anything on, parttly because nearly all changing rooms have several cubicles and it would be totally unreasonable for the store and customer to have a GG in the same rooms.

If I get home and something doesn't fit I would and have taken it beck for either a refund or exchange.

[Kimberley]

Buy elsewhere then go back and toss the sales receipt on the counter in front of her.......

Just the kind of bigotry we are trying to change.....

Kimberley.

[veronica]

i've been lucky the only "bad experience" i had was all the sales associates scattering and "looking busy" when i walked in. had to Chase someone down to make purchase.


won't mention department store buy name, might of been my paranoia and they were busy

[Girly Sara]

As i mentioned to Barb, it's best to phone, e-mail or snail-mail the relevant store(s) first to ascertain if they are tg-friendly. Now i know we shouldn't have to do this but i would strongly suggest this for the first timer who's very nervous. As i mentioned early in this thread, the manageress of my local store was very helpful. In fact, i've arranged to go there at their closing time today (as agreed and in male drab) to try and buy a bra and panties or two or three lol My girlfriend's also coming along and will be having a bra fitting.

Trust me girls, you can't beat having a manageress doing a bra fitting for you. It's a great feeling and something i never thought i'd do...EVER!

Barb, please remember to let us know how you get on hun and keep your head held high. We deserve respect like any other shopper!

Hugs from Sara xxxx

[Sarah Rabbit]

As i mentioned to Barb, it's best to phone, e-mail or snail-mail the relevant store(s) first to ascertain if they are tg-friendly. Now i know we shouldn't have to do this but i would strongly suggest this for the first timer who's very nervous. As i mentioned early in this thread, the manageress of my local store was very helpful. In fact, i've arranged to go there at their closing time today (as agreed and in male drab) to try and buy a bra and panties or two or three lol My girlfriend's also coming along and will be having a bra fitting.

Trust me girls, you can't beat having a manageress doing a bra fitting for you. It's a great feeling and something i never thought i'd do...EVER!

Barb, please remember to let us know how you get on hun and keep your head held high. We deserve respect like any other shopper!

Hugs from Sara xxxx

Hi, Sara

Does that work?? I have never done that, but would like to try. If I was to send a FAX or call, would the reciepient pass on the message, or just dismiss my call as a prank. How successful were you ?

Hugs, Sarah R :bunny:

[ChristineRenee]

I‘ve been going to a little lingerie store for a while pretending to buy for my wife
One day I looking for a new bra and the saleslady come over and asked if she could help
I got up the courage to say the bra is for me (never done this before) and if I could fitted.
She said “I don’t do men “and told me to get out of her store.Here's what I would have done in that circumstance Barb. I would have asked to see the store manager. Told the manager what the saleslady told me and gone on to say that I was a CD and was planning on making a substantial purchase in this store...if somebody could assist me in finding what I needed that is...but "she doesn't do men"...and then I would have left in a "huff"!:mad:...;)

[Julia Cross]

The same has happened to me when I was in a high volume store, packed full of racks of womens clothes. The strp mall was quiet that day, so the store was quiet, I browsed, all the while under the clerks watchful eyes. i found something that looked like it would fit, but as it wasn't a chain store, there was a no returns policy. So I asked if I could try it on, it was a top. She bluntly said NO, it's for women. I said I knew that, she said NO again. Simple as that.

Oh well, not all people are as open minded as we would like.

Julia

[Girly Sara]

Sarah,

Yes it does work hun. I've just come back from the same store again. Didn't need a bra fitting this time although i tried one on and the manageress helped adjust the straps for me. Bought the bra and some panties too. It was quite funny actually as there was me in the fitting room with my girlfriend waiting outside for me! lol

Go for it Sarah as life's too short.

Good luck!

Sara xxxx

[Aloha_Dana]

Barb, sorry for the rude experience. There is no excuse for poor customer service. If the store manager and owner knew the details, she would be reprimanded.

It has been said that a good customer service experience is shared once or twice and that a bad customer service experience is shared 10 times over. Well according to the # of views to this thread, you've blow that away. it was us to 1580 at last count. The owner wouldn't sleep tonight if he/she knew the #'s. Now all you need to do is tell us the name and location of the store.

And that's right, never go back there again.

Simpathies girl. She's a b!tch.

Dana

[Barb Valentine]

Hi Girls
I took Sara advice and emailed another store and asked if they
could help me .I got a reply in about 15min .
They said there would be no problem at all
and that do have other crossdresser as customers
I going in this weekend for my first bra fitting:thumbsup: :D :thumbsup:

Thanks again Sara

Love Barb

[Aloha_Dana]

Are we supposed to bring in our breast forms too?

[Barb Valentine]

can't hurt to bring them

[Barb Valentine]

Well the big day (for me) is here .didn’t sleep much at all to nervous .got up started to get ready, my wife come home (she works midnights) but she just hops in to bed, but no not today she decide to check she email (only checks it once a week), So that put her between my breast forms and the door. I grabbed some empty bags toss them in .She said where are you going, I said to do the grocery shopping (bring your own bag it’s cheaper)

Got in to my car and drove to the store, got there 20 minutes be for it opened .sat in the car smoking up a storm waiting, I could feel my heart racing then I saw the open sign light up, I took my breast forms put them under my coat took a deep breath and got out of
the car.

Walked in to the store and greeted not by one but three salespeople, so I asked for Nicole
(She’s the one I email) One said I’m Nicole can I help you, I said hi I’m Barb so you know why I’m
here. She said did you want to try some on I said yes if that’s not a problem. she said follow me.

We went in to a small change room closed the door she asked what I wanted I told what I like
She pulled out her tape and took my bust size and said I’ll be right back, she came back with
a nice white floral bra in 44C and said if you need help just call. I put the bra on and was looking in the mirror when she knocked on the door and said how we doing she came in and said that looks good so try it with your forms .I put them in and it looked really good. Then she brought in
six more bras for me to try on .I thought this is great .I pick two bras I like the white one and a nice coral color one just then somebody came in the store so she said just wait here for a minute,
they left shortly I came out paid for my new bras then order a girdle I saw online (it will be in next week.

[silkenhose]

i have never been fitted for a bra, however i have been to several stores shopping for corsets, skirts, dresses and shoes. i find calling to ask first is best, however out of 8 stores i have tried without calling only once the girl said "no sorry men are shaped different and we don't let guys try on". Seemed like ok answer to me thanked her and left store.

bought a pair of knee high boots last week, as i was dressed in drab the lady who was helping me asked if she wanted to pull a skirt off the shelf for me. i had a skirt in bag however she pulled shorter one and i had to try it on. It was amazing, while i was lacing up one boot she knelt down and said let me help with the other:happy: . As she laced it up she looked up at me and commented on the my pantyhose, she asked what type they were, where i got them and how sheer they were!!!!!!!!! this made the other experience a distant memory.

[Sophia Rearen]

=She pulled out her tape and took my bust size and said I’ll be right back, she came back with
a nice white floral bra in 44C and said if you need help just call.

I'm assuming, you were wearing forms?

[Eric/a]

I've never had any sales staff treat me rudely, but occasionally I've been to stores where they don't allow men to try on women's items. Some of the Victoria's Secret stores I know of are that way. At Frederick's, it sort of depends on who's working at the time. Same goes for the lingerie departments of most big stores where I've been. I guess when they're really busy, they're afraid their GG customers might be uncomfortable having a man use a fitting room right next to them! In any case, the sales people I've dealt with have almost always been very friendly.

Some of the other customers I've seen are another story! One that comes to mind right away was a woman in a Payless shoe store. I was sitting on one of the benches and had just taken off my shoes so I could try on a lovely white pair of high-heeled ankle strap sandals. As most of you probably know, the buckles they put on those can often be a challenge, especially with a brand new pair! By the time I'd finished with one and was working on the other, I'd gotten too busy to notice a middle-aged woman coming down the aisle. She stopped behind me and said something like, "Young man, those are for women!" Not missing a beat, I said, "I hope these'll make one out of me!" She just snorted and walked off. I got the other one on and, since I was wearing shorts and I'd just shaved my legs that morning and painted my toenails red, I fet very "girly." I walked up and down the aisles for a minute (well...strolled or sashayed might be a better word!). Then I got to one of the mirrors and started turning sideways and back, admiring the way the sandals looked on my feet and the shape the heels gave my legs. I didn't know the woman who'd seen me before was still around, but she came up and said, "Well, your toenails DO look very pretty, I have to admit. But why do you like to paint your nails and wear women's sandals?" By then, she sounded a little bit nicer than she had before, so I said, "I need some to go with a new sundress I got from Chadwick's last week." I must have been the first CD she'd ever met, because she was pretty shocked!

Another time, I was in a Lane Bryant store and, as always, the sales people were very helpful, but it was another customer who spoiled things a bit. I was looking at some of the babydoll nighties, and a lady who worked there - the manager, in fact - was showing me how some of them had built-in bras and others would fit nicely over a bra. She told me she usually wore one underneath whatever she slept in, and we got into sort of a girl-to-girl talk about what kinds were nicer, more comfortable, etc. A woman who was looking at things on another rack overheard most of it and said, "You know, you could both go into the fitting room and you could take off your dress and show him what you've got on underneath it instead of announcing it to the whole store! I don't think we all need to know!" The manager said, "I'm sorry, ma'am, I'm just trying to help a customer find what he wants." The woman was getting really out of sorts by now, and said, "He can see what's on these hangers just as well as we can! Not that he should be in here in the first place! Isn't everything in here just for women?" The manager said, "Ma'am, everything in here is for whomever enjoys wearing it, and he happens to be one of our best customers." The woman made some remarks about how "everybody's taking up for gays and perverts these days" and stormed off. Oh well, I guess you have to be ready for anything, don't you?

[JoAnnDallas]

I too have found a BIG diffrence between Sale Persons and fellow customers. I have found that I get more response from other customers than I do from the Sales Person. I have had ONLY one other customer make a rude remark to me. Other fellow customers, I have had them look at me kinda funny for a minute and then give me helpful advise.
Once when I was in Koles, I was looking at a bilfold, which just happens to be a great organizer too. Another customer remarked, "What color does your wife like?". I looked at her and said, "Oh, this is not for my wife, it's for me." She looked at me for about a 30 secs and then looked at the display. She picked up a RED bilfold and said, "RED suits you". I thanked her and went paid for it.
Another time, my wife asked me to put some pants back. I took them to the rack she got them from. Another customer was looking at the same rack. I remaked, "They don't fit". She looked at me and then she pointed to another rack and said "You look like a 14, have you tried that rack over there." I thanked her and said "I found some others that do fit, thanks". She smiled and walked away.
Then one day in Sear's, my wife was trying on some things, I was outside the fitting room holding her purse. She called out and asked if I could get her a couple more blouses to try on, since I know her sizes. So here I am holding her purse, looking a rack of blouses, and I looked up at another customer and I make the remark, "Dam no Large". She looked me over for a second, said" I know excatly what you need". I followed her to another rack and she took a blouse off and held it in front of me. Then she commented that it should look real nice on me. I thanked her took it and a couple others and took them to my wife.

[Jasmine Ellis]

If that would happen to me at any time, then I would of got the head office phone number and put a coplain in about that store.
I feel sorry for you dear, but don't let it put you off. There are other clothes shops to go in which would love to take your money hun

[maid phylis]

:thumbsup: :doll: dear barb ,if that was me and i was told that i would have told her that she just lost a good customer and i would have done that in her crouded store .as i live in new york i have never been turned down by any dress or lingerie store and as a matter of fact the sales girls help me with my bras and girdles ,all the dress shops that i buy from all let me try on the dresses that i want to buy and also are very helpfull .

[Lauren Richards]

I wouldn't let one incident spoil your outlook. Life is not some velvet path where there are no bumps. If this is the worst that happens to you, then you will have an amazing life. There are lots of wonderful and accepting people out there, as the previous posts have shown. Keep on doing what makes you happy.

[Jolene]

I admire your courage ...... I have to go the order online route ....... Maybe in a larger city Imaybe could try a store in person ...... Jolene

[Joy Carter]

I posted a story about an incident at J C Pennys I had few years ago (cross dressing kids) I felt like a fox treed by the hounds. I stood my ground and an older woman sales lady waded through the nasty younger girls and helped me. I spent more than I had planed because she was so respectful. Haven't had a problem since but I was gun shy for a while because it was my first time buying.

[EricaCD]

The store is now closed? Sounds like they got what they deserved: bankruptcy. You, on the other hand, can feel free to buy undies for yourself, your wife or whomever you damn well please, and there is an entire retail world just praying for your business. In other words, the good girl won.

I hope that you won't let that experience dissuade you from trying again. Follow the great tips in this thread - check ahead, call or E-mail, etc. And let us know how it goes!

[Janice Ann]

It was one of my first attemts to buy lingeria for Janice- J C Penny's had the cutest teddie hanging up on display- I asked the sales lady to help me find one in a larger size- she asked what size ? I blushed and said - about my size-- she then ignored me like I did not exist-- I left-- Just a few months later they closed the womens section and eventually left town except for mail order-- So years and $100.00s of dollars later I try to avoid Pennys.
That same day I bought my first pair of pumps at Shoe Source-- the young lady
was very helpful in making sure I had the right size and even asked what I was going to wear them with-- -- I have a little black dress -- she then made sure I had stockings and a small hand bag,-- So it has been my experiance- a young sales person will help you more and keep you under the radar.

[Tina]

You should have told her to shove it and walked out. If that kind of service
continues you can bet she won't be in business very long.

I get annoyed at sales people who are not curtious no matter what I am shopping for.

You are the customer and should not have to take any of their s_ _ t.

Move on to a better store or shop on line.

Thanks, Tina

[Adrienne Heels]

It seems like female salespersons are easier to deal with than guys. I was in a store Monday dressed looking at shoes....the guy was snotty. I went to Macy's and the saleswomen were so sweet.

[Jodi]

Karyn, The sales women at Macys are on commission. The guy probably was not. That is probably the difference.

Jodi

[Stephenie B]

I had a different experiance at VS, I was in femm and had a cold so maybee my voice was a little deeper or something. I was looking at some sheer bras and this cute sales girl came over to help me and I think she knew that something was up. She asked if my chest was real (so you can imagine how I felt) so I asked her to give them a feel and OMG she did!!! then asked if I needed any help trying anything on, so I told her I can manage and bought one after I tried on four. She said that if I ever needed anything to call her and here is my number. I have been back to that store many times and always helpful.
Huggs to all

[Snookums]

she told you to get out of her store,sounds as if she has a Taliban mentality.I have been escorted out of Wal Mart here by cops,and told if I enter the store again I would be charged with criminal trespass and jailed.Just goes to show you how ignorant,and shallow sales ladies are,thats why I would never want to be a real genuine woman,born without a p___s,and a brain that cramps and farts,no offense to the GG's who come in here.