Why an Age Limit at Victoria's Secret?

Of course, experiences and perceptions vary according to each
individual, but I think there could be situations like that. Here is
my experience:
I just shopped today at VS Tanasbourne (Portland) and I'm in my early
40's, but take good care of myself and wear a size 2 even after 2
kids. I went shopping for a bra and when I mentioned that my last bra
fitting was done at VS and the size fits perfectly the reply was "Oh
you could remember that?" which implied some kind of age related
memory impairment.
The sales girl was probably in her 20's and I blame it on immaturity
more that on company's "hidden" politics.
It may be a women thing, too. Who the hell knows? Anyway, don't worry,
be happy...says the song...
Life is too short to worry about this aging crap.

For those of you saying there must be a misunderstanding, let me
assure you there was most likely NOT. I have had this feeling about
Victoria's Secret for quite some time now and you can visibly see
their target demographic. I have even made complaints to the company.
I wasn't certain of it however until recently, when I, as a 37 year
old woman, applied to them for employment. Sitting in a group
interview with 5 other, fresh out of high school/college girls, it was
apparent to me I was the most qualified of the bunch and the only one
exhibiting an outgoing personality, while the other interviewees were
shrinking violets, if you will. The manager announced at 38 years of
age, she was one of the 3 "oldest" working for the company. I found
this a bit out of taste but was not quite as outraged until I got the
reject card in the mail from them. THEN I was certain - yes,
Victoria's Secret DOES discriminate based on age. There is no other
reasonable explanation why I was not hired instead of any of these
other girls. I will never, and I do mean never, waste my money in
another one of their stores. Never.

Hi, I am a sales associate at Victoria Secret and I would like to
apologize on behalf of the company. Your business is not only wanted
but appreciated. There is no age limit, what happened was an associate
who does not know how to do her job adaquetly. She showed extremely
poor customer service, and even though she is representing the
company, that is not what we are about! I personally love my clients,
because it is women who want quality that keeps us in business. Please
do give us another chance, it was one rude employee with her own
personal issues has lead you to believe that, that is what VS is about
and its not. Im so sorry, forgive us, and try it again. When
situations occur like this, it is necessary for the company to
acknowledge how their customers are being treated. Talk with the store
manager, and I promise a change will be made!

I know personally working for Victorias Secret,that we never
discriminate against our customers. My crew and I have respect for all
sizes, colors, and diversities. We are willing to bend over backwards
to help clients find the right sizes, colors, styles ect. I have never
purposely ignored someone. We give our clients in my VS service out
the ass and what do we get in return? Rudeness. Barely anyone
appreciates the hard work we do for them. Do they know we get paid
minimum wage? That we are not their personal shoppers? I think its
rediculous how WE get treated. I dont know about other stores, but I
know in mine we cater to the clients so they have a good experience
and will want to keep comming back. Isn't that the whole purpose of
good selling?

I don't know why you keep going on and on about an age limit. Maybe
she didn't like the color of your hair. Maybe you looked too rich,
poor, ugly, pretty. Who the hell knows?? But 35 is not AT ALL old and
never would have crossed my mind about why I wasn't being waited on.
Besides, who has more money? 18 year old or 35? That is all they care
about.

I was in a Vitorica Secret years ago with a couple of my thiner
friends. I am a BBW who shops at LaneBryant (was a size 2 before 2
kids and 3 bad marriages). Anyways, I was browsing this shop just
looking to see what the skinny girls were wearing, this woman walks up
and asks if she can help me and I tell her I am just looking, she then
proceeds to tell me that her store does not have anything that would
fit me! I know my mouth must have dropped open. I am not a person
who is easily offended, so I just look at her like she is stupid, and
walk off. She then goes up to another employee and tells her what she
just said to me. That pretty much did it for me, her rudeness to me
based on my body size was one thing, but to act as if it were socialy
acceptable to say something like that and then to brag about it was
something else. I told my friends I was shopping with that I would be
waiting outside for them. I have never stepped into another VS since.
I am happy to be who I am. I am a size 16/18 and love my body even
if VS doesnt. I know that there are stores who cater to my size.

I don't think this is an age thing, because from my experience most
Victoria Secret employees tend to be a bit on the snobbish side. I'm
a La Senza girl myself...

It might have helped if you spoke up and directly asked for their
attention. They might have thought that you were still browsing.

You are right in the middle of the VS "target demographic" so what you
received was poor service.

Next time, instead of relying on eye contact and waiting for them to
acknowledge you, speak up and politely ask for assistance.

I'm sorry, but I don't feel you are owed "a reason to give VS another
shot" (aka, compensation) as you need to accept partial
responsibiility for the situation by not speaking up.

I'm going to need to know the size of the bras and a physical
description of you if I am to help :-)

It does sound like you got less than great customer service. It's
always annoying to stand there and be ignored by people whose job it
is to help you. I am with you there. Here's the thing, though.
Sometimes eye contact just isn't enough. Granted, it probably ought
to be, but if it isn't, what's stopping you from saying, "Excuse me,
but I need some help here."

You say you didn't want to interrupt, that you stood a few feet away
and waited to be acknowledged. While that is a nice thought, a clerk
that won't break off a conversation because of eye contact is not
likely to hurry it along because you are waiting meekly a few feet
away. A mediocre customer service employee may ignore eye contact,
but only a truly bad one will ignore a verbal request. I'm not saying
you are wrong to be annoyed, just that if your handling of the
situation had been a touch more assertive you probably would have
gotten helped.

The whole "age discrimination" thing strikes me as a touch ridiculous.
If you were a teenager or senior citizen I might have an easier time
believing you, but you actually fit very neatly into the target
demographic for places like Victoria's Secret. According to what I
could find in a quick search online, VS's target demographic is women
aged 18-41, with only their Pink brand being marketed directly to the
younger end of the spectrum. In addition, VS has apparently been
marketing heavily toward the women of the baby boomer generation, who
are now approaching or in their 60s.

I'm not defending the behavior you encountered. There is no excuse
for any customer leaving a store feeling ignored. But allegations of
discrimination need to be provable to stand up, so I am suggesting
that you steer clear of unverifiable accusations. Good luck.

I don't understand why this is an issue about age. There is nothing
in the letter to substantiate that the OP was overlooked because of
her age.

In fact, I am certain that there is no age limit at Victoria's Secret
and the OP knows that, too. To make such an accusation is reaching.

I would surmise that the employee didn't interpret eye contact as
meaning the OP needed help. If making eye contact doesn't work,
speaking up politely and with a smile often helps.

Can I trade places with you? Seriously, I can't seem to get
salespeople away from me.

I'm a little over 35 - cough, cough - and I've never noticed an age
issue at VS. I think it's more that these were poor sales associates.
I do know from my own retail experience that many sales associates
target those who they think will buy something (because although they
may not work on commission, their sales do count). It would seem a
35-year-old woman would be just as able to buy something at VS as a
younger one.

While I think your complaint and letter is perfectly reasonable, next
time, don't feel like you are interrupting someone to do their job.
(But I know how you feel; I feel the same way sometimes.)

Good luck, and let us know if you get a response from them.

It sounds like poor customer service, yes.

However, people need to stop thinking that "making eye contact" is
sufficient. Maybe it SHOULD be, but too often it's not.

If you want to be helped, ask for it. It works wonders.

i was trying to think why, if your version of events is accurate,
you'd get ignored. i can only think of three reasons. One-even
though you obviously did have the money to buy the bras, it's possible
you look like you didn't, Two- you came across as hostile and Three-
is it at all possible the associates knew the other two people who
came in? no excuse, i know, but that could be it. but honestly, if
you need help, do you not know the English words for that? I cannot
believe the number of people who, for whatever reason,will not or
cannot simply open their mouths and communicate their needs.

A 35 year old, strutting out of Victoria's Secret with a baggie of new
bras? That sounds awefully attractive to me. Hard to imagine you are
out of their demographic, unless you've become a 36 long.

I worked for VS when I was in college over a holiday season and can
assuredly say that they don't discriminate against ANYONE!!!

My co-prop in that store had to fit a 40+ year old MAN for a bra (he
had gyno-mastia or something like that) and she did it with no problem
at all.

So while I might be agree with you to some extent that the service was
less than stellar, to chalk it up to being a result of your age (esp.
at 35!) is just WAY off base.

But you basically stomped off (acting like a little child) and said
nothing to the manager (again, acting like a little child) and wonder
why they didn't give you the customer service you "deserved."

I'd say you got exactly what you should have expected.

If you are old enough to go into VS, then you are old enough to ask
for help and also ask to speak with a manager.

For me to make a fair judgment as to your age-based complaint, I'd
want to know the ages of the other two customers who got immediate
service.

Forget the BRA, let those rascal go free!

You could try JC Penney, I hear that they frequently bring in a
fitting expert to assist in harnessing the boobs properly; just a
thought!

I confess, Julie.

I'm 35 years old... and I probably have, no kidding, 25 Victoria's
Secret bras. I devote an entire drawer in my dresser just to my bras.


So I have to say, in my experience, there really isn't an age limit at
VS.

That doesn't mean you didn't get a bad store, but you can find one of
those in any place, regardless of the name. The associates should
have acknowledged you, you are right about that.

You would probably be better off calling the manager and talking to
him/her about your experience.

actually, i have the opposite problem when i go. Sales people are
over eager. I'm a plus size gal so naturally i aint gonna be buying no
french bikinis or thongs there, but i do like to look at the lotions
and sprays and sometimes depending on the location, mens things for
the hubby.

So why didn't you speak to a manager while you were there?

It is called opening your mouth and saying something. They aren't mind
readers

You think that's bad, try being a late 30's male and just hang around
the store. I can tell you that they do NOT like that one bit.

I was manager for VS and can tell you that there is NO age limit... I
have associates that were in their 50's and 60's that would agree with
me! I can tell you that my employees had issues with talking to each
other, rather than customers though! It sounds to me like it was a
problem with everyone in the store doing their job properly, and fail
to see how your age plays in to this complaint. Sorry for the bad
experience and next time ask for a manager so the issue with those
specific employees can be addressed on the spot.

I don't see (from the information available) that this was an age
related issue. I am 52 and get assistance from the Victoria's Secret
associates. Then again, maybe they can see I need the
"support"...haha!
Yes, they should have acknowledged and helped you. However you could
have politely asked for help. Then if you were ignored, there would be
an issue. It surely was irritating, but could have been a rare
occurance.
Call the store and talk to the Manager. She may resolve this
situation to your satisfaction.

I agree w/ the OP on this one, and disagree w/ the reply that it was a
misunderstanding. MOST retail employees are trained that when a
customer enters a certain amount of square feet of distance from the
employee, the employee should give SOME SORT of response. It does not
sound like any was given in this case. I agree, go shop at Nordstrom.
My wife gets just as sexy stuff there as from VS, for not nearly the
price!

I don't think 35 is really old enough to be out of their target range
of age. I think they got caught up with the others, and like the
previous poster mentioned, they missed the eye contact thing.

I do agree they should be paying attention to other customers in the
store, even if to let you know they'd be with you soon.

It sounds like the situation was a misunderstanding. If it was me, I
would of interrupted the two coworkers "talking" and asked for help.
Some people can't tell from just eye contact that help is needed. What
were the two coworkers talking about?
If the two coworkers were talking about something outside of work
matters, then yes, that was unprofessional.
But...your age has nothing to do with it. Victoria Secrets is tailored
to all ages and is not just targeted to younger people. How much money
you were willing to spend is irrelevent in this letter, it just makes
your complaint look tacky.
Did you even think about talking to a manager about this? This letter
will just end up going to the manager of that location anyway.
It seems like you have shopped with VS in the past, but one back
experience and you won't go back? Come on now...