Pretty Woman re-lived in Prada

We all remember the epic scene in Pretty Woman when Julia Roberts walks into the fancy store on Rodeo Drive only to leave feeling unworthy and small. Well let’s just say I went through a small moment like this on Thursday. I do not like to bad mouth but when something irks me enough I am not going to sit quiet.

Last spring I found these Prada shoes that I wanted to wear to my brother’s rehearsal dinner. They were very expensive but it was a special occasion and I always look at shoes and handbags as an investment. So I splurged. I bought the expensive pair of shoes at the Prada store. Prada is that type of store that never has much foot traffic, the merchandise is displayed perfectly and, for me, I always have this uneasy feeling when I walk in the door. The day I bought the shoes, the man I purchased them from was extremely nice and helpful.

I wore the shoes to the rehearsal dinner that was maybe 3 hours and put them away. The second time I decided to wear them was a month later for my friend’s birthday party. I was at the  party and out of nowhere my heel breaks. Yup, the very expensive Prada shoe breaks in half. I  was stuck with one high heel and nowhere to go. So I had to GO home.

I brought the shoes to the Prada store the following day and explained what happened. The gentleman tells me it is going to take at least 6 weeks for the heel to be replaced. They need to be sent to Italy. Fine. I am now out of my shoes for the entire summer. About 3 weeks later I get a call from Prada. I am thinking my shoes are ready! No chance, they tell me I need to bring in the other shoe because they need to send it to Italy so they can match the heels perfectly. Um, aren’t the shoes made in Italy? They need to compare it to what? I am so confused but I bring the other shoe into Prada and leave (this is in July).

Four weeks later I receive a phone call that my shoes are ready to be picked up. To be honest, I have been so busy that I did not pick up my shoes until last week. I should mention that I had just left crossfit, I was a sweaty mess and not showered. I walk into the store and there is an older lady and a man standing there. I tell them that I need to pick up my shoes. The man looks at me like I have 10 heads. So I say, ” My shoes that are being repaired.” The man says to me in a really snotty tone, “THAT’S THE MAGIC WORD, REPAIR!” Seriously, EW! But I hold my breath and wait for him to pull my shoes. Finally he walks up to the counter with them, takes them out of the bag and says “Well they look good but you won’t know until you try them on.”  I tell him they are fine and thank you. He looks up and says “that will be $90.” I laugh. I cannot for the life of me believe that he is charging me. Now I am pissed. I say to him” You must be kidding, right? I wore the shoes twice, they are not even a year old AND the shoe broke the second time I wore them! How can you charge me??” He says “well..”. I cut him off. I say “How would you feel if you spent x amount on your shoes, they broke the second time you wore them and someone charged you $90 to repair them?” He looks at me, throws the bag at me (literally) and says in a snotty voice ,”FINE, HAVE A NICE DAY.”

I had so many opportunities to get his card, get his name, do something,  but I didn’t. I walked out feeling terrible. It was the worst customer service I have ever experienced in my entire life. I have NO IDEA how this man works in sales with the general public. I know Prada has an image they need to maintain, etc BUT nobody should be made to feel the way I felt when I left that store. Good luck to him this holiday season. I hope he gets his ass handed to him. I know I should have done it  myself.

Well I feel better that I vented about this ridiculous shoe story and now I can move on…

Thanks for listening (or reading).

Have a great weekend!!

xx