White House Black Market

My wife goes here often. She really loves their selection. In fact, she buys most of her work clothes here. She has been coming her for a couple years for their unique styles. They have some great stuff that is high quality.

I agree. Same deal with the pushiness in the Lehigh Valley Mall location. The salespeople are extremely helpful, but I felt super pressured and even borderline smothered. Several salespeople crowded me trying to talk me into all these things when I really just wanted 1 item. And they lied when I said can you please taking something off when I saw the total at $ 150. They said if they took something off, I would lose the discount and actually be paying more. Um, not exactly. I calculated it when I got home — yes, I would have went down to $ 25 off versus $ 50 off the total, but with the $ 35 item off, my bottom line would have been less than $ 100. Also, as I was changing (the rooms have a curtain) — the saleswoman was up my butt with more jeans, tops, etc. and men (husbands) were in the area. I had to grab a top over my chest as she pulled open the curtain. I was mortified!

I’m conflicted about White House Black Market. I love the clothes and always to turn to this store when in need of a great dress for an event but I hate their high pressure sales techniques. Although I know I always find the perfect dress for the occassion when shopping there, I always dread going inside.
Take for example, my most recent visit. The store was busy and I had to wait for a fitting room. That’s fine, no problem there. But when a room was finally available, the sales person assisting me had taken the liberty of adding a variety of skirts and tops to the fitting room to also try on. After I explained that I was looking for a cocktail dress, she did take them away. While trying on the dresses, she asked if I wanted to try on shoes with them which I declined. Finally when I decided on which dress I wanted to purchase, she pulled out a necklace to go with the dress, which again is fine, but when I told her no thanks, she insisted saying «Are you sure, it’s only $ 19!» which annoyed me. I am a member of their rewards club, which allowed me to receive a discount on my purchase but once she told me my total, she tried to sell me something to bump me up to the next level to get more savings. When I declined, she again asked me if I was sure!
To some, this may seem like good costumer service and I suppose in a way it is. But I find their tactics to be too pushy and very insincere. Not so severe that I won’t shop here but enough that it makes me uncomfortable.
Again, White House Black Market’s selection of dresses is outstanding, but don’t be suprised if you’re pressured into buying more than you originally intended to when purchasing items from this store.
2 ½ stars