Missing True Deparment Stores

[scott55405]

This whole retail thing has been a bit of trial and error for me here in Los Angeles. Overall thus far I am not terribly impressed. There does not seem to be a lot of pride taken in the appearance of or service in some of the (non grocery) stores. All the grocery stores I've been in have been clean and nice. The people in these stores are pleasant and do try to help, but seem resigned to their fate.

The condition and staffing of stores seems inextricably linked to the area in which it is located here more so at least to me than it did in Minneapolis. The Target store closest to me is the most wretched, filthy, unstocked place I have ever seen, worse than any KMart or WalMart. I complained to the manager which I never do and he was sympathetic but basically said that's kind of how it is. I told him that if a Target store looked like that in Minneapolis he'd be run out of town, a fact of life which he seemed well aware but ill prepared to do anything about.

I live in a very nice area that I've learned kind of borders on a somewhat less desirable one to the immediate south, which is how I've drawn this conclusion. I visited a mall in the same general vicinity as the unfortunate Target store and found things much the same. The JCPenney store there is borderline acceptable, but severely understaffed. After two separate visits trying to get help in the blind section, I've given up and elected the shop at home service. The Macy's and May Co. in that same mall were so bad I'd never go again.

The Target near where I work, on the other hand, in one of the beach communities, is quite pleasant and acceptable like the Targets which I've become accustomed. There are so many places to shop here that I'm certain it will be only a matter of time until I find my niche, not that anything is ever going to be like it once was.

 

[michaelman2]

Fnelson!! great pics..thank you for posting!
Angus..I have to agree with you about I Magnin, they were a wonderful retailer. All of the posts made me go to my keepsake chest and pull out some of my old charge plates (just dated myself "plates")..the Magnins card was there, B Altman was there. Even an old Wannamaker card and of course my Sakowitz card is right in there.

 

[toggleswitch]

Sometimes, even Toggle speaks without parables!

Jason:

*WOW* All I meant was I have already sold Ladies' shoes ==> "enough of that", now, I'd sell men's.

Tons of excercise and you leave the the sales floor every few minutes to get the shoes.

 

[toggleswitch]

Sometimes a cigar, is just a cigar......

or as Monica would say
"Close, but no cigar."

 

[kenmore1978]

unstocked Target

Scott, from your description, sounds lke you were in the Target in southern Culver City. That's the only one near Fox Hills Mall, which has a Penney's, Macy's (former Broadway), and Robinson's-May(former May Co.) It'll be interesting to see what happens to the Robinson's-May. They're really trying to push the Macy's name, forgetting that people shop at different stores for a REASON. I think that's why Safeway hasn't converted all the Von's and Pavilions stores into Safeway and Kroger has kep the Ralphs name. Von' si going out of theri way for customer service, employees always greet you when they pass you in the aisle and will persoanlly take you to where an it me is if asked, and one is always asked if you need help to your car, even if you look like a muscle builder.

 

[kenmore1978]

Target

Oh, forgot to say, the "nice" Target is at Rodeo Road and La Cienega Blvd. It's only a few years old. The other one further west on Jefferson used to be a "Two Guy" depat. store and has been there for years.

 

[dalangdon]

I. Magnin

Our I. Magnin here in Seattle was a beautiful store - The outside was a miniature version of the San Francisco store: Severe white marble with black marble trim. Inside was hushed and just screamed "old money". Lots of classy old broads ambling around in their St. John's knits and Chanel suits.

When it closed, it stood empty for a few years then was redone into an Old Navy, fox sports grill, and Gene Juarez salon (the salon for the nouveau riche - lots of "assisted blondes" with coach handbags and ridiculous cars) They messed up the outside and completely gutted the inside. You wouldn't even know it.

I don't begrudge people money. But rich people with no taste deserve to be subjected to a special tax or something ;-)

 

[michaelman2]

Kenmore..man I tell ya...Target on Rodeo Drive, what in the world!..Dalangdon, don't you know that old Magnin's bldg crenged when that Old Navy inserted itself. I am still laughing about the "assisted blondes". Sometimes all of that bleach will pickle the brain.

 

[whirlcool]

fnelson487..

Thanks for posting those photos/drawings. That's exactly how I remember the interior. I wish there was a shot from the ground floor looking UP to the top of the tall attriums.
It kinda reminds you of Harrods in London. I can spend all day there in the food court alone!
My sister, who still lives in the Chicago area said that they have also considered using the name "Marshall Field's by Macy's" for the flagship store and that at first they also thought about removing the clocks on the outside of the building, but that would certainly have people storming the store in protest. By the way, Marshall Field's flagship is at "zero" loction in Chicago. State & Madison is from where all the addresses in Chicago start from. 0 North and 0 West.
Now for all you Texan's, Foley's is now to become a Macy's as well. More blastphemy! Actually, Federated Department stores owned Foley's back in the 60's through 80's then DF May bought it, cheapened it up with cheaper merchandise for premium prices and then sold it back to Federated Department stores.
I'm afraid to ask what comes next!

 

[fnelson487]

Scott

Your initial impressions are very accurate. When I first moved to California in 1979, I remember being very disappointed in the retail stores. Bullocks was the best but no comparison to Carson's or Fields. I remember transplanted Easterners and Midwesterners saying that they went back east to shop for clothes and such. The only thing I really miss about Southern California (besides the almost perfect weather) is Gelsons the grocery store. Have never come across anything like it anywhere else. If you get a chance check out the Santa Monica, Westwood, or Encino (my store) Gelsons. You will be impressed by the produce (never picked up anything less than perfect), meat, fish and service.

Fred

 

[angus]

Federated did the same thing to Filene's, Bullock's and I. Magnin. Filene's and Foley's were sold to May and Bullock's and I. Magnin were sold to Macy's. Ultimately Federated got them all back plus got Macy's to boot. But the damage was done.

 

[scott55405]

Michaelman, the Target is on Rodeo Road (pronounced like it looks) as opposed to "RoDAYo" Drive in Beverly Hills, LOL.

Jaune, you are correct, I'm speaking of the Target on Jefferson, and I think we're talking about the same mall. You're the second person that's referred to it as "Fox Hills" to me, though on the building it says "Westfield Shoppingtown". Maybe I'll try the Beverly Center and Westside Pavilion. I do like South Coast if I'm in Orange County.

The Target I've been going to is in Manhattan Beach, it is nice and is convenient to my job in El Segundo. I bought my computer at the Fry's on Sepulveda and Rosecrans. It was a dive but they were nice and several hundred dollars cheaper than Best Buy for a similar computer.

I've been doing most of my grocery shopping at the Vons on Centinela, bet. Washington and Venice. Besides being the closest grocery to my house, it has a very 60s feel to it, which I like. Unfortunately, the groceries here are still fond of using those loyalty cards, which I detest and which have all but disappeared in Minnesota. Guess that part's not that big a deal. They are very helpful and nice there. I didn't realize Safeway owned all those stores. I wondered why Von's had so many Safeway brand items, and why I haven't seen an actual Safeway store.

Fred, I am familiar with and have been to Gelson's in the past. They are indeed very nice stores. I think there's one over this way someplace too. One of my dearest friends lives near Encino, just north of that big park. I've been shopping on Ventura Boulevard a few times when staying there.

Though very young, I still remember visiting Bullock's on Wilshire Boulevard on my first trip to California in 1969. I did go to a Macy's in downtown LA when I was interviewing down there that I thought was pretty nice. Mark goes there all the time.

 

[kenmore1978]

Store changes

" The only thing I really miss about Southern California (besides the almost perfect weather) is Gelsons the grocery store."

Gelson's and Mayfair are the same company. One of the few non-huge chains here in Southern CA that are successful

"Michaelman, the Target is on Rodeo Road (pronounced like it looks) as opposed to "RoDAYo" Drive in Beverly Hills, LOL."

The difference is the English and Spanish pronunciations of the same word. "RoDAYo" is the Spanish pronunciation, RoDEEo is the English pronunciation.

"You're the second person that's referred to it as "Fox Hills" to me, though on the building it says "Westfield Shoppingtown"

That area of Culver City is referred to as Fox Hills, and when it was originally built, it was called the Fox Hills Mall

"I've been doing most of my grocery shopping at the Vons on Centinela, bet. Washington and Venice. I didn't realize Safeway owned all those stores."

Safeway used to have a big presence here, but after being bought by Kohlberg, Kravis, & Roberts in a leveraged buyout in the the 80's, they sold all the Southern CA stores to Vons in order to reduce debt. Apparently, Vons paid with a lot of stock instead of cash, which then years later allowed Safeway to return and take over Vons.

 

[ironrite]

Just Plain Old Service

Decided to look at a new computer today. I'm looking at a Sony RC series to handle video editing. So off I go to RC Willey, a local appliance/electronic/home store. 8 Salesmen standing around, talking on their cell phones and I'm sitting on their floor looking around at a couple of desktop models. Hmm, let's put the most expensive models on the lowest display rack. Nobody came over to help.

Then called the local Sony Style store here. It took several attempts to get someone on the phone. I could not understand a word they said. Asked a couple of general questions, then questions about the RC, both times put on hold. No product knowledge and they work for Sony! They have a display model, but aren't selling the machines at this time, was told to order it direct from Sony.

Now, off to Fry's Electronics. They've never heard of this Sony, though thought they had it, but wouldn't look it up in their inventory. Finally went over to buy an external hard drive. Watched 6 salespeople talk for 5 minutes before someone noticed me and I finally got the hard drive.

When I'm ready, I'll just order the computer over the internet. But it simply stuns me that these people have jobs. How on earth did they get past an interview? I've worked sales before and I used to work in customer service, so I know it's not a picnic, but it appears now it's turning into a party! But the customer is not invited.

 

[petek]

In many cases, not all, it does pay to complain about poor service. I have no qualms whatsoever about doing it and doing it loudly depending on the circumstances. If I'm being obviously ignored it's loud and to the point followed up by a letter to the management. If the person is woefully inadequate about product knowledge and I mean woefully I'd ask them how long they'd been working there and if it was time enough to know a product line I'd ask them why they didn't know what they were selling, leave and follow it up with a complaint letter.
If I'm in line to pay and the cashiers phone rings and she begins talking to a customer about something in the store I usually reach over and hang the phone up. I'm not being put on hold just because someone phones in. What's with people thinking a phone call from a customer comes before a paying customer in front of them? I don't get it. Don't they know how to put a phone call on hold till they finish what they're doing?
Believe me, complain properly and you'll get free stuff. When you make your complaint in writing do it professionally and always always always make mention of the "valuable" time you wasted as a result as well as if they plan on making any corrections. Address it directly to the store manager with a copy to the head office if that applies.

 

[magic clean]

The phone

Petek states "If I'm in line to pay and the cashiers phone rings and she begins talking to a customer about something in the store I usually reach over and hang the phone up. I'm not being put on hold just because someone phones in. What's with people thinking a phone call from a customer comes before a paying customer in front of them? I don't get it. Don't they know how to put a phone call on hold till they finish what they're doing?"

Man, you've pushed my button with that one. Hotel front desk staff are notorious for this. Does not seem to matter what "class" of hotel it is either. I think they are trained to work in this manner, as they've already got you as a reserved guest, so by answering the phone they can potentially reel in another. Most of the time, some of the conversations are downright idiotic....at least the half you are privy to. I've personally complained vigorously about this, and at most you get a shrug of the shoulders & "sorry".

And while on the subject of hotels, I've asked many a manager & other staff if they've ever stayed in a room at their hotel if things are not quite right. The answer is generally "Noooooo"! Airports & airlines can be another source of "fun" nowadays. Then comes the rental cars!! Well enough of this rant from a sometimes hot, tired and aggravated road warrior.

 

[kenmore1978]

Salespeople

I've gotten to the point where I do all my research before I go into a store so I don't have to bother with salespeople who don't know anything anyway