So I went to Stein Mart to find some duds to wear to a big event in New York City. The event was the World Premier of the Prince Caspian movie. My daughter has cystic fibrosis and going to the premier was the wish she requested from Make A Wish. Make A Wish sent us to NYC for 5 days! It was fabulous.
My trip to Stein Mart was not so fabulous. They had some cute things in the plus department but nothing I was too interested in. I did see that they had some travel clothing...the slinky type fabric that doesn't wrinkle. I didn't need any for the NYC trip but thought I might pick up a pair to keep on hand. I can't wear plus size bottoms in a stretch fabric. I need a L or XL, so I scoured the HUGE "normal/regular" ladies section and could find no travel pants.
I decided to ask a sales clerk for help. BAD decision! I couldn't spot a sales clerk so politely asked a jewelry clerk if she could find someone. The lady she found seemed none too happy to be helping me. She bustled toward me looking stern and miffed. It was as though I had interrupted her from a critical brain surgery or something! Before she even spoke I felt like a first grader in trouble with an impatient ticked off teacher.
I squared my shoulders, lifted my chin and bravely told her what I was looking for. She looked me up and down very tight lipped and then YELLED to another sales lady. I was so startled and dumbfounded that I don't remember exactly what she said, but is was along the lines of,
"Hey Marge, do you know if we have any of those travel pants in the ladies
regular sizes? I don't think we carry those in REGULAR sizes do we? I know we
have LOTS of them in Plus? You don't know. OK. Hey Shirley......"
Then she spat the same thing again. This was pretty much a full volume yell...nothing sissy about it.
After the first yell, my mouth fell open and I raised my hands palms up and mouthed, "What the...." and froze. By that time the jewelry lady had come from behind the counter and was heading my way. Every other female shopper I could see had frozen in place, hands mid air above racks of clothing, eyes full of horror, staring at the sales lady and then at me.
It all seemed to happen in slow mo. I was horrified and furious. I wanted to slug her. Instead I almost burst into tears from embarrassment. I quickly said, "Thanks anyway" and went slinking to the register to purchase the cute top I had found for my daughter. Was it a case of fat hatred? I don't know. All I know is that Stein Mart needs to train it sales people a little better. A case of fat hatred or not, this lady's conduct was rude and unprofessional.
Why have a plus department if your plus size customers are going to be treated like crap when they come to shop. I found something very nice to wear....elsewhere. It was lovely. We had a grand time in NYC. The World Premier was great. My daughter got to walk the red carpet and meet all the stars at the private after party. They were all gracious and friendly beyond belief! Much more than I can say for the sales lady at Stein Mart.
If I had it to do over, I would have slugged the Stein Mart sales clerk....kidding. No, I would have immediately asked for a manager and done a little on the spot FA education. I would have referred them to Kate Harding's blog and told them to read every blog on Kate's blogroll. Plus, I wouldn't have purchased a single thing. I let both myself and the movement down and I feel really badly about it. I guess I was just so stressed and tired by that time that all I wanted to do was get out of there. Live and learn.
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My daughter with actor William Mosely at the after party. William plays Peter Pevensie in the Narnia films. Not the best image due to image being taken from video!
