Summary: A great company, a great product, a terrible store.
I love Brooks Brothers and their products. I normally shop online but wanted to go to a store, so I stopped by this one. I wasn't dressed the best, untucked shirt, jeans, casual shoes, etc...No one approached me at first but once I asked an associate for help he showed me about the store. Some lady then kind of took over and started showing me around. Talking to her was the most painful experience of my life. One of those people who doesn't say but a couple of words every 5 minutes. I inquired about a "polo shirt" and she stared off into deep thought for 30 seconds as I talked...She finally said, oh you are talking about a "knit shirt." Basically made me feel like an idiot. I don't know what planet she is from but even Brooks Brothers calls a polo, a polo. I then asked about a button down sport shirt and her response was "They are all button down" referring to the 2 buttons on a polo/"knit" shirt. I mean, come on! She had me try on a "body sample" shirt to see if I was slim or original fit. It was a strange shirt with weird sleeves. I found a shirt I really like and asked about trying it on to see how it looked and see how an actual shirt really fit. She said she didn't want to have to fold it and was going to try and find a shirt that was already unfolded...Not even of the same pattern or shirt! Unbelievable! Now, I am a professional student, I don't have gobs of money and if I am going to pay 90 bucks for a shirt, I am sure going to try it on first. So as I was finally walking back to the dressing room with my shirt I see her walk over and start whispering with other staff members, and I would be shocked if it wasn't about me.
Update: I went back to this store again because I was in Raleigh. I was dressed nicer than before (Allen Edmonds, Ralph Lauren, Hamilton, etc..) I walked in and was 'assisted' right away. I asked about some pants sizing/names, answered. I asked about the sales going on, answered, sarcastically...but I think that was just the nature of the employee after dealing with them more. I did what I had previously recommended. Picked out a 100 dollar shirt (on sale for 50)...Didn't try it on...Browsed through some other stuff...Laughed with the fellow suited gentlemen about the lower class philistine scum that I had to be near in the mall walking here, how awful? (kidding).Then checked out. Much smoother than before. Again, Brooks Brothers is Brooks Brothers...The employees are all dressed in formal business wear...So when the stylish young man dressed like he had just come from Hot Topic and Pacsun walked in to ask for an application, the employees obviously snickered with each other when he left. I'm surprised they don't have a doorman who won't let you in unless you can provide a recent payslip and have a tie on.
My personal recommendation is only go over here if you are suit shopping or really want to see an item in person...The shipping/return isn't free from their website, but it's worth the convenience and the absence of a painful experience with employees. Plus, once you get your size dialed in like I now have, you don't really have to send much back. Brooks is still my go to manufacturer, just not my go to retail store! read more