I try to avoid shopping at Douglas whenever possible. This chain of cosmetic stores with locations…read moreall over the country varies in stock and seemingly staff quality due to location. The smaller stores in the quieter areas of Hamburg have little selection, but friendly staff. In the case where I'm looking for a very specific item from a very specific brand, most chances I'll find it at the Douglas at Mönckebergstrasse, where the selection is vast, but the staff is of the worst I've ever experienced.
The staff seem to be somewhat knowledgeable - but that is my impression from conversations I've heard them have with others. I have never experienced the service quality they supply to others, given to me. This may sound somewhat bitter, but after reading many a blog and quite a few women's online forums, it seems to be the general feel at the larger Douglas stores that folks who don't appear to be well off, do not receive the same service as the rest.
I don't know if this has any bit of truth in it, but I can personally attest to the fact that when I am at this specific Douglas store, I am largely ignored. It is very difficult for me to flag down a salesperson (they never, ever approach me and offer assistance) and when I do, some are very rude - I even had a salesperson proceed to turn her back to me, and answered my question without even giving me a second glance.
This is behavior that I never experience anywhere else, include the cosmetics department of the more prestigious department store, Alsterhaus. My recommendation is to avoid at almost all costs, and to consider shopping with Douglas online, or at one of their smaller stores.