Its been a hot minute since I last went to a Louis Vuitton store. I think the last one I left…read morewithout looking at anything because it was so busy. At any rate, I've had my eye on a bag and decided that with the VAT refund I'd get in Europe I'd save myself a few bucks so might as well buy a purse while there. This store is pretty big although the layout is a bit maze like to find the purse section. The store was fairly empty as compared to visiting ones in the US but it still took a minute to get help. The gentleman was nice and courteous although basically I needed to give him the name of the bag I was looking for because I guess when visiting you should have a bag in mind and know the name. Luckily I did write it down, and he looked it up and they didn't have in stock at that particular store but instead advised that I go to the another store on the other end of the shopping district and they should have it in stock for me. So not a terrible experience but not a stellar customer experience either. So in summary I'd return again to make a purchase.

This is the Betlin flagship store for Freitag. Staff is friendly, and they have an excellent…read moreselection of bags. Be prepared to sort through the boxes to find the right bag. Remember, you can claim back the tax when leaving the EU, so request your tax free form at checkout!

I have been buying Longchamps bags in every shape, size, color and model for years. So it was no…read moresurprise to find that they had a flagship store in Berlin, right on the Ku'damm, the Madison Ave of Berlin. However, imagine my (a) surprise, when I recently bought one of their pliage bags and then found that one of the handles had a nick in it and when I went to exchange it (b) I was told it would have to be sent to Paris for evaluation before an exchange could be made. Then (c) that exercise took over a month! AND then (d) to my horror I received a cryptic email from the shop's manager in German stating the bag had been repaired, NOT exchanged! When I queried why, I never got a response, so I called the shop from one of my overseas destinations and spoke to the rudest manager I have ever come across, who basically told me it's German law so I should screw myself! Based on that little number I did get a local attorney involved and I wrote the President of Longchamps in Paris as well. NO RESPONSE from anyone! When I finally was back in Berlin for a biz trip THREE MONTHS later, I went to pick up the repaired bag from the shop only to be told that there was a new one waiting for me plus, just to add insult to injury, that I had been rude, but an exception was being made for me. Huh?! In short, if you want a Longchamps bag, buy it anywhere just NOT at the Ku'damm shop! They will not honor their own warranty and will not provide you with customer service. Unless you are prepared to fight for your rights of course! And spend months on getting back to that shop - they could have told me I could pick up a new one in NY, my home town, couldn't they?! What humbug!