I really love Uniqlo, but since I moved from New York I haven't been able to shop there much. I was pretty excited to see they have opened up in Amsterdam, right off the Dam.
Upon entering, I was met by two young men who pointed to the shopping baskets. I told them I didn't want or need one, but they told me I had to take one and that it was required to shop there. In this COVID day and age, most stores seem to be trying to minimize touch points in stores, but not this Uniqlo. I almost turned around and left, but ended up grabbing a basket that had just been dropped off by another shopper and had been in the hands of how-knows-who-many others. I had expected, as at most other stores, to see hand sanitizer stations, especially considering their mandatory basket policy, but the only sanitizer I saw was a lone bottle at the cashier area.
As usual at Uniqlo, I found a couple of items I wanted to buy, two pairs of casual shorts. Thank GOD I had the basket, because I have NO idea how I would have carried them to the counter without it. To top it off, after I had made my purchase, the salesperson instructed me to take my basket downstairs and place it back in the holder by the door. I guess she didn't want to touch it any more than I did.
I do not know if this mandatory basket policy is company-wide now or just at this location, but it irritates me to no end. The fact that they didn't even take the basket after I had made the purchase and instead made me return it to the stand was especially irritating! read more
