First of all, I want to say that today makes 2 weeks that I've been here! I can't believe I've been here for 2 weeks already! It really feels like I've been here for a month or two. In these 2 weeks that I've been here I've learned a lot about the Parisian way of life and noticed a lot of things people do. I will actually write a post about all the things I've noticed because I find it quite funny and interesting. I guess it's part of discovering a new culture.
Last week was all about shoes, yes shoes. I have recently become obsessed with looking at people's shoes and their coats. I've noticed that everybody has amazing shoes and fashionable coats. It looks like its all they invest in, nice shoes and nice coats. After all, during winter time that's pretty much all you see of a person's outfit when you're walking in the street.
Since my gray boots that I brought from home kept getting wet, I set out to find the perfect pair of boots that wouldn't be too expensive, wouldn't get soaked if it rained and of course cute. As it turned out, it was hard to find good shoes with my budget. There were thousands of shoes that I saw that I really liked, but everything was so expensive! The cheapest boots I found were like 69 euros (good quality shoes) and the rest where like 100 euros.
Let me tell you that shopping in Paris isn't as easy or amazing as you think it is, sorry to burst your bubble, but I think it's better that I burst it than some rude sales person. Not only are things expensive, but customer service sucks. Maybe it's different if you have thousands of dollars to spend and go to the champs elysees, but if you're like me, looking for the cheapest things possible, then you might not be so lucky. Also stores here open so late!
I went to a street called "Rue de commerce" (its a small street full of shoe and clothing stores) early in the morning in search of new boots, my host mom had said that there was a lot of shoe stores and that they weren't too expensive. I learned that "expensive" is a very vague word and varies from culture to culture. In America you would probably consider a pair of shoes of around $60 and up to be expensive (at least to me). Of course sometimes $60 dollars is reasonable price for the shoe and well boots its another story, because good boots are usually $100. But here in Paris, I guess "not expensive" means 100 euros.
When I arrived to the street to my surprise most stores were closed or were just opening their doors. I was so confused it was already 10 am! Turns out in Paris stores open around 10-10:30 am!! Really Paris?? The shopping capital of the world opening its stores at 10? I couldn't believe it.
I pretty much went to every single shoe store (the ones that were open that is) and of course it was raining and I was wearing the gray boots, so by the time I went to the end of the street I had no choice but to BUY shoes. I couldn't wait and look around at more shops to compare prices because my boots were soaked, my socks too, I had class at 1pm and wouldn't be able to go back home to change.
So finally, as I was heading back down the street, a store that used to be closed was finally open and I went in and found shoes at a more affordable price. I finally settled for some camel colored leather boots, that somewhat make me think of cowboys lol. They cost me 69 euros, but that was a good price compared to the rest of the stores (trust me when I say this). I also fell in love with these wedges that were suede and caramel colored with laces, kinda like a fancy "hiking boot" type of thing. Everybody's wearing them in Paris and at this store they were at 39 euros. I was so tempted but decided to hold off the buy. Good thing I did because yesterday the "soldes" (sales) started!!
Apparently every store in Paris has sales between Jan. 11 to Feb. 4th (not sure about the dates though), and it was like Black Friday/Boxing day madness at the shops. It was torture for me, I wanted to buy so much because everything was so much cheaper but I don't have a lot of money left and whatever I have left I need to spend it wisely. But when I get paid again, I will probably go crazy! But no, I told myself that I will only buy what is necessary! I already made a list of things that I can buy and that is all! (We'll see if I can actually stick to the list haha).
Anyways let me continue on because this post is becoming really long. I think I will talk about my sightseeing and so on in another post and in this one all I'll talk about is my shopping experience.
So let me tell you why I think customer service here is terrible, let me tell you a little story that happened tuesday.... I decided to go see the "Jardin du Luxembourg" before my class on tuesday and as I was walking down the street "rue Vavin" I found a store that had posters everywhere saying that everything was 10 euros... 10 euros??! I of course turned myself around and crossed the street to see what there was. I found this super cute sweater that is supposed to be a dress type of thing (you wear leggings underneath). But the size said "TU" which means "Taille unique" (one size only) and I wasn't sure if that was going to fit me or not. I then found the same sweater in another color but it looked much bigger than the one I had, since there was no dressing room I couldn't see which one would actually fit me better. So I turned to the sales clerk (a woman) to ask her which one she would think would fit me better (I needed a second opinion) and she told me that they where the same size. I told her that one looked bigger than the other one, and she was like no they're the same size, it says TU=one size only, it's the color that makes it look bigger.
If you would have seen the sweaters you could CLEARLY see that one was longer than the other one, I am not stupid lady, I know what one size only means but it doesn't mean that it couldn't have been stretched out or something.
So I turned around and looked in the mirror deciding which one would be better, I then turned around and asked her for her opinion and she pretty much screamed at me in a very annoyed tone "It's the same size, I already told you!" I couldn't believe that she was screaming at me! I would've left but I really wanted that sweater. Man I was so upset at her for screaming!!Who does that? I then paid and she told me "There's no returns you know that right?" I answered yeah (I just wanted to get out of there) and left. Talk about mood swings.
I also went to the postal office that day and the lady seemed so impatient with me! Every time I would ask her something she would answer in a tone and with a face that pretty much said "okay, yeah whatever, hurry up". That day made me miss shopping back home, of course everything here is very fashionable and all, but it seems so complicated to go shopping. Oh how I miss Wal-Mart, Target etc... never thought I would say that.
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