We were at the Wheelock Outlet trying on sandals for myself, hubby and child with full intention to make purchases. As I needed some opinion from my sister on which is nice for my kid, I took a picture of the sandals, intending to msn to her when we were told off very rudely by one of the sales lady that photo-taking is not allowed in the shop. We were upset not because we can't take pictures in the shop, but rather, we were put off by how this issue is being handled. We were literally TOLD OFF by the lady which is totally unacceptable as we were not aware of this in the 1st place, and must i say, WE ARE THE CUSTOMER! This is no way to treat a potential customer.

Anyway, we walked off, and we were glad that they have LITERALLY LOST THREE CUSTOMERS!

One question, "Why does the management put up with such lousy staff?" It is giving a very BAD NAME to Birkenstock, trust me.

I was at the Wheelock Birkenstock branch with my bf today and the staff literally ranted at us when we merely told her we were upset with her attitude.
My bf was trying on the sandals when one of the staff told us that it does not have his size, it's too small for him. However he still put it on as we wanted to see how it looks when worn, anyway it fits just nice to us. Then another staff came and told us in a not-so-polite way that he would stretch the sandals and please be considerate to the next customer who buys it. I mean firstly, it's not like his feet is so big and he tried to squeeze into it, it fits ok. Secondly, how would we know their "care" policy was so strict that we cannot try on the display piece that is said to not fit our feets? Don't we usually just try on the display piece and then ask for our sizes? Thirdly, the way she said it was not right at all to a potential customer.

Anyway the exiting story comes after we left the store but decided to go back and tell her that we're upset over the way she treated us. Seriously, she didn't even spare the customer a chance to plead our case and she herself started ranting and demanded we "talk" outside the store. I was so angry that she was so rude during the "talk" and she didn't even allow me to get my point across at all! Then the worst thing was, she started demanding for my name to sue me for defamation and being rude. I was so furious! I was the one wanting to complain about her bad service, I should be the one demanding her name not her! And she wanted to sue me for being rude? I'm very sure if I were rude, she's definitely a level higher. In the end she just stomped off into the store.
Really. My day was ruined just because of her bad attitude. Seriously, isn't birkenstock all about their CSR? Being environmental friendly and excellent service? Trust me too, Birken in Sg would be the last when it comes to brand image.

hhhhmmmm lemme highlight something here. Bad service can be anywhere & everywhere, not necessarily in SG only. But at Birk's, I think I hv to let u pple noe bout my experience at their Raffles City outlet.
I was there wif my hubby last week who was at that time very keen in getting a pair of sandals to replace his Teva. We were browsing n trying (of course!!) but as usual I make it a point to place back those we've tried properly on e respective shelves. But no matter how carefully I did, e sales gal keep on arranging it again. And she kept tailing us so blardy close as if I was trying to steal. Again n again I put it back in place those footsies I've tried. Y? Cos I've been in sales line & I noe how irritating it was if customers just disorganised yr stuffs. E final straw was when I purposely lift a Birk (mind U, I just lifted half of it n e sole was still flat rested on e shelf) n dat sales gal again took it n arrange it back. I asked her y did she do dat & if I've did anything wrong in putting it back to e original place. U noe what she did? She stared at me before she mumbled something & walked away. I asked "Sorry u were saying??" She replied "Aiyah nothing lah, u come n try but never buy". WTF!!!! I just walked off from e shop but after that I wrote a complaint letter which Birk has yet to reply. Too bad even if they gv me a voucher to make up for it, my hubby & me has already got a pair from Aldo on e same day. I don't boycott Birk, I don't hate sales staffs but I just hate it if pple dont deserve my respect.

BUY ONLINE LA!!!!!!

Singaporeans all have high and disgustingly high expectations of service staffs... if not happy, BUY ONLINE, DON"T COMPLAIN HERE!!!!!!!!!

i see a lot of flaming in here..flame flame flame...

chill people.
if you're not happy, you don't have to patronise them...
better still, go in and 'pretend' to look like a potential customer,
ask to try on some scandals, and then just leave...

revenge is sweet, as the blood tickles down my throat!
hahaha!

chill...

I agree that the way they were treated wasn't great, but she just says that they were told off . And? Was it what the clerk said or how she took it?

My local Birkenstock store recommends people buy online if the exact style they want is not available. I was interested in the London, which they do not usually carry. The clerk walked me through what to look for online and even gave me a free postage paid bag so I could send my Birks off should they ever need repair.

To tell the truth a lot of customer come to Birkenstock shop, just to try size & buy online.
I have a friend who work there before( she quits cos tired of all the online buyer). Of course buying online is cheaper cos we can't try it. Buying a pair of Birkenstock sandal,we must get the right size. From my friend experience, what she told me is that some customer are really damn rude example the moment they try a pair of sandal & keep asking ''Is this my size?''. Can you guys imagine that how my friend feel, so old already but still don't know what sizes their wearing? Normally online buyer insist of trying a few pair of sandal at last tell the salesperson ''I will consider it'' & even asked for the model name. Don't even said ''THANK YOU'' for the free service... Please think before you want the respect from the salesperson, every human being is the same. Don't take CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR GRANTED. I guess we should change the rules- Customers is always right!!!

i am birkenstock regular customer. i went to raffles city branch all e ladies there is very friendly & helpful. i can understand how e staff feel & their situation. i saw with my own eyes got one family keep on try & try almost 8 pairs at last one of the lady told her family (we not buying at here just try only.. will order through on line) what is this ...
for me i also on retail line i can feel how the staff feels. pls think back everyone also want cheap thing & good service then of cause have to pay extra. i feel singaporean is super demanding & no respect for the products. i even saw e customers after trying some sandals & messing up without putting back just left it & expect the staff to clear for them! wat a shame! i always thought that singaporean is well educated & courtesy.

I completely agree about the salespeople looking down on people who are dressed more casually than others. It doesn't matter how you dress, they should serve you the same regardless of it as it is their JOB. If they treat a customer badly, it should be reported to the manager because they would be disgracing the shop!

On the other hand, I bought a pair of white Birkenstocks from the Centrepoint outlet a month ago and the staff was pretty friendly there. She let me try on a whole bunch of white pairs - 3 at least - and didn't even look disdained. I supposed the service really depends from person to person.

Anyway, I've got a glossy red pair size 39 that's brand new with the tag attached. It's too small for me so I'm putting it up for sale at $50. Contact me at tiffanyyx@gmail.com with the subject line "Red birkenstocks" if you're interested!

there is fantastic and cheap website for birkenstock and family range. I have ordered from there to Australia before and the service is great. Delivery is about 3 weeks.

http://www.footshopping.com/

Yes.. if nobody wants to buy dirty white shoes, then maybe the staff can take care of that, by giving the shoe a quick clean,after the customer is done trying it..After all, how dirty can the shoe get in the shop (being indoors)?
Also, it is really quite ridiculous that you can't try shoes on before buying - how then would you know whether they fit well?..

Anyway, whatever the reason, staff should not be rude, and neither should the customers. It's a 2 way thing. And it's always nice to have someone go the extra mile for others ;)

In such a circumstance, I will not agree or disagree in anything here. Both are at fault and, both should reflect on their behaviours and manners.

For the customers: Singaporeans are juz spoilt brats... That is all I can say... We live in a society with no proper teachings and very rude behaviours. Expecting service staffs to treat them like kings and queens. Try putting yourself in their level, and you will understand where they are coming from. The long hours they have to put up with the number of nasty customers and having to work on weekends, where others spend their weekends with their families.

For the sales people: Comparing service with the rest of the world, I personally feel Singapore still has a long way to go. Countries like Japan (if some of you have been there to experience), I would say sales staff attitudes in Singapore is really no where compared to Japanese sales staff. Go there one day, you will know what I mean. Have some changes in the way you service people.

I would like to relate my experience at the Birkenstock outlet at Centrepoint which takes the cake for the absolute worst service that I have ever encountered. I was there with my family to purchase a pair of shoes for my teenage son. We were rudely asked by a sales staff, Kim if we had any intentions of making a purchase even before she would allow my son to try on a pair. She insisted that he would be allowed to try only after we had stated our intention to purchase that pair. She also refused to allow him to try on a white pair stating that they can't risk getting it dirty. When told how rediculous her demand was, she cursed us in Mandarin and walked away. When we tried to get the manger's contact from another staff by the name of Siew Ching, she insisted that she didn't know her boss' full name and that it was not the company's policy to allow customers to communicate with the boss. We tried contacting the other branches and more or less got the same response. Such is the state of service at Birkenstock Singapore!

I also roughly the same experience. I am 19 this year but i look nothing lyk that, especially on that day when i visited the store. I was wearing my 'comfy clothes', which i guess make me look like an average secondary school kid. I asked one of the sales person whether they have the catalogue for the birks, but he rudely said no to me, and turned to attend to another 'bettter-dressed' tourist. What sort of attitude does he think he is giving?!! I am well prepared to fork out that money to buy a birk but in the end, i guess that they lost my sales, too bad!

I don't think it's Birkenstock direct, who have the shops. It's usually some other shoe store, that speciallizes in Birkenstocks. So actually it's shouldn't be Birkenstocks fault, if those shops employ rude people.

I sinply agree wz all of the above reviews of birkenstock stores in spore especially the two stores in wheelock n tanglin. I remember I went into the shops to browse and was trying to get some help from the sales person but they just simply stand around the counters and chat among themselves and do not even bother to ask the customers if they needed assistance and they simply just gave that stuck up look that makes me feel that they look down on people thinking that they would not buy. thats y till now i nvr want to buy frm this 2 stores because they simply hav the worst attitude problem.

I didn't knew that Birkenstock stores in Singapore have bad customer service. I think I would prefer to shop online rather than to shop at the outlet itself.

well, birks not the only shop. alot of the salesperson nowadays should really undergo some serious training. buying online is not really a soln, some stuff juz looks different online.

generally, the service industry in Singapore is really bad. shop assistants who look at us carefully,decide whether we are RICH or POOR before they attend to us, and . If we look poor, they think we are not worth their time. They look down on us.

I strongly agree with all the comments given. Sadly, none is positive. Nothing irks me more than bad service. We can do something by not patronising the outlets. I went in several times to 3 Birkenstock outlets (Tanglin, Wheelock and Raffles City) and NONE approached me if they could offer help.

Be it poor or rich, they shoudnt look down on us. I hate to remind them this, for the matter of fact, they are just SALES ASSISTANT! Be it if they want to look down on us, as long as we know where we stand.

If they dont give us the customer service, I wont give them the business either.

Can't we go in and self-service..??

After all, nomater how the people are, i can't do without birkenstock. I have a few pairs. I have a pair of sandal that is too big for me (38 outline), any one interested, brand new without tag, never be worn. Original Price at Raffle City Birkenstock $219, I am letting it go a $119, free shipping, any one interested, please contact me or see my auction at Yahoo singapore. Thanks

i agree how unprofessional and rude the staff at birkenstock are. for me i've only been to the one at wheelock, tanglin mall and raffles city (newly opened) and so far the staff at raffles city are quite helpful and friendly. the people at wheelock are super bitchy.

Could you tell me where about is the store at raffles city? I am from Australia and it would be great if you could direct me to the outlet. I am currently staying in an apartment, very close to Douby Gaut Station. Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks

i totally disagree that the staff's attitude (i can't say the same for wheelock though) depends on how well attired u are.. cmon man.. some foreigners also put on simple clothes.. have u tried to understand and put yourself in the salesperson's shoes (no pun intended) as to why the staff may seem rude? there r dozens of people out there who just approached the store and just try sizes for fun (normally online buyers), but the staff still serve them all the same.. no one knows that these online buyers actually tried on 4-5 pairs of sandals and leave without saying anything.. regarding the comment posted by Noorsiah* on 27 August, 2006 - 12:27pm.. it's true that white gets dirty easily.. i mean, who's willing to purchase a pair of shoes that is already dirty? sales assistants are not meant for u guys to curse and swear online though, please try to understand..