Lacoste Store

I have experienced quite a few things traveling to now almost 50 countries all over the globe, but never have I been treated as rudely as in this shop.

I visited in July 2012 with my wife and a friend of hers.  The ladies were actively looking around, and I found myself a seat (as men usually do in clothes shops).  The ladies made me try on a shirt, and when the attendant checked with me whether I wanted to try on that specific shirt, I quipped (in German) that "wanted" did not quite hit the nail on the head.  She immediately tore (seriously) the shirt out of my hands, telling me that if I did not want to, that was fine with her.  When I looked at her incredulously, she tossed (really!) the shirt back to me, saying I should go ahead if I had changed my mind.

When I protested against this kind of treatment, she insinuated that we were in the shop only to cool down in the air-conditioned room (we were staying at the 5-star Swissotel around the corner, it has air con, thank you very much).  The pinnacle was her claim that she was trying very hard on our behalf (the implied message being that we were abusing her).  It did not seem to have sunk in that trying on behalf of her customers was what she was getting paid for (the shop belongs to Lacoste directly, the lady was an employee, and there were in any case no other customers in the shop).

We had been at this shop before some years earlier and had spent about 400 euros that time.  We were seriously considering buying a few items but obviously left the shop at once.

Recommendation: There is another Lacoste branch closer to the Frauenkirche (Sporergasse, I believe), and the ladies there were friendly.