Mulberries controversy - sour grapes

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 31 May 2007, 12:07

Breaking news from the Mulberries "sale"

A customer (not Mrs Dadaist) was in the shop and picked out a pair of slippers/sandals - I think they were decorated or Oriental in style

She took them to the till to be met with :

"no, you can't have them - I want them"

from Mrs Mulberry on the till.

Customer replied that, er, they had been offered for sale at £7.50 and could they please buy them?

Mrs Mulberry still refused and said that no, she wanted them for herself.

Customer in disbelief.

Mrs Mulberry then said that customer could have them, but for £10 and not £7.50.

Argument ensued.

I don't know what the final outcome was, but I think what had happened was that Mrs Mulberry had put the footwear to one side through the back, but a colleague had mistakenly put them out front as part of the half-price sale.

I'm less concerned now about Mulberries shutting down after hearing this tale.

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 31 May 2007, 13:04

S has a v similar story last week. Spoke to Mrs Mulberry outside shop and commiserated with her closing, then asked if a picture which was £250 was included in the sale. Mrs Mulberry confirmed it was, and was £125.

Sandra's Mum was interested in the picture, so S dutifully went in on Saturday just before they closed to see if they could hold it for a few minutes while she got the money.....and was informed the picture was now £150, and no, it was "the other one" that was £125.

Needless to say, that was one sale less for the day.

Personally I had sympathies for the shop closing, as I would for any shop, but this, and the comment to us the night before that Mulberries was closing due to "lack of support from customers"....thought it was a shop, not a charity

....has somewhat diluted my sympathy quota for them.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 31 May 2007, 14:22

I remember when Ooop shut and there was the last of the guys wacky signs (remember the ones justifying menu price hikes?) telling us we weren't ready for him yet.

Maybe Mr Ooop and Mrs Mulberry should open up a venture together - they could get Mr Bean in on it too.

They could call their shop "WHAT THE **** DO YOU WANT - GET OUT OF MY ****** SHOP".

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 31 May 2007, 19:22

Dadaist wrote: They could call their shop "WHAT THE **** DO YOU WANT - GET OUT OF MY ****** SHOP".

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha -brill!!

I know there's a thread about the Harry Enfield/Paul Whitehouse show elsewhere and that most folk hated it buuuuut Harry did a pretty funny character who owned a shop full of arty tat and the shop was called "I saw you coming".

Every week some posh, rich, thick piece of totty comes in and enquires after the price of some piece of hideous crap and Paul's character answers "Well, it would normally retail for £150 but I saw you coming, so it's £499.50."

"Oh, super" says posh thickie bint

"Plus VAT and Council Tax so that comes to £1050 altogether"

"Yah, great, I'll take it"

Sounds a bit like Ms Meanie Mulberries style of doing business except she isn't dealing with idiots.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 01 Jun 2007, 17:09

Was in 'Mulberries' today and found the owner very friendly and pleasant.
It can't be easy to close down after 11 years on the High Street. It is a shame to lose such an attractive shop but I suppose that Artisan and La Vie En Rose are also competing for the same market. Homer will testify that I do my best to keep them all in business!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 01 Jun 2007, 18:04

I have always found the owner to be very pleasant. My wife got a great bargain there today - a turquoise bracelet and earrings for a tenner. I'm sorry that Mulberries is closing and wish Marie well with her new venture.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 02 Jun 2007, 11:42

I like La Vie en Rose. The owner is an absolute gem.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 04 Jun 2007, 09:51

Dadaist wrote: Maybe Mr Ooop and Mrs Mulberry should open up a venture together - they could get Mr Bean in on it too.

Mr Ooops was an absolute classic - his last ever press advertisement blamed all his customers (or should that be non-customers) for not eating in his establishment. Where was Gordon Ramsay when you needed him!