Good customer service at this LV store ends with t...

Good customer service at this LV store ends with the guy who opens the door upon greeting you with a large welcoming smile. Once in, unless you are smothered in obvious labels and/or a pushy Asian tourist, you can expect to wait a loooooong time before being served, let along be acknowledged.

As someone who has purchased LV for over 2 decades all over the world, this was the worst customer experience I can recall for a long time.

After observing 2 staff dawdling without serving anyone, I had to request that security person find 'anyone' who would be able to assist me.

I had a minimum of 3 things on my list to purchase: A rose poudre Neo Noe, an MM mono agenda, and an damier azur key cles as a small gift for a friend. I was committed to spending AUD$ 3000+ and wasn't about to waste any time in doing so. Unfortunately they only had the Neo Noe in Epi leather, the agenda in the D.Ebene and no D.Azure key cles. Normally i would try to find something else because i am the type of person that rarely brings myself to walk out of an LV shop empty-handed but I didn't bother asking. Had i received better customer service from the beginning, i probably would have spent heaps on other things.

So i guess, i had a 'Pretty Woman' moment in the Makati LV store. Again, never thought i would experience that, and never thought i would ever give such a low review for my all time favourite brand. Makati LV - you are such a disappointment.

And no, i wasn't dressed shabby. Granted i may have looked a little tired that evening having just arrived in the country but i was wearing an expensive Camilla Franks Swarovski crystal adorned silk top, fabulous Spanish leather espadrilles and French linen pants. Could it have been that my humble PacSafe bag didn't pass the wealth test?! Who knows but i guess from my experience i may have been incorrectly profiled.

Some advise for overseas tourists... LV Makati seems more expensive that other countries. eg. the MM agenda in Australia is AUD$770 however in Manila it's AUD$100 more. The price of a Neo Noe was notably more expensive also. I didn't bother to enquire about the cost of the cles. Philippines apparently doesn't have a Tax Refund Scheme. So this makes the items that much less appealing as half the fun of acquiring a new piece abroad is getting a cheaper price or at least a saving for being tax free. Granted, I do justify paying more to purchase an item that is limited or obtaining at home is extremely difficult. I am glad in one way i didn't have to part with my money that day in here. Lastly, LV Makati tend to run low on stock in the lead up to and after Christmas. Please keep this in mind. It's just like anywhere else really!

Apparently there is another LV store in Manila so i will pop in and see if i can't have more luck in obtaining my items. Hopefully the customer service will be a whole lot more pleasant.