I am blessed to have been around the best of the best while making my coins. Each working day began with setting goals of learning new perspectives, taking insight and interacting with the well known. Sometimes I’d be in a pant suit, floor length gown, costume, an apron or non-slip shoes. There are many differences in characters from industry to industry, I’ve learned, but one common denominator-ALL of them were what I call frugal snobs.
Years back I recall working at a very popular department store that is known for it’s prestigious customers and their view of outstanding service. During my time a light bulb went off as I encountered my last straw of patience one rainy day. There a customer stood in front of me with a huge designer handbag, wide shades (still on her face while inside), brightly colored shift dress, genuine leather pointed toe pumps, ten minute too long tan as she smelled like a million bucks:
Me: Hello, welcome to __. What are you shopping for today?
Customer: Hi, I need a personal shopper, would you be able to help me out with that? I have a wedding to go to and I am completely lost.
Me: Of course, I’ll be happy to. I just have a couple of questions. Where is the venue (Indoor/Outdooor/in a barn, church, etc), Second, do you have any idea what you may want to look like?
(This is where it gets good, so pay attention)
Customer: Oh, I don’t know. Let’s see… I need a dress that’s fitted but not too fitted, cover my arms but only to the elbow, my knees are ugly so if the dress could either stop three inches under the knees instead of right at the knee, that’ll be great. How about only one leg showing instead, preferably the left , OH YES I just die when I see gowns where the shoulders are peeking out and I have a great back so I don’t mind that showing but most importantly…
(In the name of my design degree , I would have rather constructed the dress from scratch then to go through what I already knew her next sentence would take me and my commissioned position at that department store through.)
Customer: ….most importantly, this gown needs to be on clearance. The last markdown. Not sale but clearance, you know what I mean? Great! I’m going to grab a cup of coffee and I will be up to see my options, do you mind throwing in a pair of shoes for me? Not too high!
Me: UmmHmmm, sure, yup, see ya. (Mumbles under breath) what a frugal snob!!
This wasn’t the first customer who aggressively dashed in disguising their preferences as a “need” while desperately hoping to mask their insecurities. So what makes her a “frugal snob”? Well, of course it didn’t stop there-upon her return with coffee in hand, she stood in front of me hinting to be shown and convinced of each item followed by “how much is that? Ok, but how much it is it, is that the first mark down? When do you guys do markdowns? Call the other location. You can go get it for me and bring it here right?”.
Don’t get me wrong-it is not just women and it is not just clothing. Yes we all deserve to feel comfortable and look our best, especially when you’re paying your money. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being frugal and everyone has a frugal side. A lot for people view the word “frugal” with a negative connotation but we all understand that sometimes more than others-It’s necessary. It’s true that I don’t know that customer’s life and why she needed to spend the least she could on a gown, maybe she was forced to go this wedding and has already put forth a lot of money. However, the snob could of humbled herself given her circumstance, especially when your looking at only one rack of clearance. Also, who told this women she could leave and come back after a miracle? She passed two off pricers, walked in the mall past another department store with smaller price points just to get to the big name store. (and I know how much the coffee was) Here’s the best part (well worst for me)-She returned to the store showing pictures of the wedding, herself in the dress, as I get an alert stating that she went to another department and returned the dress five minutes ago.
She isn’t the only one, I see and hear similar stories all the time: While doing another job, I had a client rent out the most expensive suite loaded with almost every food package we offer and premium drinks. After showing up two hours before requiring that tables, chairs, and lighting are set up a certain way, we catch him stealing beer from the pantry by the 6 pks. When asked why, he responded, “I paid a lot for the suite but I only drink Stella.” Two words-Frugal Snob.
These examples are the incorrect way of having higher preferences and keeping your money. That’s why I’m here, to give the word “frugal” back it’s good name and refusing to settle. My name is Danielle Yvette and I am a frugal snob.