Our Spy On The Upper East Side: Shopping The Sales -- Buyers Be Wary

So, I wander into Bendel’s (LTD) to get out of the rain and am happily poking around the new lip plumpers when I’m suddenly accosted by cosmetic harridans from behind every counter. Faster than you can say Laura Mercier or Tarte, I’m the target of a massive sales attack and all because I came in to dry out.

Whoa, and back off you commission seekers!

Have I accidentally wandered into a Turkish marketplace or the floor of the New York Stock Exchange? Nope, it’s actually New York heading into a slow shopping month when summer sales begin and I’m the lone pigeon who accidentally came in from the rain.

For that matter try Bergdorf Goodman’s shoe sales when invites are sent out to “loyal” customers for a first crack at $700 Choos and Louboutins. Wowie—you, too, can have neon platforms reduced by 30% but watch out, you could lose a hand reaching for a solo sole.

(Years ago, I remember one BG shoe salesman bellowing out, “Is anyone looking for a mate” which I thought exceedingly funny though no one else reacted, so intent were these ladies on finding a bargain.)

BG’s shoe sales do bring out the greedy nature in all of us, but watch expressions and you won’t see any ‘Aha’ moment when a favored shoe is seen—after all, like a high stakes poker game, it’s best not to show your hand, or in this case your foot.

I will confess to being really piggy one year and ending up with a pair of shoes meant for someone with four toes; gorgeous as they were, the little piggy that went “wee, wee, wee all the way home” never made it inside the shoe. So much for bargain shopping.