Only for the finest (Harrods)

Member Name: chaviane

Product:	Harrods
Date:	20/11/04 (3198 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Knowledgeable Staff, Excellent service, Many choices

Disadvantages: Not a good place to get everyday food, Kinda expensive, Some area just too crowded

I got more and more familiar with Harrods since the controversy of Lady Diana and Dody Al-Fayed, I guess the fame of Harrods has risen even more. Before I came to the UK for my master, I already planned to visit Harrods (Maybe I was more excited about Harrods than the master course itself! *giggle*). I don’t really care about what other people said about it….to me, it’s great! The reason??...here it is….

THE VISIT

I asked my friend how to get to Harrods. From our campus, she suggested that I should take the tube, Piccadilly line to Knightsbridge station. She also told me that Harrods is a shopping place for rich and famous people in the UK. Same as many other places with that kind of image, they might not so nice to the people who does not belong to the rich n’ famous. Even I’ve lost a little interest with this shopping place after what she told me. I still wanted to go. Otherwise, I will never know. So if they want to treat me like garbage, then be it!

To make sure I have enough time (just in case if I can’t find it) I decided to go there quiet early. When I got to the station, I just realized that actually, there’s no reason to be afraid that I can not find the station, because the Knightsbridge’s station is so obviously showed that it’s the right station to get to Harrods. Because of the green color and golden Harrods sign everywhere. When I went outside the station, it is so nice because I got into the side door of the store right away. I saw many people passed by with-mostly-small-green plastic bags. It was so unique. The one that amazed me is that most of them just like me, nothing too much or too fancy. Basically, we were far from rich n’ famous.

Before I enter the side door, I kept walking to the front side and look the shops around it. I saw few poor people sat on the sidewalk and begged for money. But on the street, lots of luxurious cars and some women with fur came inside the building. I walked inside the shop from the front side of the store, the same door as the “classy women” went thru. I was expecting not-so-nice treatment. I was totally wrong. The door man who wore a very nice looking uniform, still opened the door for me and smiled. I was thinking “Thank you for not ruined my day too early….”

MY FIRST IMPRESSION

When I got inside, it was amazing. I felt like I was in a fairy tale. But instead of pink bows and candy houses, this fairy tale so full of designers label. I read the sign about many arcades in that building. I don’t care much about the sign, since I was really impressed with it, I just walked to anywhere my feet taking me. I saw rows of designers label counter….Gucci, Celine, Dior, Hermes, Ferragamo, and of course, Louis Vuitton…and yeah, many more. I can find every label that I saw in shinny fashion magazine in this area.

To make the story short, every area that I went to, I am fully satisfied. Their perfumes collections, colorful cosmetics, even La Mer cream that cost up to GBP.1000+ really amazed me. Every where I go, I saw nothing but luxury. When I want to try an expensive Valentino dress, the sales was really polite and surely helpful, even I will never spend that much money on a dress, but she really made me enjoy trying it on. I noticed something in Harrods, most of their sales representatives have a little flag in their name tag. I think its represent their country of origins. I must admit that even a small thing, it wonderful how they show the diversity of the people who works there. A small touch that shows Harrods is a place for everyone from all over the world.

When I walked to the escalator, I saw a little fountain with picture of Lady Diana and Dody Al-fayed. In the middle, there was the ring that Dody gave to Diana. I guess it was the area to remember the two love birds. It was so romantic but sad. This is the only area in Harrods where people can take picture of. Lots of fans of Diana took advantage of it when I was there.

After resting for a while at the monument, I kept exploring Harrods, I went to the women shoes area….wow! I’m sure if I have a rich husband, I can turn into shoes collector within a few hours! From a simple patent leather flat to exotic leather stilettos! No wonder when I got to their room of luxury, the area filled with jewelry, I know what to expect.

Rows of glass tables filled with beautiful gems….rubies, emeralds, topaz…surrounded by extremely shiny diamonds. Exclusive watches and giant solitaire diamonds, really was lighted up the room. When I looked at each pieces…there was no ‘nasty suspicious’ look from the sales. He only smiled and told me to just call him if I need help with anything. How wonderful!

When I got hungry, I went to their food hall. Same as any other area, this one is so extra-ordinary. I noticed the prices are much higher than the places I use to eat. But it worth every penny. Their dessert and salmon are truly amazing. Their chocolate collection made me confuse for a while because of so many choices. Surprisingly. When I bought a little bit of several brand of chocolates, none of them turned me down.

I saw many little tins in the other side of food hall, it was cute little Harrods can filled with candies, chocolates, tea and even coffees. I like the design a lot. Colorful Britain or classic Victorian. Since I didn’t get anything except the food, I decided to get the tea tins for my friends and the one with candies for myself.

When I looked at my time, it was already nearly 5 pm!! Well, time is so short when I was there. So much to see and so much to try on!. I walked outside the building with my small Harrods bag, and the doorman still opened the door for me and gave me his smile. When I got outside, I just crossed the street and looked at Harrods from far away. Its classic, it’s great. Only those two words can explain this place. When they turned on the light, I smiled. So beautiful. It is a place of dream, a place to go when you have reached your success. But it is also a place for everyone, a place for any budget. As a foreigner in the UK, I can say that Harrods represent history and modernity very well. Just like what I feel about London. Well done.

SERVICE SERVICE

As usual, if I went to a new place I like to mention the facilities that I always use. I consider it as the service that they offered for our comfort. First of all (and very important!! *giggle*) is their restroom. Two thumbs up for Harrods. It’s better than any shopping center with the same class. The marbles are so shinny and clean. A lady waiting inside and show me the place that I can use. They also have several perfumes for us to use for nice smellies. But still, the cleanness that impress me the most.

The second one is that once I had to pay with traveler chouse. I had no difficulties at all, they gave me changes in GBP. They also told me that I can pay them with Euro, for both of the services, there will be no extra charges.

Another one is when I shop and I want to go back to my country. I can claimed for my taxes back at the airport before I left. At Harrods, the people there so cooperative and helps me with my forms. All those services might be not much, but its means a lot to me when they try to make everything easier and no puzzled look from any of their staff.

WHY I WANT TO RETURN

After my first visit, I went to Harrods quiet often, I use to wait for my friend there and then walked to see the shops around it. I don’t shop there often (c’mon, I was just a student!). I only like spending time there. There is always something new to look at. I remember when I got my first salary, I spent it in Harrods. That was the first time I spend the money that is not coming from my parent. I choose Harrods because I want to spend it wisely. I want to feel like anything that I get is worth every penny.

When I got there, I spend all day in the store just to think about things that I really wanted. Until today, I don’t regret it, because I bought something that I like. No more trashy stuff that I bought just because I felt intimidated by the sales person. Now I can look at my Vuitton bag and Chanel sandals and think that I deserve it (even after I bought that, I have almost nothing left in my account!!!). I bought those after I returned to those counters more than 12 times and tried almost everything there. Sounds crazy for some people, but maybe because of the money came from my own sweat, I just want the best!

Many other reasons why I want to come back there. Especially during sale time (summer and winter sales are the best!). Some items are even cheaper than any factory outlet. Of course you have to prepare because during those times, will be lots of people coming with the same reason as you. When I went back to my country for holiday, I bought several of their candy tins for my little nephews and nieces and they just loved it. Some people might say Harrods is an expensive shopping center, to me it’s not true. It really depends on what you’re looking for. When you bought a perfume somewhere else, I guess the price is about the same in Harrods. I think the place that so obvious of the price difference is the food hall, but again, they only sell the finest.

But the real reason why I want to return is the experience that I can’t find somewhere else, even when I don’t shop. I don’t know why, there is always something exciting about Harrods.

Summary: