May 27, 2020

I Kind Of Miss That Aggressive Bath & Body Works Experience

Hey you guys! I sort of missing going into Bath & Body Works. You know me I’m a chronic complainer about shopping Bath & Body Works and Lush in store because sometimes you get thee most aggressive sales people ever. Lush is notoriously bad lately. I went around the Holidays and it was so crazy I had to race out without buying anything. I don’t typically like the Lush in store experience anyway! The idea of people touching bath bombs, soap, etc…picking it up to sniff it, putting it back, it just feels like a really gross environment to me. I tend to order from Lush UK about 95% of the time but I’ve been known to wander in store occasionally. I can even be convinced to purchase items that aren’t touch like shampoos or shower gels. But man, Lush employees have really become super aggressive! They piratically put stuff in your cart for you! Bath and Body Works is notoriously aggressive as well. It just makes you want to run and hide!

But I’m kind of missing Bath and Body Works right now. I really want to smell some of the new stuff like Boardwalk Taffy. I mean, I can totally blind buy it online but 1. Did I tell you how cheap AF I am when it comes to paying $5.99 shipping? $50 lipstick I’ll take it! $2 shipping? Forget it. Irony. And 2. Do I need one Boardwalk Taffy? Do I need several because the scent is ridiculously good!? I’d love to be able to sit and sniff it like days the normal days (which were only three months ago but feel more like three years ago).

I keep seeing all these people in Florida and Kentucky wandering around their Bath and Body Works stores and I’m feeling the jealous over here! I’ll even take the aggressive sales reps! Bring ’em on!

P.S. Uhhh hello? Who’s watching Penny Dreadful City of Angels because we need to discuss how good it is and how cute Daniel Zovatto and Sebastian Chacon are!

24 Comments

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Michelle

    Yeah? I live in Florida and they’re not open by me. Even the Delray Beach store, which is in an open-air strip mall is still closed.

    • Isabella Muse

      Seeing people on instagram located in Florida waiting on line to get in stores. No clue which ones are or aren’t open but believe BBW lists locations on their website of stores that are open by state.

  • Violet

    I hate aggressive sales people and fortunately, the sales people in my local Memphis store are never pushy. We are in phase 2, so most businesses can be open as long as they adhere to 50% occupancy.

    • Isabella Muse

      I have a few stores that are really good but some are awfulllll and very aggressive! Nothing opened here in NY yet sadly 🙁 hopefully soon!

  • Kathy

    I rarely go into Bath & Body Works because they make me crazy – “oh, if you add two more items, one will be free,” etc. I always way over-buy and hate myself for being such a sucker.

  • Kay

    I need BBW to just start shipping to the U.K. already I had a great experience a few years ago in a store in Chicago, the sales people weren’t at all pushy with trying to sell extras, apart from asking at the checkout if I wanted to add any candles (and were fine when I explained I had limited room in my luggage). Once it was clear I wasn’t from round these parts they just left me wandering round sniffing EVERYTHING! I visited the BBW store in Milan when I was there but I really had no luggage space at all that time I would pay so much shipping to stock up on BBW products this autumn!

    Lush in my old city used to drive me nuts though, I loved going in on an occasional lunch time and this one woman always recognised me and started the hard sell on what was “new”� with all the demos, explanations of the ingredients etc. I was like, I know! I read all this on the website, I just want to see the stuff in person! I would have bought way more if not for her because I started walking out when I saw she was working.

    • Isabella Muse

      That’s a great experience! Some stores have good reps! others can be more aggressive! I really depends. Lush used to be ok! Not really an aggressive experience at all but the last few years whoa! They really slam you hard as soon as you enter the door and don’t let go until you leave!

      • Kay

        Yeah I have really noticed an uptick in the hard sell tactics in Lush. I visited Liverpool last year and couldn’t resist visiting the massive new store. I reluctantly got sucked into a demo of some skincare products or other that I already knew about because I’d used all of them before – when the guy had finished waffling he basically said okay I’ll go wrap one of each of these up for you! Er, no thank you, I will buy the one I came in for before this ridiculous situation started and you can keep the other three! People must spend so much more than they want to because they’re not confident enough to say no to those tactics, and a lot of the stuff is not cheap for what it is. I used to buy everything Lush when I had the money, but their prices go up every year with no justification and even though I’m now I’m a position to afford any of their products I fancy I’m less inclined to buy them!

        Ooh another rant, I’m hot on these comment section rants lately

  • Dee

    I caved a few weeks ago and paid the shipping charge when my candle and body cream supply was dwindling. But I hated doing it:) I do miss going in and looking at everything!

    One of my daughters worked at BBW one summer. She is very shy and the hardest thing for her to do was follow customers around the store and ask things like, “What is your favorite antibac” or “What lotion can I help you find?” There is no quicker way to get me to head for the exit than having someone tail me and push product.

    • Isabella Muse

      oh wow! Being shy and working at BBW def not an easy experience. I don’t mind being asked once but by the third or fourth time I’m ready to run for the hills! If I say thanks I’m ok please that means leave me be! but nope they’ll just push and push and push!

      • Dee

        She said it was good in a way because she had to push herself. But she also said that most of the customers got annoyed at being asked questions constantly and she wondered why management didn’t understand that.

        I have to tell you that I actually went to Target a few weeks ago. Not for makeup though. And I went at 7am. I am helping my parents since they are in the top risk group and they needed a medication. The store was almost empty, There were maybe 25 people inside including employess and everyone had masks on. It actually was a boost to be there and after I got my parents’ items I did two laps around the inside of the store for old times sake!

        • Isabella Muse

          I went to Target at the start of April and it was scary for me a bit but I admit I did a quick spin around too ;-D just make me feel kind of nice walking around all by myself! There were like 12 people tops in the store. Was kind of a novelty!

  • Carol

    I live in Ohio and our store has been open for a few weeks – you do have to stand in line because they only allow 10 people in at a time. But what makes me mad is they aren’t offering any coupons right now which is ridiculous in my opinion. I think it would entice people to come buy things and at least help people who are on a tight budget right now. I know I want some candles but it pains me to pay for them without a coupon. Also, you would think that their business is hurting and coupons would attract customers to spend. So yes, I’ve been twice now but I only bought two candles because they were on sale for $14.50 but I’m used to having either a $10 off $30 (which makes me buy 3 candles) or a 20% off. Something. Anything! Ulta is the same. I’m thinking: Where is the 20% they usually send out right after their 21 Days of Beauty. So I’m in the same boat with Ulta: there are a lot of things I want (perfume) but it pains me to buy high ticket items without a 20% off coupon. I think this is a bad business decision. If they would give out coupons it would definitely drum up more business…

    • Isabella Muse

      That’s actually great and makes me feel more safer! I hate waiting but if it means I can shop without anxiety I’ll do it. They have not offered a single discount online 🙁 and I agree you think they’d want to seduce people into buying but no good deals to be had at all!

  • jill

    omg
    you KNOW i’m falling on the floor laughing over here – and you KNOW why!

    oh, for the good old days, eh, isabella?

    • Isabella Muse

      Jill you were lovely that day <3! and your store is always really awesome! The girls over there are not bad at all ;-D the ones in Albany though, whoa mama! LOL!

  • jill

    ps
    unfortunately, bath and body works employees are guerilla trained. that’s their job. and they’ve all got walkie-talkies in their ears, constantly squawking for more, more, more.
    i used to get constantly berated in my ear for “talking too much”� as i was ringing customers up. i believe in a pleasant and fun, interactive experience for my customers, yet i AM quick and efficient as well, because that’s part of the positive experience for the next person in line. yet that damn thing in my ear would start with the “what’s the problem over there?!??”�
    i’d just yank it out of my ear and keep on doing what i did best.
    smh
    sometimes too much is too much!

    • Isabella Muse

      LOL omg really? You were lovely Jill! It was nice to meet you the day! I actually really enjoy talking to some of the employees at your former store. Some of the girls are super nice over there. The Albany store is horrible though. They are really aggressive to the point they are practically putting stuff in your bag lol! That has to be a really stressful environment to work in 🙁 Oh my gosh that sounds awful! I never even noticed the walkie talkies! I just assumed it was for when you were ringing up and someone needed something but didn’t want to get out of line you guys would call each other up to bring it to the front. I had no idea they were over there berating you! jeez! Toxic working environment!

  • kjh

    No great BBW dreams, though I did cruise Scentsy yesterday. (It was mentioned on a true crime blog.). I realized that I’ve become major ancient, when the Vermont Country store pine and Magno la Toja bath products hit my mental list. Nothing will ever compare with Bloomie’s Chestnut Hill fragrance women for aggression. Get hit by five, with different scents. Nice. Has anyone heard of scent strips? (designed to be put in your bra…) Well, they did introduce me to Annick Goutal…

  • jill

    Oh, darlin, YOU are the lovely one! i was so excited that of all the candle joints in all the world, you walked into mine! truth!
    some day when we’re not blathering on the internet in front of the entire world (hi mom!), i’ll tell you the story of my time in new york last year. it’s an interesting one. and i’ll tell you all about my new adventures, what i’m up to now – it’s all very exciting, to me anyway.
    in the meantime, i’m reading you every day and you’re still a terrible influence on me – i just got a sephora credit card yathe other day LOLOLOLOLOLOL

    love ya!

    • Isabella Muse

      LOL ;-D awwwww! <3! Oh do tell me I'd love to hear. Sometimes I'm not always quick to reply 🙁 but when I get on a roll you can get me listening and talking about alllllll the things! haha I'm a bad influence aren't I? Love ya back xoxo! Be safe out there!

  • Kelly

    B&BW announced today they will be closing some of their stores for good. The lockdown hit them hard. I miss going into my local store. They were never aggressive there and it was always fun smelling everything. I always have hand sanitizer from there. I buy at least 15-20 each season. Can’t believe it, but I’m running low now and buying regular sanitizer is no fun!

    • Isabella Muse

      yeah I heard 50 stores. Such a shame and now the sell is awful too!