New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Avoid Perfumes of the Past

post #1 of 14
12/24/11 at 8:03am
Thread Starter 
The most dreadful experience I ever in a shop .I visited today Perfumes of the Past and inquired about a few things, mostly discontinued fragrances. Everything overpriced and finally not that hard to find on Ebay or even here on the Basenotes forum. It was very clear from the beginning that the owner was only interested in selling me one of his bottles. Then when I asked him about 80s powerhouse fragrances he said to me:
" Listen: or you buy something or get out of my shop right now"
Even though I was shock to be treated so rude like dog shit I just said: Good morning and left the shop. Some places in town here in Amsterdam like Skin Cosmetics are extremely professional and friendly, they will offer you not only a professional advise but also a glass of champagne, juices or even food while you are testing the cream of the cream of the niche market and also they will give you free samplers even if you dont purchase anything.
Never again..
Reply
Reply

Features on Basenotes

Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
post #2 of 14
12/24/11 at 8:45am
My experience doesn't match yours. I have good experiences with this shop and the owner is always friendly and polite. I agree that you won't find real rarities there, but it's still nice to be able to buy the '90s version of Guerlain Vétiver, for example.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 14
12/24/11 at 11:56am
Hasn't this happened to you before?
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 14
12/24/11 at 3:01pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jpkunst View Post

My experience doesn't match yours. I have good experiences with this shop and the owner is always friendly and polite. I agree that you won't find real rarities there, but it's still nice to be able to buy the '90s version of Guerlain Vétiver, for example.

I am glad you had a good experience. The shop was empty when I came and I was visiting with a 82years old friend who left completely in shock. You can find more rarities and bargains in the vlooi markets around Amsterdam than there. Anyway, I never argue with idiots . I just like this part of the town on Saturday.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 14
12/24/11 at 5:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hedonist222 View Post

Hasn't this happened to you before?

i had something of a deja-vu as well.

i've been to this store and have always been treated well. and i did get some good stuff for a reasonable price. still if descartes is right then that's pretty bad.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 14
12/25/11 at 2:50am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gido View Post

i had something of a deja-vu as well.

i've been to this store and have always been treated well. and i did get some good stuff for a reasonable price. still if descartes is right then that's pretty bad.

Everything there was overpriced, 3 times the normal value. He opened another shop just opposite the same street but without a S.A so he is running in and out the shop to see if somebody is there, very unprofessional. I’ve been in similar places like Grimme by the Albert Cuypstraat or Parfumerie Louise and treated like a divine being or at least treated with more manners.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 14
12/27/11 at 5:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Descartes View Post

Everything there was overpriced, 3 times the normal value. He opened another shop just opposite the same street but without a S.A so he is running in and out the shop to see if somebody is there, very unprofessional. Ive been in similar places like Grimme by the Albert Cuypstraat or Parfumerie Louise and treated like a divine being or at least treated with more manners.

like i said, i can't judge how you were treated, but 3x overpriced, that's simply not true.
his prices are reasonable. unless he had something against you and asked for much higher prices, but that sounds a bit far-fetched to me.

he isn't the type to pamper his customers, but i've always been treated good. he always offers me this and that to smell (trying to sell something, that part is obvious) and he looks out for things i am after.

i've bought several of the 80's black aluminum guerlain refill containers, holding 200ml, for 70 euros. also a couple of 100ml vetiver bottles, 60 euro. if you can get them for 1/3 of that price, i would love to do business with you.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 14
12/27/11 at 3:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gido View Post

like i said, i can't judge how you were treated, but 3x overpriced, that's simply not true.
his prices are reasonable. unless he had something against you and asked for much higher prices, but that sounds a bit far-fetched to me.

he isn't the type to pamper his customers, but i've always been treated good. he always offers me this and that to smell (trying to sell something, that part is obvious) and he looks out for things i am after.

i've bought several of the 80's black aluminum guerlain refill containers, holding 200ml, for 70 euros. also a couple of 100ml vetiver bottles, 60 euro. if you can get them for 1/3 of that price, i would love to do business with you.

He couldn't had anything against me because it was my first time visiting the shop and by other hand I am always dressed like a gentleman and I am well mannered, so I can see why I should be treated so disrespectfully. For Lalique's Faune EDP for example he asked me 70 euros when on ebay I can find it for €38. He did not offer me anything to smell. I can find your Guerlains refills even for less in Paris for example; it’s just a matter of knowing where to go and how to find it.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 14
12/27/11 at 5:18pm
I've been to this shop a couple of times and have no complaints about his manners, but he doesn't know his vintages very well or is intentionally misleading at times... But that's not a problem if you know what you're after!
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 14
12/27/11 at 8:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Descartes View Post

For Lalique's Faune EDP for example he asked me 70 euros when on ebay I can find it for €38. He did not offer me anything to smell.

I dont think its realistic to compare retail prices to ebay. Ebay will always be cheaper.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 14
12/28/11 at 12:49am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by hedonist222 View Post

I dont think its realistic to compare retail prices to ebay. Ebay will always be cheaper.

I think it’s very realistic since internet shopping it’s competing with retail prices and many established shops are selling also on line, so best price talks and bullshit walks. Where do you buy all your fragrances, in Abu Dhabi?
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 14
12/28/11 at 1:06am
Descartes, from what I see from niemanmarcus and Barneys NY for example, the prices are substantially higher than say ebay or other sellers.
Same for Abu Dhabi, retail is a bit more than buying online.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 14
12/28/11 at 6:21am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tott View Post

I've been to this shop a couple of times and have no complaints about his manners, but he doesn't know his vintages very well or is intentionally misleading at times... But that's not a problem if you know what you're after!

I visited Grimme by the Albert Cuypstraat this morning and I mentioned this incident to Annita one of the SA's who has dealt with him for many years, and she told me exactly, word by word the same things about him: he is a bad mannered person, a liar and the price is 3 times the normal price. Also mentioned the things he sells are from dubious sellers. And she really knows what she's talking about. I bought in Grime's a bottle of Guerlains Heritage 100ml EDT for €50 when at the other place he was asking me for more than €70.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 14
3/7/12 at 5:44am
I paid a visit to this shop last year. And while the guy did not give the impression of a professional he was kind and funny. I bought a new 50 ml Shiseido Feminite du Bois EDP for 78 EUR - I don't think it was overpriced.

I am sorry about your bad experience though.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Netherlands

Features on Basenotes

Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.