I ordered my wife an ounce of Shalimar perfume ($330.16), a favorite of many years, from Neiman Marcus on line. When I gave it to here on our anniversary, she was delighted.
She opened the sealed plastic wrap, opened the box, looked for a moment, and then commented that there was neither a Shalimar label on the bottle nor the usual wax seal on the stopper. Nevertheless, she opened the bottle, and put some on — and then looked really puzzled: there was virtually no scent at all, and what there was didn't smell remotely of Shalimar. Color me embarrassed, and then very annoyed.
I returned the bottle the next day to the local NM (The Shops at Willow Bend, Plano, TX). They refunded my money, with no particular sense of surprise, just passively agreeing that it was not Shalimar, or indeed, any perfume at all.
Had this been a gift sent to a girlfriend in some remote location who was unfamiliar with the particular perfume, I wonder if she would have just accepted it with a shrug while pondering my lousy taste (oh — and still attend my funeral when my wife found out).
I requested compensation for my inconvenience and embarrassment, and was assured by the customer service manager Pamela somebody-or-other that I would be contacted store manager Deb McGinnis by yesterday. Silence.
I am not suggesting this was a NM scam — but it's also hard to imagine how they acquire fake perfume. And the attitude at the customer service desk suggests either remarkable equanimity, or that similar events aren't all that rare.
Caveat emptor.
Shg
Plano, Texas
U.S.A.
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