https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 05 May 2026 15:55:48 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1769621 Tue, 17 Jan 2017 15:24:15 +0000 Thirkellgirl 1769621@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A Zara just opened in our local mall in October and I have been in several times. I wish one of my daughters would buy some of their more professional clothes but they aren't really interested. I bought an incredibly soft green sweater to wear with jeans and love it, but there's not much there I'm really interested in for myself. The dressing room situation was awful, the clerks were unbelievably rude across the board (very much a vibe of "I'm too good to acknowledge your presence") and the store is HOT every time I'm in it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1769298 Mon, 16 Jan 2017 15:46:07 +0000 ClaraT 1769298@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The SF Zara is great, as others have commented. I went to a Zara in Barcelona, and I was so excited because I thought it would be great! But it was as you described--piles of clothing, racks crammed with hangers, etc. Worse than any forever 21 store I've ever visited. Very disappointing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1769218 Mon, 16 Jan 2017 10:09:20 +0000 unfrumped 1769218@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Zara is rare out- of- town shopping for me, but I also found it off- putting even as I rather hopefully searched for something of interest. I did see that sizing was hard for me to gauge and that fabric quality ( for my purposes) was all over the map.<br /> That's one reason I've not dived into shopping online with them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1769211 Mon, 16 Jan 2017 09:54:58 +0000 Bijou 1769211@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The reality is that not all Zara's are created equal. I think they have certain flagship stores that get the best merchandise. I travel to Singapore at least 1 time per year and the store on Orchard Road is definitely better than my local Zara. My local Zara is worth popping into from time to time to check out the merchandise. I will buy from my local Zara, sweaters and the odd top, but usually what I get is not quite as good as what I find when I go to Singapore! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1769197 Mon, 16 Jan 2017 08:12:03 +0000 Jane 1769197@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>We've a super Zara near our office but I find it quite hard work shopping for me in there, unless it's a coat (no need for a changing room). I find the home store good and men's and children's sections good. </p> <p>Returns are hard work too (particularly since they've put massive screens up behind the tills). </p> <p>interesting to read that it's the most successful retailer- I can understand why </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1769189 Mon, 16 Jan 2017 06:59:18 +0000 Greyscale 1769189@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I find the big San Francisco Zara much more pleasant than the smaller one in the mall. Better organization and it carries a wider range. </p> <p>But also, I've learned to avoid it at all costs during the semi-annual sales. Then everything is piled onto disorganized racks and it's total chaos. I haven't stopped by Zara in a few weeks but it's around their sale season so maybe yours was worse than usual. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1769178 Mon, 16 Jan 2017 05:57:59 +0000 Jaime 1769178@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have made a hobby of comparative Zaraology and have visited stores in several locations in New York, Europe and of course Israel. Not only is the organization vastly different one to the other, but so are the crowds and the merchandise differ as well. I think each store has a lot of leeway to tailor its ambiance to its customers, and, of course, some managers are better than other.</p> <p>I have had very good experience with Zara shoes, tops and occasionally jackets and coats. I find the trousers iffy and the jeans tend to bag out or fit weirdly. I like the look of some of their bags, but rarely am interested in enough to buy. But I love to browse the shop to see what is new - they are super responsive to runway trends and I find it very interesting what becomes the hits. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1769151 Mon, 16 Jan 2017 02:19:16 +0000 Style Fan 1769151@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have gone into a few Zaras but never bought anything.&nbsp; I find the line ups for the change rooms and the quality of the products the biggest reason for not buying the clothing.&nbsp; I like the look of the clothes though.&nbsp; I did almost buy a pair of rust culottes that Angie showed once.&nbsp; I changed my mind. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1769145 Mon, 16 Jan 2017 02:00:23 +0000 Suz 1769145@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Gigi</b>, I'd try ordering online in xs (or a small size) and see how things go. If you're considering something, maybe show it here (in the Finds) and others who have seen in person can vouch for the quality (or lack thereof) of the item. I order a lot from them, and send back almost all of it, but what I keep is truly wonderful for me, and some of it is surprisingly good quality, too.&nbsp;</p> <p>Some items have become backbone wardrobe essentials (until they wore out) and some have been terrific happy updaters/ trend items at a price I don't feel awful about. A few examples of things that have worked for me, below. Most have lasted at least three full seasons of frequent wear before being donated, etc. due to wear and tear.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1769132 Mon, 16 Jan 2017 00:52:36 +0000 Gigi 1769132@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Glad to know that I'm not the only one who has a tough time navigating such a store! I like the idea about looking at the website first and then going in and asking the sales associate if they have the items I like in-store. And I'll definitely try going at an off-peak time.</p> <p><b>Suz, </b>I remembered you saying that the sizing might work well for me, which is why I stopped in the store. So I'll give it another try. :)</p> <p><b>Barbaraq,&nbsp;</b>I didn't notice loud music, but what you described sounds exactly like my local Forever 21. I don't know how they manage to do so much business, since there are a lot of people who try to get out of there as fast as they can due to the outrageously loud music. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1769104 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 22:21:08 +0000 gradfashionista 1769104@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've had that experience at Zara, overseas, in Canada, and in the US. It's one of the reasons I don't shop there, although I understand its appeal for many. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1769079 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 20:27:02 +0000 rachylou 1769079@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't find the two in SF disorganized - sections seem organized by type (office, casual, etc.). I do find them messy and hectic, tho, and to be staffed by club kids, who care about fashion but not necessarily about working. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1769069 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 20:04:27 +0000 barbaraq 1769069@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For me it's the piped in music, LOUD! &nbsp; And in the downtown Seattle store, you can't get away from it, no matter what department or what floor you are on. &nbsp;I &nbsp;just recently figured this out, trying to analyze why I felt so antsy when shopping at Zara. &nbsp;I have to flee after about fifteen minutes in the store.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1769056 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 19:30:48 +0000 Sal 1769056@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have not visited any Zara stores here in NZ but have in Vancouver, San Francisco, Sydney, Argentina, Hong Kong and London and was terribly disappointed with the in store experience. &nbsp;The first time I was desperate to buy something after hearing so much about Zara and could not find anything that appealed at all - mostly because of the mess and the lack of sizes.</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1769036 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 18:21:51 +0000 Emily K 1769036@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That sounds like a shopping nightmare to me. &nbsp;I just don't have the patience to sort through items that are crammed together as if they are on a clearance rack. &nbsp;</p> <p>Thanks for the head's-up about the downtown store, Angie--that's the one I'll try.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1769027 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 18:01:46 +0000 Colette 1769027@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had the same experience at the Zara nearest me. In fact, I only ever walked in a Zara because of so much success on the forum. I'm not sure I even lasted in the store a full 5 minutes. I did stop back in to give it another try not too long ago. I decided I would try on a bunch of items to get a feel for the sizing and then I could just order online. Didn't happen. Couldn't do it. Like Janet said, the store was overstuffed, chaotic and that made everything look unappealing to me. The store was also ridiculously crowded, on a off-peak shopping day/time (Tuesday morning). I'm happy to know that not all Zara locations are the same. lf I stumble across another location I will give it another go. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1769020 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 17:28:38 +0000 Anonymous 1769020@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The in-store Zara experience leaves me cold too. &nbsp;I am in the one at Chinook Cr in Calgary ( &nbsp;which is a high-end mall) a few times a year, &nbsp;but it is such a disaster, I have yet to buy anything in it. &nbsp;I think the younger crowd is less put-off by long line-ups, indifferent staff, messy racks , stuff on the floor, and no merchandising, but I sure don't find it inspiring. I always take a quick tour through but it's really a waste of time. I agree that the on-line experience is much better. The only caveat: the website makes a lot of the clothes look much better than they are . &nbsp;I've noticed H&amp;M seems to be cleaning up it's act - literally - maybe Zara will follow suit? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1768992 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 15:32:47 +0000 Suz 1768992@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The stores vary quite a lot in layout and atmosphere, as others have said. Of the four I know in Toronto, I prefer the Bloor Street one and the Queen St. one, although they are a bit smaller than their sisters.&nbsp;</p> <p>But to be completely honest, in-store shopping at Zara is rarely easy unless you can go on a weekday morning. The line ups for the change rooms are always long, service (at the ones I know) can be indifferent, items are usually tossed hither and yon, racks are messy, clothes are often crushed on the floor...</p> <p>The online experience is completely the opposite. Clean, easy to use website. Extremely quick deliveries. Returns are free which makes it attractive to me as a Canadian where that is rare, and the processing of them is also quick. I have only had one poor customer service incident with the online process and it was really due to a UPS problem. The people at Zara did not deal with it well initially and I had to be persistent. But they did eventually resolve, and considering the amount I have ordered and returned over the years without problem, I can accept this.&nbsp;</p> <p>I think you should persist, Gigi, because the sizing may work for you quite well -- they don't do petites but for the most part, they do cut small and narrow. I usually wear a S in a jacket or top when I would normally take an XS elsewhere.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1768989 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 15:27:49 +0000 Angie 1768989@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>YES. Zara stores can be <i>a mess</i>&nbsp;because it's the most successful and best run retailer in the world. They simply can't keep up with the demand for their product and the feet in the store. Some managers are also better than others.&nbsp;</p> <p>But as JamC and Janet mentioned, it's not always the case. There are lots of beautfully organized Zaras too. The Zara in downtown Seattle is fabulous. The one out in the burbs in the mall is not.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1768980 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 14:01:26 +0000 Janet 1768980@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>They absolutely seem to have two different kinds of stores, and I am not sure if it's by design. The new one near me is one of the more organized, appealing ones. I actually like visiting it, and I've found a few gems there. By contrast,I've been to a couple (in DC and NYC) that were chaotic, overstuffed, and had a feel of being "cheaper." I wonder if they do this to appeal to two slightly different markets. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1768977 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 13:37:42 +0000 JamC 1768977@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I too have found extremes in the way the clothes are presented. &nbsp;Zara online is excellent. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1768961 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 11:28:49 +0000 Summer 1768961@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You may have a point, Gigi.&nbsp; I've sometimes popped into Zara when I've been looking for a particular item - as per Angie's advice to leave no retail stone unturned, but my experience has been much the same as yours, and I've come out empty-handed.&nbsp; Maybe their website would be a better bet.<br />I know&nbsp; Zara has a huge following, but it doesn't really speak to me at all. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1768957 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 11:17:16 +0000 Tisa 1768957@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It really depends on the store. I've seen one that had clothing organized by type and colour. There wasn't enough space, so the racks were too full and it was difficult to pass other people in the store. Not a pleasant experience. Another one was so disorganized and had such weird selection I took one look at it and left. My closest Zara store is a complete opposite. It is organized by style (evening elegant at one part of the store, business elegant at another, casual in the third corner, etc.) and it is further organized like outfit capsules. Some pieces are also on display together, because they're the same type: a rack of classic shirts, a rack of basic tops, a rack of winter clothes that aren't displayed anywhere else in the store, one table for jeans, another for knitwear, etc.<br /> I like this organization best, because the store actually looks nice and there's enough space that you can see all clothing while just walking around. It's still easy to miss something, because there are so many things.<br /> I like to look through their website before going to the store and then show the items I like to a shopping assistant there. It saves a lot of time. After that I take a look around and see if I like anything else. Usually I find some really nice things that I didn't even notice on the website. Zara ads can often be deceiving - items can look much different in person:<br /> sometimes better, sometimes worse. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/zara-in-store-experience#post-1768953 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 07:52:04 +0000 Gigi 1768953@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My local mall just got a Zara. I have heard much about Zara and was interested to see some of the clothes in person. Well, I don't know if this was just my store, but you couldn't find anything! It was horribly disorganized, kind of like a Forever 21, only worse. You'd have a coat next to a blouse next to a jacket, and you'd have one style of jacket split up on two different racks (i.e., the exact same jacket appeared on two different racks). I left after about five minutes of disbelief and frustration. Is this what all Zara stores are like, or is it just mine? </p>