An unwritten shopping rule?

Last night I did a little shoppin' with my Mo and Bro in-law. I decided to try a little anthropological experiment. I didn't wear my uniform of black (fine, now they are faded-grey) sweat shorts and skater T. Instead, I put myself together a bit (OK, no make-up but I did brush my hair). Do people treat you better when you look like you can actually afford to buy something? Does it matter if you are in Nordstrom versus Abercrombie, or...umm...The Men's Warehouse (I was a TMW virgin, I swear!). Anyways, this is what I found.

• Nordstrom: No difference between put together Lisa and scrub Lisa. The Salon Shoes salesguy even invited me to a Trunk Show. Maybe it had something to do with the HOT L.A.M.B. shoes I'm salivating over. I'm now on the hunt for a way to get these less than $315, check 'em here.

• Abercrombie: I don't know if the music and over-use of perfume makes these monkeys brain dead...or if this is as good as it gets for these peeps. No service for me...my daughter had to climb under the dressing room doors to open one up. I think maybe it's an age thing at this store...or, maybe they were giving me the customer-service finger since I had to ask where the non-ho section was. By the way, it's in the back.
  

• TMW (The Men's Warehouse): Great service, aren't they just happy that people will come in.

So the net of my highly scientific experiment - I don't think it matters what you wear to shop in, you get treated just as you are. *Disclaimer: these results were based on my experience in Austin. I would be willing to bet that in Utah, the grooming capital of the world, that you get treated just as you look. Utah must be the only place where there are dress codes for going to the grocery store. The inversion there - that's not due to geophysical topographical reasons - it's due to excessive use of hairspray and Axe. Don't agree? Bring it...

Bottomline: What did I buy? I found a few little things at the Gap, kids shoes at Nordstrom...not much fun stuff to report. However, it looks like the Gap is getting ready for their next flow so there is some cheapie stuff there.