Hollister Smell

[snarlingcoyote]

Okay, just curious. I'm just an aunt, but I avoid Hollister (and A&F to a lesser extent) because the smell wafting out of the store makes me gag. The teen and tween moms I know say the same thing. My niece and nephew, both teens tell me they won't shop in the store because of the noise and the smell. (The noise doesn't bother us old fogeys who lived through the 80's, I guess.) Of course, the Hot Topic is just down the way in their mall, so this is usually said with an eye towards getting me to keep moving so we can make it to their favorite store.

I know their clothes are popular. I've got a couple of thrift store Hollister and A&F pieces that I like (with logos that either aren't noticable or are just part of a larger design) and the clothes seem to wear pretty well, a bit better than Aeropostale. I'll order off the 'net, but the physical store turns my stomach.

Am I just strange for this strong dislike of the stores? The sad thing is that I really like the whole fake Cape Cod shingly look they use and I like how they divide their stores into small spaces. It's just. That smell.

 

[Tazicket]

Nope - DH and I can't stand it either. We actually have to hold our breath to even walk in front of either store.

 

[Megan_J]

That store triggers my sinuses from just walking by it and I'm never going to step in the place because of that. The clothes they sell aren't my style anyway so that's okay!

 

[Toad_Passenger]

What a great thread. We can't stand the smell either. Everytime we're at the mall, DD(4) runs up to the doors on the sides of the main entrance (the ones that are cracked open a bit) and says, "I'm going to put my nose in the stinky store!"

 

[NMAmy]

I actually call it the Hollister Stink. I hate both Hollister and A&F--the smell, the loud music, and the cramped quarters drive me insane. I'm not their demographic, though, so we're good until dd drags me in there with her. Thank heavens, she's getting older and isn't as impressed with them now.

 

[disneyaddicted]

Aside from the smell, I can't stand going into Hollister because it's like being at a bar that you can't drink in.

I dread Christmas shopping as this is one of my kids favorite places, I used to actually "shop" for stuff, now it's run in grab a couple gift cards and get out.

 

[acejka]

My husband says the same thing about Old Navy-that there is a stink he can smell from outside

Now I wouldn't ever do a&f (hollister came along after I'd moved on to jcrew, banana republic etc) because of the music-im no old foogey, but the music is just too loud and distracting to me.

 

[Danemom]

I can't stand going into Hollister because it's like being at a bar that you can't drink in.

Perfect description! I also hate how it's so dark in there and that they have sooo many kids working that there are also some just lounging around. I find the whole store creepy! I make my yearly Christmas visit and that's it!

 

[The Pink Cupcake]

The smell and the loud music are awful. The "I am so cool, I work in this store" attitude kills me. There is really no reason to greet a middle aged woman with the ol' head nod, hands in pocket, half asleep "Wassup"

 

[SaraJayne]

At our mall Hollister isn't bad as far as stench goes. It's the darkness, cramped quarters and loud music that bugs me in that store.

A&F, on the other hand, stinks up the entire wing of the mall it's in. Just walking past the store almost knocks you over.

Blech.

 

[Shmily1]

DS21 and DD19 love to get clothes there so I go often. The smell and loudness doesn't bother me because I like the smell of their cologne, which is what they use to make it smell like that, and they listen to the same kind of music I would listen to.

 

[Pigeon]

Aside from the smell, I can't stand going into Hollister because it's like being at a bar that you can't drink in.
.

I dislike Hollister for so many reasons. Wildly overpriced, cramped, dark stores with surly help.

 

[Shyvioletisme]

I don't shop at any of those stores mostly because I won't pay that much for basics, but the smells are horrible. Our Hollister doesn't seem to have much of a scent, but you can smell A&F from several stores down as you are walking in the mall. yuck. I start sneezing and coughing just walking by, I can't imagine going inside. I also imagine you have to deal with anything you buy there coming home with that stench that to my DH and I smells like drakkar noir or some similar cheap cologne. Though I think it is the store brand stuff

 

[LuvOrlando]

I'm glad to hear I'm not alone, like the PP said it always looks & feels to me like it's trying to be a club in NYC but without any of the fun. In the end it just ends up disorienting me to the point I can't get out of their fast enough. SO loud, stinky & dark... I can't stand the place.

My son likes Jake but I stopped buying it when I realized he was sharing it with his friends in school so now I don't have to go in there any more

 

[Shyvioletisme]

I dislike Hollister for so many reasons. Wildly overpriced, cramped, dark stores with surly help.

It is dark enough that the one at our mall had a bat find its way in and make its home there for a while..lol.

 

[marcyinPA]

It's my DS15's favorite store. Well, at least favorite clothing to wear. He hates shopping, so usually, it's me who goes in there. I can't say that I love it...it's dark, loud, and stinky. That reminds me of the facebook group "Welcome to Hollister: here's your flashlight, gas mask, and earplugs"!

One thing about the prices...I never EVER buy anything full price. I head right to the back of the store and shop the clearance. I've always done very well back there, and spend less on shirts than I would at Target! He doesn't wear their jeans or shorts...he doesn't like the raggy ripped look, and Hollister has a lot of that.

Another store I can't stand to shop in is Aeropostale. It doesn't stink, but the racks are soooo close together, you just can't move in there (especially when they are busy!!)

His jeans come from American Eagle (he wears a hard size to find: 30x34) and that is a store I don't mind going into. A little loud sometimes, but decent lighting, plenty of room to move around, and no stinky cologne smell!

 

[minniebeth]

My DH had a little gas the other night
My DS16 sprayed some of his Hollister cologne in our room and I wasn't sure which "scent" I couldn't stand more!

OT, when my DD9 was little, we couldn't go into the Abercrombie Kids store because she was deathly afraid of the moose's head on the wall and covered up her ears because the music was just too loud.

 

[BunsenH]

The smell and the loud music are awful. The "I am so cool, I work in this store" attitude kills me. There is really no reason to greet a middle aged woman with the ol' head nod, hands in pocket, half asleep "Wassup"

I've never been in the store, but this quote reminded me of the song "I'm Too Sexy" (for this Store?)

 

[MichelleVW]

Thankfully my girls aren't Hollister fans. They both say the stuff is way over priced. I hate shopping anyway and no way do I want to go in that cramped, dark, loud and smelly store!!

 

[Jeafl]

It is dark enough that the one at our mall had a bat find its way in and make its home there for a while..lol.

Seriously? If so, that is funny!

I took my mother in there once because she wanted to buy something for my kids. She kept dragging every item up to the counter to ask the girl how much it was because she couldn't see the prices in the dark. It was kind of funny after awhile. I finally got out my cell phone and used the flashlight app for her so she could see. I really try to avoid that place like the plague.