Hollister Smell

[MUFFYCAT]

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.

Thanks, I thought I was the only one that didn't mind shopping there.

With sales and coupons that they give out sometimes I've done very well there for my DD, her boyfriend and my nephew.

 

[Feralpeg]

I won't go into that store due to the smell. I hate even walking past it.

 

[ksjayhawks]

I must be one of the odd men out, as it doesn't bother me. I have never even thought about it/noticed it, I guess.

 

[kirstenb1]

True story, my DD 12 and I shopping at Hollister at the checkout counter, music blaring:
Cashier: that will be $59
Me: What?
Cashier: that will be $59
Me: How much?
DD 12: Mom, just give them your credit card. We can check the receipt outside. I need to leave it stinks and is too loud in here....
(And she is their target demographic!)

karenos

Your dd is too funny!!! I always joke about how they need to skew the atmosphere more toward the demographic of "the wallet", not the kid. They need to hand me a flashlight and a pair of reading glasses, and we'd be all good.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Every half hour the employees have to go through the store and spray everything with a spritz version of one of their colognes.

I guess I am the exception..I love the smell of Hollister, but maybe our store doesn't overuse it. I did see a bottle sitting on a shelf one day that said "NOT FOR SALE - spritz on clothes only!" so I don't think it was their standard cologne.

I can't stand the music and the long lines, but their clearance section is great.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I don't mind the smell. Thank goodness, because my DD13 has many of their body sprays, etc. (and uses them liberally!).

What I don't like is the claustrophobic feel - as someone already mentioned, it really is disorienting. The changing rooms are the worst - it is impossible for a parent to go in. I can't spend much time in there. DD only occasionally buys a hoodie or a blouse from there and then usually shops online first and has an idea of what she is looking for. I send her in first and then I join her just to pay!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

It is impossible to get around inside if you are in a wheelchair/EV. I have had several surgeries and to get out, my mother would take us to the mall..I would get an EV to go around the mall and not only can't you get into the store (I think they will open a side door if you insist) but there is no way you can get around inside because it is so tight. Our local news did a story about it not long after my last surgery

 

[eatmypixiedust]

Every half hour the employees have to go through the store and spray everything with a spritz version of one of their colognes.

That explains it!

The smell doesn't really bother me. It's the lighting that does. I cannot see a single thing in Holister. AF is a little better with the light. But Hollister is terrible! Even the dressing room is dark. I don't really shop there anymore. There is a great store by me called Buckle, which I always go to.

I agree! The dressing rooms are so narrow and dark. I remember trying on a jacket and I couldn't see or tell if the color looked good or not. It was a blue color but it was so dark inside the dressing room. I am glad that their fitting rooms have doors. I remember in the past they just had a curtain that hooked onto one side but people could still peek in! Eek!

Last Christmas I went to my local mall and noticed that they changed the Hollister store to an Hollister outlet store. I picked up a red track jacket and was looking at it. When I left my little sister pointed out that my hand was red. I thought I had cut myself because it was a blood red color all over my hands! The dye from the clothes rubbed off and I didn't notice. I think they have cute tote bags and scarves but that's about it.

 

[wdwmom2]

I guess I am the exception..I love the smell of Hollister, but maybe our store doesn't overuse it. I did see a bottle sitting on a shelf one day that said "NOT FOR SALE - spritz on clothes only!" so I don't think it was their standard cologne.

I can't stand the music and the long lines, but their clearance section is great.

And I love the smell of Fierce, which is what A&F sprays their stores with. The problem is, the scent is too strong in these stores. They WAY overdo it!!!! So, even though I love the scent, I do not like the smell of the store. Too strong, and that ruins the scent!

 

[Shyvioletisme]

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.

yes seriously. lol. They had to bring in animal control to try and get the bat out.

 

[LvsTnk]

I will take it a step further because I couldnt believe this...

When DS worked there in HS he said the manager would break open a bottle of whichever scent and pour it into the mop water. He really hated working there.

 

[Cat0727]

I can deal with the smell (in NYC you can smell it down the block) but the music inside those stores is just deafening. I was in A&F on 5th Avenue to check it out and couldn't stand it so I just walked out.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Love walking through A&F because of the smell, the music, the clothes and often the view...same goes with Hollister. I also love going in A/X, they always have good beats pumping (love the NYC stores because of the live DJs).

 

[disneygirlatheart]

My dd, who is 15, says you need a gas mask and a pair of earplugs to even get near that smelly and loud store.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

In our mall, Hollister doesn't smell too bad, although it does appear very dark. Abercrombie is the one that truly stinks. I can smell it from the second floor. It is bad enough that I don't like to even walk in that section of the mall. If I were their neighboring stores, I wouldn't be happy. I did mention something to customer service, but figured it would do no good. I don't care if they want to spray smelly crap all over their clothes, but it shouldn't be that strong for people just walking by the store.

The thing that irritatesd me the most about their stores though are the marketing schemes. The A &F catalogue is nothing more than soft porn. When I lived in Orlando, they used to have shirtless guys outside the store (Just once I wanted to see security kick them off for not wearing a shirt!) They don't do that at the mall here, but they do have a huge poster of a guy in which you cannot see one stitch of clothing (he's shown from the waist up.) I've always though that if you are selling clothes, perhaps your models should actually wear the clothes, but I guess that makes too much sense.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

Yep I know that smell, it will about knock you backwards when you walk by it. I have never actually gone in there, it looks too something.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

The thing that irritatesd me the most about their stores though are the marketing schemes. The A &F catalogue is nothing more than soft porn. When I lived in Orlando, they used to have shirtless guys outside the store (Just once I wanted to see security kick them off for not wearing a shirt!) They don't do that at the mall here, but they do have a huge poster of a guy in which you cannot see one stitch of clothing (he's shown from the waist up.) I've always though that if you are selling clothes, perhaps your models should actually wear the clothes, but I guess that makes too much sense.

Reality is, sex sells, more so then the product!

I don't think security would have any reason to do anything about the store employees walking around shirtless, less I checked, there was nothing illegal about a guy being shirtless. Now some stores have policies that require certain levels of clothes be worn, but A&F has a different policy.

 

[marcyinPA]

In our mall, Hollister doesn't smell too bad, although it does appear very dark. Abercrombie is the one that truly stinks. I can smell it from the second floor. It is bad enough that I don't like to even walk in that section of the mall. If I were their neighboring stores, I wouldn't be happy. I did mention something to customer service, but figured it would do no good. I don't care if they want to spray smelly crap all over their clothes, but it shouldn't be that strong for people just walking by the store.

The thing that irritatesd me the most about their stores though are the marketing schemes. The A &F catalogue is nothing more than soft porn. When I lived in Orlando, they used to have shirtless guys outside the store (Just once I wanted to see security kick them off for not wearing a shirt!) They don't do that at the mall here, but they do have a huge poster of a guy in which you cannot see one stitch of clothing (he's shown from the waist up.) I've always though that if you are selling clothes, perhaps your models should actually wear the clothes, but I guess that makes too much sense.

I agree with you regarding the marketing! The bags, the gift cards...UGH!!! My DS15 hates the whole half-naked guy thing...When we shop there, if he's with me, he makes ME carry the bag!

My poor uncle did some Christmas shopping for my aunt. She asked him to get my DS a gift card from Abercrombie...yup, half naked guy on it. He was so embarrassed...and asked if they had one without a picture!

 

[Princess_Meghan <3]

I love Hollister clothing, but I dread going into the store. My sisters and I have to yell to each other to even have a chance of hearing each other, and the smell gives me a headache. our Hollister is also very hot inside, and it the smell combined with the heat makes me sick. we usually aren't in there for more than 15 minutes- we find what we want online, go find it in the store, grab it in our size, check out, and leave.