Laurice Rahme of Bond no. 9 will be at the Saks Fifth Avenue department store in Boca Raton, Florida to introduce the brand's first fragrance for an "outside New York" location. The scent was created exclusively for the Boca Raton Saks, and that is all I know about that.
The event will take place on Friday, November 14 from 2 to 7 pm and Saturday, November 15 from 10 am to 6 pm, in the beauty department on the first floor. (via sun-sentinel, southfloridasociety both links no longer working, sorry!)
Oh wow! I live in Florida!!! Yeah! We'll have a Bond for FL, that's just so cool!!! I just bought a bottle of Bond no.9 Hamptons for my boyfriend, and he loved it. I wasn't sure whether I should be buying him his Eau Sauvage or something more NICHE. I am now glad I chose Bond no.9, they rock! :))
* sorry, but I am just so excited they are introducing something outside of the NYC:))
Hey, if you get to smell it, do tell us how it is! I don't think Pennsylvania will be getting a Bond scent any time soon
Hmm, I am pretty close in Miami. I might have to check this out.
Hey, why not? And you report back too
I am not going to be able to make it to that Saks on the 14th… But I will definitely get a bottle of this somehow!
By the way, yesterday I have tested Nuits de Noho for the first time (while shopping for my BF) and I… LOVED IT SO! It reminded me of coffee notes from CdG wood coffee! It lasts for a longer time too! I have to have a bottle of that one too:))
Also while shopping for my BFs Bond no.9 fragrance, I asked the SA whether I can sample some from the testers. She tells me this: “You are more than welcome to test anything from the designer collection, but Bond.9 tester bottles are for display only, but You i'll take the caps off of them for You, so You can sniff the bottle, sorry we don't have any samples either, these fragrances are just too pricey”. Yeah like I have no idea what Bond.9 is… Luckily there was a supervisor/manager walking by, as I gave her a look and said: “You want me to buy a $125+ bottle, basically unsniffed??? Because the bottles are cute??? I can spray $60 bottles all I want, but when making an investement into something over a hundred bucks and You don't even know what it really is… no thanks…”. Then the manager stops by and says: “Ma'am, I will be happy to let You sample anything You'd like.” Then he asks me to wait just for 2 mins, comes back with a cute… baggy full of candy bon-bons! We opened the ones for men, and I liked the Hamptons, so this was the one i purchased. Then the manager let me keep the opened ones, and gave me the other half of Bonds for women! So I was able to sample everything and anything at home, and that's how I fell in love with Nuits de Noho… Dear Santa!!!
I stopped by the Bond No. 9 counter in Saks in Boca yesterday. You could tell the sales clerk was dying to make a sale. She let me used a tester (same thing happened the Sat. past, as well). When I heard the prices ($140) I told her I wasn’t interested – it is cheaper on Fragencenet.com (I didn’t tell her that). She then asked me if would like a sample – boy, I said yes. Those “samples” are like $3.00 on Fragencenet.com She even turned to my husband & offered him a sample. One look from me & he took it. I also got a preview of the Saks Boca Raton bottles & she got me to sign up for their event on coming up. The Ritz Carlton in Palm Beach County sells the Bonds for the same price – crazy.
IrisN
I'm sorry you experienced that, what terrible customer service. At least they tried to make up for the SA's attitude with a bag of goodies.
Unfortunately, my last experience at the Bond No 9 counter at Sak's (in Sarasota FL) was similar. I was shocked.
You know SFLizbeth, it's like my friend has been to the flagship store in NYC, and she told that she was actually just walking by that store. But since she was already right outside of it, and she was so curious, she walked in. She was wearing her casual clothes and felt a little weird. But she went it, and was greeted, welcomed, offer a cup of tea (!) and so she felt appreciated too.
Long story short, she ended up with two fragrances: one customized, one was the Chelsea Flowers. She told me, she would never expect such care, and attention when making a perfume desicion. She was more than welcome to try anything she wanted – the goal was to make sure she is happy with her fragrance.
Then You have that 200 bucks to buy something special for a loved one, You decide You'll suprise them with a great perfume. You're happy, excited and willing to spend for that special occasion. You walk into a beautiful store, You expect a good customer service and You're happy to be there. No I am not afraid to spend – but I do expect. My good mood was ruined when that SA looked at me like I was just bothering her, like I wasn't gonna buy, like I was going to steal or abuse all of the testers…
When it is luxury, then I do expect to be able to try a scent, I'm sorry but that's just the way it is! If that store can afford to sell Bond no.9s – then they can afford to let me try them too. I know it's thousands of miles away from the caring flagship store, but it doesn't mean You should be treated like an intruder rather than an appreciated customer.
By the way SFLizbeth, now that You told me about Your similar experience in another place, can You just imagine how many thousands of dollars a day, is Bond no.9 losing just because people that are willing to buy, are not able to do so?
IrisNobile, this has always been my experience — they are delightful at the flagship Saks in NYC, but horrible at the “suburban” or smaller city Saks. I have no idea why that is. Imagine — the testers are for display only! Puh-leeze.
Hello Everyone,
I've been lurking around here for some time, learning (and obsessing) about perfume. I think I have to go to this on Saturday since it's only a few miles down the road. Last time I was in Saks, I sampled Bond's Chinatown, which I think I really liked. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I had L’Heure Bleue on for the first time, and was unable to focus properly on anything else.
I would agree, I've had much better service at SF & NY stores. Funny how that happens…..
Hi & welcome! That's not ridiculous at all, in fact it would be rather sad if it were not the case.
As a former Fragrance SA (Maas Brothers, Dillards and a privately-held perfume store), I can't imagine doing something that would prevent someone from purchasing a fragrance.
Fragrance is an impulse buy (most of the time), why, when your sales #'s depend on it, would you make it difficult for a customer? Shakes head…….
I would swear that the SAs in the Chevy Chase Saks are more interested in asserting their own superiority than they are in selling fragrance. It is as though they want to say “Yes, this is the provinces but we're still SAKS FIFTH AVENUE” — esp. comical because the SAs on the real 5th Avenue are really pretty darned nice.
I must say I have had only but great love for the Saks at Short HIlls in NJ SAcalled Jovina. She is such a quaint and nice long time member of the staff. She would call and inform me of the new bonds etc. I am never dressed like a million bucks when I go there. I dress casual and comfy and Jovina has never treated me with disdain. I cant say much for the other SAs because I do not notice them. She is the one that I make sure gets the commission and the others snooty ones could disappear for all I care.
Im so sorry you had such a horrid experience in Fl irisnobile. Come to short hills NJ and ask for Jovina she is a doll.