If you look into my rather large clothes cupboard, you’ll find that most of my clothes are from Westside. I specially buy my tees and tops only from Westside.
Westside has stores located all across Bangalore and I have been to most of them. There is one in Commercial Street too which I visit often. So when I heard of ANOTHER Westside store newly opened off Commercial Street, I was thrilled to bits. When it comes to women and shopping, one is never enough:)
The store: The first thing that hit me was it is vast. Vast space, Vast collection of clothes, so much more to choose from for both Indian and western wear and lingerie. It’s pristine and their clothes collection is well displayed.
The plus side to Westside:
1. Larger store, so more space to move around. The other store in the same area is less spacious.
2. Wider range of clothes to select from, especially western wear.
3. Clothes are well displayed.
4. Prices are reasonable as it has always been.
The minus side to Westside:
1. While I intensely dislike staff breathing down my neck and asking me multiple times if I need help while shopping, the other extreme isn’t an option either. There is no one around for asking about sizes or color or anything for that matter. This store really needs to up its customer service.
2. The mirrors: Every decent clothing store has full length mirrors set close to the clothes racks. Here there are none. So if you choose a T-shirt or any item of clothing and want to hold it up against you to see how it looks on you (not even try it on), one has to walk the entire length of the store to the trial room situated in at the other end to check it out in the mirrors there. Try doing it a couple of times and ask any woman how frustrating it can be.
On the other hand, you’ll probably burn a few calories:)
3. The fitting rooms: Well lit and clean. Here’s how it used to work before. One chooses any number of clothes to try it out in the fitting room. You are however allowed to take in only three at a time with you inside. Once you try it out, usually the doors are built in a way that you and the staff can pass clothes over the door back and forth till you find one that you like. Sometimes it is just to find the right size.
This store has really high doors – another point of frustration. Just how many times do you keep dressing up to come out and take a new batch in? The times I have been there (twice), there was no staff around the fitting room to even help out with anything which meant… yeah walking across the entire length of the store just for a different size.
Go there ONLY if, like me, you love shopping are willing to overlook the minuses mentioned above.
It is early days yet and fingers crossed, the management cares to improve the store’s shopping experience for their customers.
Overall rating for my shopping experience: 2.5
Ratings: Ratings for reviews:
1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.
