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Yeah, the people working there almost always look a little snotty. But if memory serves me right, so do the people at American Eagle, GAP and other stores of this ilk.
I will say the sales guy at our local store was down-to-earth and helpful.
I rarely buy from A&F because I hate to support a store that I think has sexually exploited teens in the past. But so has CK and countless others.
The A&F stores always smell great. FIERCE must be pumped through the air vents.
Bottom-line, it's all just a part of the consumerism of youth. Daddy, I gotta have it, or I won't look cool. The stores know when they have a good racket going. And if they dropped the prices, they'd sure lose some cache', whether we'd like to admit it or not.
My son's 11. If he wants this stuff in a couple of years, and he stays at Straight A's on his grades, I'll probably buy it for him. Beats drugs.

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Originally Posted by ChuckW I rarely buy from A&F because I hate to support a store that I think has sexually exploited teens in the past. But so has CK and countless others. In what way?

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Well, hasty generalizations and other logical fallacies aside..
I'm fairly certain A&F lies about the authenticity of some things(such as the Italian leather. I believe that about as much as I believe there was a J. M. Hollister who founded the company). But most people believe them. That's a factor into their prices, along with a few other things people have said here. Fierce, contrary to what you may think based on your "not eau de toilette" statement(which I'm almost certain is wrong), lasts quite a while and projects well. So does Proof in my experience. Fierce is annoying and I wouldn't be caught dead wearing it. Proof is actually kind of nice. Ezra doesn't last at all, I don't think, though I like it most.
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Originally Posted by ChuckW I rarely buy from A&F because I hate to support a store that I think has sexually exploited teens in the past. But so has CK and countless others. ps: I'd hate to see what your reaction is when you wake up and learn about the world of capitalism and commerce.

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WHEEEWWW, pushed a few buttons, huh?
As far as exploitation, I think the catalogs they put out a few years ago speak for themselves. Call me a prude, I don't mind. I wasn't the only one that took offense. It was a media frenzy issue just about 4 years ago. I think A&F has toned it down some since.
As far as waking up, just because capitalism takes up some unsavory tactics, that does not mean I have to approve of them. I'm not hating the players, but I can hate the game, even if I'm part of it.
These are just my two cents. I'm not judging anyone, folks. Just my opinion.

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Sorry about the generalization of the workers, to those that have worked there. But I don't know how people can work there considering the conditions that A and F puts the workers in just to put on a certain image. I have not been to a store so dark and with such loud music(aside from hollister). They are not a bar or a trendy nightclub, and I hate the way they market by putting all this the new face of A and F and some girl or guy. Its like A and F telling us who is hot literally. I don't need to know the name of someone I don't know, someone who will probaly not do anything else memorable beside be an ambercrobie and fitch model for a year.
I never met a company that try to tells me so directly what I should dress like, whats cools and what I should pay. I guess that what allows them to immediately charge high end prices for colognes.
I can't stop feeling like an ass walking into a store so loud. By the time I walk out of there, my ears feel a little muffled and If I stay there long enough, my eyes have to readjust from walking in darkness for so long when I reenter the mall. Working there on a daily basis would give me headaches and make me want to quit asap.

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WHEEEWWW, pushed a few buttons, huh?
As far as exploitation, I think the catalogs they put out a few years ago speak for themselves. Call me a prude, I don't mind. I wasn't the only one that took offense. It was a media frenzy issue just about 4 years ago. I think A&F has toned it down some since.
As far as waking up, just because capitalism takes up some unsavory tactics, that does not mean I have to approve of them. I'm not hating the players, but I can hate the game, even if I'm part of it.
These are just my two cents. I'm not judging anyone, folks. Just my opinion. I don't see why you'd think you pushed my buttons when I did not respond in a hostile manner. Whatever. People like to flatter themselves, I find. My point was that if you're going to boycott a company for having bad morals and conduct then you might as well go nude.
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I hate the way they market by putting all this the new face of A and F and some girl or guy. Its like A and F telling us who is hot literally. Have you been asleep for the past decade?
I never met a company that try to tells me so directly what I should dress like, whats cools and what I should pay. I guess that what allows them to immediately charge high end prices for colognes. Absolutely. That's a part of it, at least.
I can't stop feeling like an ass walking into a store so loud. I've met quite a few people of this discourse. I've told them all the same thing. Walking into a store does not change who you are. It's not a project you indulge yourself in - not a facet of your life that you contribute to the world existentially. Walk back in there when you are more comfortable with yourself as an entity, existing in the world. See how you feel then.

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What is the deal with A&F and Hollister thinking that not wearing a shirt is the new wearing a shirt? They've been pushing this the last ten years, and every time I see it I laugh.
http://www.hollisterco.com/hol/homepage.html
Check out the films at the bottom.
Everyone else is either in a sweatshirt or pants, and the guy's just running around without a shirt on. It's just so damn cheesy.
Adam, don't be ashamed of working there, just think about it, you were hot enough to work at A&F, that's not bad at all!
- Rich

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Abercrombie can advertise all the hunky 20 year olds it wants to, in my opinion, I quite enjoy the scenery (with and without shirts)...however I really can't stand their fragrances.

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genvy I think you are taking my interpretation of A and F stores the wrong way. I am not ashamed of myself walking into an A and F store, as I have already said, I would gladly make an ass of myself in the store itself.
Rather the store makes an ass of itself to those that don't buy into the Ambercrobie and Fitch hype. I have no need to have music blasting away to a level where I cannot have a conversation inside, or have lighting which is so improper I cannot gauge how the clothes will look when I wear it in a normal environment. Its all counter productive in the clothes making process and an annoying distraction. If I want the above environment I will go to the bar, where those things actually serve a purpose. Not some effort of a company to be cool.
I am just saying that Ambercrombie and Fitch methods of marketing do not work on me. I am comfortable to say whose, who does Ambercrobie and Fitch think they are? And when I walk into the store to like buy a clothes for my girlfriend(which I regret doing as I would rather spend my money elsewhere), I feel like how do they get away with this crap. Forcing everything down your throat, I just hope people get over this A and F phase like they did with the gap, as atleast gap was not so forceful(but definitely as silly).
How was it like working there Adam, did you like it?

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I got to fold clothing and say hi to people or ask if they could find everything they're looking for, for $6.50 an hour !! lol my title was "Brand Rep"
It wasn't so bad I guess, but it got boring after a while. It was a great way to meet people thats for sure. Hearing the same music over and over got on my nerves at 1st, but it grew on me after a couple of weeks there.
I was in there one day in the begining of summer after I had just graduated high school, and a gorgeous girl came over and asked me if she could try something on in the dressing room. I paused for a moment and I said "oh, lol, i'm sorry I don't work here.." she looked confused and I guess a manager saw the whole thing take place and she (another gorgeous girl, who would have thought, lol) helped the girl with the clothing she wanted to try on and then she came over and asked if I 'really' would like to work there, I said sure. We talked for a little and she gave me her cell # just incase I had any questions about the job