Sooo. There are 2 kinds of holier than thou people. The Natural Grocer's type - Birkenstocks and canvas bags, etc. Then there's the Pottery Barn types. These people think they are different, but they are both cut from the same cloth - sort of; one is burlap and they other is cashmere. So, it's not a perfect metaphor, but you get what I mean. But I am not here to talk about Natural Grocer's. I am here to discuss Pottery Barn and the people in it. By the way, this is not meaning the employees; I have never had a bad encounter... It is the patrons. These people are very special people. You see, they know that they have superior taste, style, instincts, and likes than everyone else. They're not picky, they're refined. They're not petulant, they just don't have time or energy for anything not going they're way. They don't NEED help, who is shopping at Pottery Barn because they NEED help?.. no, they deserve help. That is the difference. All of society can be summed up by saying that there are those who need help and those who deserve help. And never the twain shall mix. At least, that is the observed attitude of the zealous Pottery Barn shopper. Can you imagine, if you will, someone who is too delicate to get in the car as it is parked, because 2 feet is not enough room? (side note: the parking here sucks) I mean, how could we expect that they would squeeze in like everyone else? And no, no one was pregnant or disabled. So, of course, back into the store they charge, looking for the manager, the owner of the vehicle, anyone to solve their problem for them. The problem, of course being that two cars are parked side by side, each within the respective lines. The expectation is, of course, that the problem will be immediately taken up by a throng of people, eager to make this situation right. Or perhaps, you can imagine someone taking up 45 minutes of the clerk's time because there was a minor discount that was not being handled as they thought it should be. No matter what, it is a fun experience in and of itself to go in and absorb the sheer status of people.
But, if you can get past this, the products are very nice. I mean, they are great products. It is a comfortable, luxurious store, with helpful associates who deal with demanding, rigid, and entitled clientele on a daily basis. So, the average person will be very impressed by their overt patience and helpfulness. The down side is that, for most folks, a lamp will be half a month's rent. It will be a great lamp for you, with significant re-sale value, if you don't buy trends, and will make you enjoy owning and using it. So, my suggestion is to go into Pottery Barn, make a list of what you want and then come to terms with the fact that, depending on your situation, you may wait for seasonal discounts, or buy it second-hand online.
