Erica Wiltz, a model based out of NYC, shared her negative experience with Saks Fifth Avenue in Manhattan as she waited to be helped while shopping for wedding shoes.
While shopping, Wiltz noticed that she was being pointedly ignored by the employees of the luxury store while they went around and helped everybody else who was there except for her.
@itsdaddylonglegs Went to #saksfifthavenue excited to buy @jimmychoo wedding shoes & it turned out like this. #onblast #blackinamerica #racismawareness #nycshopping
The TikTok showed employees literally walking away from her while she waited for help, until she finally had to demand some help from an employee.
Wiltz was left in tears on her way out of the store.
Other black people shared their experiences being ignored in luxury retailers:
Check out Erica Wiltz | Model\u2022NYC's video! #TikTok https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdGTM5M8/\u00a0 @saks @maddow So black money isn\u2019t good enough for you? Many sales people ignored her. Shows management approves. I\u2019ve experienced this myself. Won\u2019t beg you to take my money. @cnn #blackdollarsmatter— PurplePanda (@PurplePanda) 1626882736
Check out Erica Wiltz | Model\u2022NYC's video! #TikTok https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdGwerfA/\u00a0 @saks It\u2019s the micro aggressions for me. You see this beautiful person\u2019s experience. What are you going to do about it? @CNN @amjoyshow @donlemon #DoBetter #blackdollarsmatter— PurplePanda (@PurplePanda) 1626883081
@itsdaddylonglegs/TikTok
@itsdaddylonglegs/TikTok
Wiltz posted a follow-up video in which she detailed exactly what happened due to the amount of invalidating comments she received.
Before receiving poor treatment, Wiltz said she'd always loved the store and had great experiences there.
@itsdaddylonglegs Reply to @jfloresss01 I deserved equal treatment and didn’t get that. #saksfifthavenue #nycshopping #badcustomerservice #onblast #racismawareness
@itsdaddylonglegs/TikTok
@itsdaddylonglegs/TikTok
@itsdaddylonglegs/TikTok
After waiting and waiting and being repeatedly ignored and walked away from by the white salesperson, she had to go into the back and demand help.
The man who helped her reportedly had a negative attitude while helping her the whole time, so much so that Wiltz ultimately decided not to buy the shoes from Saks at all and give him a sale.
@itsdaddylonglegs/TikTok
@itsdaddylonglegs/TikTok
@itsdaddylonglegs/TikTok
@itsdaddylonglegs/TikTok
@itsdaddylonglegs/TikTok
Saks has yet to comment on the incident, but has likely lost a lot of customers due to their poor conduct on this matter.