First off, let’s just acknowledge that *yes*, sometimes you can just waltz into a store, especially if it’s not, like, peak tourist season or a Saturday afternoon. But honestly, if you’re after something specific, or, ya know, you wanna avoid the whole “being swarmed by a million people all trying to grab the same bag” experience, booking an appointment is the way to go.
Now, I’ve seen some stuff online, right? People saying you *have* to have an appointment. Others saying it’s totally unnecessary. Honestly, it probably depends on the store. Like, the Dublin Brown Thomas one? (Based on that first bit of text you gave me). It *suggests* signing up for emails to get the latest news… which *might* be about new appointment slots? Maybe? I’m not entirely sure. It’s Louis Vuitton, they play their cards close to their chest.
And then there’s the whole “pre-selection” thing. Some stores, especially the bigger ones (like the Tokyo Matsuya Ginza one from your example, though that one’s actually in Chuo-Ku, not Tokyo generally – little detail there!), might ask you what you’re interested in *before* they even book you an appointment. Which, on the one hand, is kinda helpful, because it means they can prep stuff for you to look at. But on the other hand, it feels kinda…judgey? Like, are they deciding if you’re “worthy” of their time based on your potential purchases? I dunno, maybe I’m just paranoid.
The real kicker is actually *booking* the thing. You’ll usually find a link somewhere on their website (it’s often kinda hidden, tbh), or you might need to call the store directly. And prepare yourself, because slots can fill up FAST. Like, “refreshing the page every five seconds for an hour” fast. Good luck with that.
Honestly, the whole appointment thing is a bit of a gamble. You *might* get amazing service, dedicated attention, and a glass of champagne while you try on a million different scarves. Or, you *might* end up feeling like you’re being rushed because the sales associate has, like, five other appointments lined up.
My personal opinion? If you’re serious about buying something, especially something expensive or rare, definitely try to book an appointment. Just don’t go in expecting some kind of VIP experience. And maybe bring a snack, because you might be waiting a while.
