Barbour Hilltown Mall Store Staff Displays Severe Hostility to Returning Customers
Over the weekend of August 29–30, 2026, as a long-standing customer of Barbour, I visited the Barbour store in Hilltown Mall (Istanbul) with the intention of purchasing a men's waxed jacket (yağlı mont). However, the extreme hostility and unprofessional demeanor displayed by the store's senior female staff member completely degraded the shopping experience and damaged the brand's reputation.
From the moment we entered, the employee offered no greeting, exhibited open reluctance to assist, and treated us with dismissive, disrespectful conduct when we requested to view and try on jackets. Her aggressive, unwelcoming attitude made us feel as though we were actively being discouraged from touching merchandise or remaining in the store. This unacceptable atmosphere forced both my party and another visibly uncomfortable couple to leave the store empty-handed. As a direct result, I was forced to complete my outerwear purchase at Vakkorama instead.
Having purchased Barbour products internationally and across various Istanbul locations over many years, experiencing such abrasive and alienating service at Hilltown is entirely unacceptable. A premium retail brand cannot tolerate frontline staff who actively drive away paying clients and undermine corporate standards.
I demand that Barbour Turkey corporate management immediately initiate a formal internal review regarding the staff member on duty at the Hilltown branch during this shift. Furthermore, I expect an official written or verbal apology from brand management confirming that corrective administrative action has been taken.
