Gilded Age Etiquette for Shopping

Marian Brook shopping with her Aunt Ada in The Gilded Age on HBO— “If you do not see what you want, or are not satisfied with the prices, quietly retire.”

Say to the salesman, “Please show me such an article,” or use some other polite form of expression. Avoid haggling and never give insult by offensively suggesting that you can do better elsewhere. Do not needlessly consume the time of the clerk and keep other customers waiting. If you find friends in the store, it is uncivil to interrupt them in any manner while they are making their purchases.

Above all, do not volunteer your criticism either upon their taste or upon the goods. It is exceedingly rude to the salesman to sneer at or depreciate his wares. If you do not see what you want, or are not satisfied with the prices, quietly retire. — From Rules of Etiquette and Home Culture, 1890

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia