<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by wideman:
Now I have no problem with places selling top-quality and top-price merchandise, but every store, every salesperson, and every customer seems compelled to put on airs, as if that somehow adds to the cachet.</font>
Never having been to Bal Harbor, I can't comment on these stores, but I have to agree with Wideman that this theme is something that is becoming more and more common in various places.
In high-end stores, restaraunts, and hotels, there is a PHENOMENAL contrast between those that make the experience a pleasure and those to which I will never return. Some places believe that snootiness is part of the "luxury experience" -ie., you should be grateful for being there- while others beleive that the customer is king/queen, and put on no airs- they simply do their best to provide superlative service to everyone.
This contrast is visible in Starwood hotels. For example, the St. Regis Monarch Beach falls in to the first category, while the St. Regis LA fall into the first.
I can not say this with enough inflection: Lexury does NOT mean a snooty attitude. Snootiness is unpleasant - always!