NEW YORK SHOPPERS RATE THEIR FAVORITE STORES.
Zagat's surveys, known for their straight-from-the-gut consumer commentary, are no longer just for foodies. New York City Shopping is a blunt assessment by consumers of the Big Apple shopping experience. Some 7,000 candid critics rate 2,000 stores. Sometimes opinions speak louder than statistics. Here are some snippets from the new guide:
Bloomingdale's
A “‘wowza array of cosmetics’ that's worth running the ‘perfume spritzer gauntlet for.’”
H&M
“The ‘crazy thongs’ and ‘horrendous lines’ might make you ‘feel like you're at an ‘N Sync concert’ when you ‘jump into’ this Swedish ‘madhouse’ of fashion, but all ‘the disposable designer wanna-be clothing’ is ‘trashy, flashy and so dirt cheap it doesn't matter.’”
Macy's
“Critics claim it's a ‘miracle on 34th Street’ if the ‘chaotic’ scene on sale days and ‘disgruntled’ salespeople don't ‘scare you away.’”
Prada
“It's ‘epicenter’ lies in the ‘electrifying’ Rem Koolhaas-designed Soho flagship — a ‘masterpiece’ to many, a ‘well-dressed amusement park to others.’ ‘Black nylon has never sold for so much.’”
Wet Seal
“‘Tanned Britney wanna-bes’ stuff themselves into sparkly T -shirts' ‘lacy dresses, peasant tops’ and other ‘post-Contempo Casuals.’”
Williams-Sonoma
“This chain is ‘the best of everything’ a status-loving cook or bride-to-be could want.”