MN
Marina Navarro
Oct 2, 2026
★☆☆☆☆
The true measure of a luxury brand is how it treats customers after the sale. My experience with Chanel Bal Harbour has been deeply disappointing.
I spent over $25k during a single visit and received plenty of attention while shopping. What followed was an entire month of defective shoes, slow responses, repeated follow-ups, and ultimately no resolution. I came in next day after purchase to exchange a pair of flats. My SA Gigi was not available to greet me (one person said she was out for lunch, another person said she was busy with another customer). Someone else sent me a link to order the exchange online (store had only 1 pair left and it was scratched).
One pair of ballet flats arrived visibly worn, floor model. Another arrived with glue all over it. After multiple exchanges, I received a different model in size 38.5. I specifically raised concerns about the fit before wearing them and was reassured that they would work and stretch.
Relying on that advice, I wore them out once. Within 30–40 minutes, they became painfully tight. They were noticeably smaller than my other flats in the same size. Briefly trying them on at home on a rug did not reveal how unbearable they would become with actual walking.
Today, exactly one month after my purchase, customer care confirmed that Chanel will not exchange them because I wore them once, the very wear that revealed the problem after I had followed the boutique’s advice.
The month-long timeline was prolonged by slow responses to my inquiries. At one point, the manager, Gian, explained that he had been out sick for a week. He later told me, in a manner I found rude and dismissive, to wait another five days or accept a refund. That was before the final replacement with the sizing issue was sent.
Adding to my concerns, the boutique also shared another customer’s name and address with me. That carelessness with personal information was unacceptable.
I had seen the mixed reviews before shopping here and chose to give this boutique the benefit of the doubt. I regret that decision. Regardless of how much a customer spends, properly inspected merchandise, thoughtful service, and responsible handling of a problem should be basic expectations.
One month later, I am left with shoes I cannot wear and the stress of repeatedly trying to resolve an issue I raised from the beginning. The attention was there when I was spending money. The accountability afterward was not.
Luxury prices should come with service that lasts beyond the transaction. This experience fell far short.