Loud music in Hollister and Ambercrombie and Fitch is supposed to attract customers?

[Anonymous]

How do they get away with this? I'm going to look into the legality of this. On the other hand, any OSHA lawyers here know the answer to this? There are workplace environmental quality laws on the books. If it applies to smoking I would assume that it applies to destructive, not just obnoxious, noise levels. OP, I'm glad you brought this up. I never think about it unless I encounter it at the mall.

[Anonymous]

Seriously? What about people who work in clubs? Or at monster truck rallies? Or concerts? Or noisy factories? Lots of people work in loud environments.

[Anonymous]

You old cranky ladies! The store is not for you!

[Anonymous]

Hate, hate, hate the arrogance of this company. Also, I remember when they had the "incident" with their catalog several years ago (it got pulled b/c it was pornographic..and some of the model were under age) AND they were selling thong underwear to young girls.

Don't forget their lack of diversity in their catalogs, employment discrimination against women and minorities and clothing with sexist, racist and other derogatory designs or slogans. Really, who keeps this company in business?

Seriously? What about people who work in clubs? Or at monster truck rallies? Or concerts? Or noisy factories? Lots of people work in loud environments.

But this is a clothing store, not someplace where loud noise is a natural, unavoidable part of the environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Hate, hate, hate the arrogance of this company. Also, I remember when they had the "incident" with their catalog several years ago (it got pulled b/c it was pornographic..and some of the model were under age) AND they were selling thong underwear to young girls.

Don't forget their lack of diversity in their catalogs, employment discrimination against women and minorities and clothing with sexist, racist and other derogatory designs or slogans. Really, who keeps this company in business?

They also discriminate against those with special needs - of course, I'm sure that's just to keep their brand 'cool'.

http://consumerist.com/2009/09/abercrombie-fitch-fined-for-discriminating-against-autistic-shopper.html

[Anonymous]

The smell of cologne wafting out of the store is enough to keep me away.

[Anonymous]

Could this be a new marketing strategy??

Recently, we were in the bicycle dept. of a Dick's Sporting Goods Store. We were planning to purchase two bikes. For novices finding and purchasing the right bike can be challenging because there are so many variations of styles and prices.

Anyway, the rock music playing from speakers overhead was so loud I couldn't concentrate on nuances and prices of the bicycles enough to be able to effectively comparison shop. We asked if they could turn the music down and they said that they could not because there were two problems.

The first was that there were too many speakers in that part of the store and secondly that the district manager had been in the store recently and that he had forbidden them from lowering the volume. However, I persuaded the floor manger to lower the volume. He left, but when five or ten minutes passed and the volume had not been lowered we left the store.

We couldn't concentrate so we bought our bikes somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

I tried to order a mojito from the bartender, but she acted like she didn't even know what I was talking about.

[Anonymous]

A lot of people enjoy the loud music. I like it.

[Anonymous]

Loud music does have a negative effect on hearing long term.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Hate, hate, hate the arrogance of this company. Also, I remember when they had the "incident" with their catalog several years ago (it got pulled b/c it was pornographic..and some of the model were under age) AND they were selling thong underwear to young girls.

Don't forget their lack of diversity in their catalogs, employment discrimination against women and minorities and clothing with sexist, racist and other derogatory designs or slogans. Really, who keeps this company in business?

Seriously? What about people who work in clubs? Or at monster truck rallies? Or concerts? Or noisy factories? Lots of people work in loud environments.

But this is a clothing store, not someplace where loud noise is a natural, unavoidable part of the environment.

Are you talking about Abercrombie? I don't know about Hollister, but that's not the case. I was just in there last week, and the store was run by women and minorities.

And for the PP who made the "junior varsity" comment--I seriously hope you truly are the 13 yr old twit you sound like, not really a DC mother.

[Anonymous]

Loud music is the reason my daughter wanted to leave Hollister as soon as she had found what she liked

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? What about people who work in clubs? Or at monster truck rallies? Or concerts? Or noisy factories? Lots of people work in loud environments.

Yes, and OSHA requires hearing protection for those individuals who work in an environment with a decibel level above normal. I'll look up what threshold is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? What about people who work in clubs? Or at monster truck rallies? Or concerts? Or noisy factories? Lots of people work in loud environments.

Yes, and OSHA requires hearing protection for those individuals who work in an environment with a decibel level above normal. I'll look up what threshold is.

Got it. 85 db or more is in violation.

But there are a number of businesses that could be in violation of OSHA that you wouldn't even think of, such as restaurants, nightclubs and bars. Click here to learn more.

OSHA noise standards consist of a two-stage program:
A hearing conservation program must be implemented when employees are exposed to 85 dB or more in an
8-hour day. These programs include annual audiometric testing and require hearing protection devices, such as earplugs.
Engineering or administrative noise controls are required when exposure exceeds 90 dB. Engineering controls include redesigning the space to reduce machinery noise, replacing machinery with quieter equipment, enclosing the noise source or enclosing the noise receiver. Administrative controls include mandating the length of time an employee can be exposed to a particular noise source.
Failing to address OSHA regulations can be a pricey mistake. Total penalties for OSHA violations in 2002 exceeded $72.8 million! Business owners that willingly violate OSHA regulations, including those relating to noise, can be penalized between $5,000 and $70,000. If a previous violation is not addressed and corrected, civil penalties up to $7,000 a day can be enforced. Even if the violation isn't life threatening, but still has the potential to impact job safety and health, the business can be penalized up to $7,000. Keep in mind, OSHA representatives can stop by to conduct noise readings at any given time.

[Anonymous]

I think someone should test the VOCs in there- I had a headache after shopping with DD for 30 minutes... I don't think my headache was due to music or me being an old fart either- something in the air there was not agreeing with me.