What is your favorite department store in Paris and why?

Galeries Lafayette. It's gorgeous. The balconies, the glass roof, all works of art.

I second Galleries Lafayette.

I like the Bazaar de l'Hôtel de Ville for all the neat stuff in the basement.

I like Bon Marche, Au Printemps, Samaritane, and Galleries Lafayette.

They are all so French.

OK, now so which of the department stores can anyone afford to buy anything in? They all seem outrageously expensive, or am I missing something?

Hi buss,

You do like everyone else does, buy on sale.

Samaritaine for location, rooftop view, perfume department, snackbar on roof. BHV for it's household/hardware department. Galeries Lafayette and Bon Marche for their food departments. Au Printemps for it's rooftop view and cafeteria.

I found all kinds of bargains in GL! We always go in the fall and I wait until I get to Paris to buy my fall/winter outfits or coats. I have gotten two coats in Paris that are still great, although they aren't getting much of a workout here in Florida~
Scarves, pocketbooks, I always get a Longchamp bag, sometimes something designer, jewelry, a great rain hat..Prices are/were comparable to NYC but I don't see someone wearing my coat on the streets of NYC.
Perfume too!

Bon Marche.... Its not overrun with tourists, is elegant and is a managable size. Its also in a great neighborhood.

Ditto to MorganB's description of le Bon Marche. And it's located in a terrific neighborhood of the 7th. Reminds me, roughly, of a cross between Saks and Neiman Marcus, plus the Grande Epicerie is fabulous-a real treat for all the senses and a foodie's heaven! No bargains here, but we did hit the first day of the sales Jan. 7. (But I was also very impressed by the food hall at GL, when we watched Parisians in massive numbers stock up for New Year's Eve).
But the best views: from the top of La Samartaine.

I don't remember the name but it's on the ground floor where the indoor entrance to the Louvre is.

They had a great cosmetics store which is where I picked up some Oscar De La Renta perfume. Also inexpensive Nivia nail polishes in wonderful colors which I can't get in the states.

I also recommend the Bazzar de Hotel de Ville and also agree that you should not miss the basement.

I did not find the prices in the Paris stores much different that Marshal Fields or Penneys here in the US. But I will say that with the current exchange rate on the Euro your dollar won't go as far.

without a doubt, BHV but for clothes I've always liked GL because years ago before Elle Magazine was published here I wrote them due to an article in the French edition, that I had to have the bathing suit pictured and they sent it.

I find Galeries Lafayette to be the best in terms of variety. La Samaritaine and BHV seem to have good offers. But Bon Marche is too expensive for me.

Galleries Lafayette for its scarf department... rows and rows of scarves. I bought one there, and the sales lady taught me how to tie it

Best,
Sandy

I kind of hate to admit it, but after 5 trips to Paris, I still haven't been inside Galeries Lafayette or Au Printemps, and in Samaritaine only to go to the top to see the view. Visiting department stores (however beautiful!) just isn't my thing while traveling. But I did like the Bon Marche for a few things I absolutely needed (like socks!) and they have a great CD department, where I love to stock up on French recordings. I also prefer its
location to the others.

the Bazaar de l'Hôtel de Ville especially the hardware in the basement. La Samartaine, love the rooftop. Galleries Lafayette, I always buy a new purse, and washcloths. The french washcloths are sewn up like a little pocket that you stick your hand in and have a handy loop sewn in for hanging on a hook. Very nice.

Do people waste time shopping in Paris?

My my . . .

On my last trip, shopping Sephora for a personalized perfune and Samaritan because it nice, and cookery shops just coz I'm a "foodie", was as planned an event in my agenda as touring the Louvre. Not a waste of time, just time spent differently. I also stood on a street and watched street workers digging; I wanted to see how far they dug until they passed through ancient cobble stones. It was quite a few meters on Rivoli too. That was interesting to me..not a waste of time. Weird tho...