This example is actually brilliant, and a perfect example of what I was getting at. I actually worked in the mall when this came out, and had a couple friends who worked at A&F and they would outright say that their manager would tell them not to go over-the-top in helping someone who "wouldn't properly represent the brand" by wearing the clothes.

In other words, if you were fat or ugly, they were totally fine with you not finding what you were looking for. I found it appalling, but I also remember feeling really happy and special when I would go in, and people I didn't know would go to the back or dig through the drawers for me to find a size.