Paris-based retail consultancy Presence Mystery Shopping sent researchers to major shopping streets around the world to test environment, friendliness and overall service quality. 

On each visit, the researchers spoke only English, or another foreign language in English speaking countries, to test the type of welcome offered towards foreign visitors.

In 40 percent of cases on Paris’ premier shopping street, researchers reported that sales people seemed irritated when dealing with them.

A spokeswoman for Presence Mystery Shopping told The Local that passers-by on the famous shopping street were generally friendly and courteous and tried to get by in English.

However, the service on offer inside the stores was not always up to scratch.

“The level of welcome was not up to the standard you’d expect from an avenue as visited and as beautiful as the Champs-Elysées,” she said.

The 1.9 kilometre (1.2 mile) Avenue des Champs-Elysées runs from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe.

The avenue is famed for its shops, cinemas and luxury stores including Louis Vuitton and Cartier. Recent newcomers to the street include Marks & Spencer and Banana Republic.

The best scores in the survey were achieved in the Singapore shopping street of Orchard Road, which was highly scored for its cleanliness.

Luxembourg’s Avenue de la Liberté was in second place, with praise for well-mannered staff and high quality stores.

Sydney’s George Street placed sixth, London’s Bond Street was tenth and Fifth Avenue in New York finished 26th.

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