Overzealous shop assistants

Freiheit

Went into a city centre chemist today to browse and maybe see what I was looking for, but very quickly two separate sales assistants within about 15-20 seconds of each other asked if they could help me. Another said 'well hows it going' or something to that affect. I simply wanted to browse and all the attention,which felt very false, in a relatively small store was a major turn off. I didn't even check whether what I wanted was in store, I simply left. I don't like overzealous shop assistants, especially in smaller stores. Frequently all I want to do is look and if I want help I'll ask for it in my own time.

Anyone relate?.

schween

I can relate to that.

But what also can relate to is your boss breathing down your neck for not approaching customers.

noodler

I think you are overreacting.

In this one case I do think it is a little odd the second person didn't notice you had already been asked if it really was 15-20 seconds after the first approach but otherwise I think it is fairly normal practice.

The amount of people who complain they were in a store for 5 whole minutes and weren't asked do they need help is quite staggering by the same token - sometimes they can't win.

tony1kenobi

You can shop on the internet and no one will bother you.

Victor

Did You look like a shop lifter?

MagicMarker

Over reacting.

You should be happy you walked into a store that values customer service.

Fair enough you were asked twice within a short period but obviously the second girl didn't realise this.

Freiheit

It just felt very ott,and the 3rd one acting as though I was his 'pal' even though I don't know him....sensitive or not it felt very heavy.....

noodler

Freiheit wrote: »

Ithe 3rd one acting as though I was his 'pal' even though I don't know him....

That friendly bastard...

jayj224

Working as a part time manager in retail its hard to strike the balance on this, You need to keep the idea of approaching customers to the forefront but on occassions this may happen.

If that was the worst complaint about my team I would be happy.

Maybe you looked like a mystery shopper? or they were due a mystery shopper hence why they were so "enthusiastic"

AARRRRGH

God, I hate that too.
When I want to talk to a shop assistant I'll ask them. Otherwise, fu*k off and let me look at what I want to look at.
It usually drives me out and into the next shop.

Freiheit

I worked in retail myself for a few years and was always wary of intruding upon customers...tried to be available but not encroaching...thats just how I feel...smaller outlets tend to be like that...

noodler

AARRRRGH wrote: »

God, I hate that too.
When I want to talk to a shop assistant I'll ask them. Otherwise, fu*k off and let me look at what I want to look at.
It usually drives me out and into the next shop.

Have you never heard the alternative side of the argument though?
Some people who complain they were browsing for a number of minutes and a member of staff never once asked if they needed help?

colly10

I hate this sort of crap, especially in small clothes shops. If they ask anything more than if i'm alright I won't be back. Some strike up a conversation and start asking you what your looking for, would be better off left to just browse in peace

FunnyStuff

AARRRRGH wrote: »

God, I hate that too.
When I want to talk to a shop assistant I'll ask them. Otherwise, fu*k off and let me look at what I want to look at.
It usually drives me out and into the next shop.

So when you decide you would like some assistance, and turn around to see all the sales staff occupied with other customers and are left waiting, will you then get pissed off and storm out or look to bitch to a manager?

ejmaztec

There are some strange people around, running away when a shop assistant tries to assist them.

When you're a child and your parents tell you not to talk to strangers, they should explain that you don't have to do this for the rest of your life.:eek:

jill_valentine

My previous employer would reprimand us fairly harshly if a customer hadn't been approached within 30 seconds of entering the store. I hated doing it, the customers hated me doing it, and more often than not, even if they do have a genuine enquiry they're so startled when you greet them that they'll just say cheers, put down whatever they were looking at, and walk out.

30 seconds, from the moment they come through the door.

EDIT:

But then again, thinking about it, I've had the head eaten off me a few times by customers for not being available to help them on the shop floor... even though I was serving a queue at the till? Ah, retail.

Corega

Well done. These guys are making €10 an hour tops, they make themselves busy by asking a customer if they need help and you leave due to this fact. If you had gone into the same store and received no attention you'd probably complain about that too. /me claps

Domscard

I know it can be irritating to be approached when you don't want any help but all it takes is a smile and a polite 'I'm just browsing, thank you' to be left in peace. It's rare to be asked twice, but repeating the smile and those 5 words is not going to kill anyone. Think of it as Good Karma ...

Kashkai

Jeez those guys were just doing their job. There's been a hell of a lot more times I had to go searching for a shop assistant, who when I found one, didn't give a fcuk tbh, especially in the bad old Celtic tiger days. Example, when I was buying a car and shelling out upwards of twenty grand , a lot of salespeople would act like they were doing me the favour in taking the money off me. It was hard to get one to answer questions about the car, even harder to get a test drive and as for looking for a discount, from the look on their faces, you'd swear I just asked to go out with their girlfriend!

In other countries, shop assistants see it as part of their job to be proactive in approaching customers like in the states which I actually find pretty helpful. If the OP finds that he/she is feeling threatened by people who are only doing their job, then maybe the OP is the one with the problem.

dudara

Posters, no need to make personal assumptions or comments about the OP. It's not particularly nice.

I both agree and disagree with the OP. In some shops, the assistants can be too eager - which is very offputting, especially to us Irish. But, on the whole, I would prefer that they do approach me than not approach me.

rebel10

I was working in retail for years. One of the main reasons we were told to approach the customer was so that the customer would be aware that we have seen them and if they tried anything sneaky we would notice. Everytime i go into a shop and the workers are all over me, i tend to feel like they are watching me and nearly always end up leaving.

eamon234

I worked in retail for many years and in most cases wages are dire even at management level so in a lot of cases staff are incentivized for selling certain products it's a good way to bump up the wage packet at the end of the week especially in electrical retail where things like extended warranties and finance are pure profit for the retailer - commission is king in retail and for every time you walked in to a store to buy something and ended up buying something else after speaking to someone you can be guaranteed the salesperson got a little bit extra! Nothing wrong with that. Retail stores are closing down left right and centre and retail was always the last hope for a lot of jobless people (including myself back in the bad old days of the early 90's) and I have a lot to thank it for so give the guys a break they're just trying to supplement what is probably a terrible wage.

colly10

Corega wrote: »

Well done. These guys are making €10 an hour tops, they make themselves busy by asking a customer if they need help and you leave due to this fact. If you had gone into the same store and received no attention you'd probably complain about that too. /me claps

The worst offenders are owners/managers in small shops and in there case they rarely just ask if ye want help, they ask stuff like what your looking for and show ye whatever new **** they just got in. I usually don't know exactly what I want when i'm buying clothes, if I see something i'll check sizes and if they don't have it then i'll ask someone. Some of these people (especially in small shops) see themselves as salesmen, all there really doing is guaranteeing ye won't be back though.

GerardKeating

Freiheit wrote: »

Went into a city centre chemist today to browse and maybe see what I was looking for, but very quickly two separate sales assistants within about 15-20 seconds of each other asked if they could help me. Another said 'well hows it going' or something to that affect. I simply wanted to browse and all the attention,which felt very false, in a relatively small store was a major turn off. I didn't even check whether what I wanted was in store, I simply left. I don't like overzealous shop assistants, especially in smaller stores. Frequently all I want to do is look and if I want help I'll ask for it in my own time.

Anyone relate?.

Yes and No, there is only one thing i hate worse than the above and that is wandering around the sales floor in a large store, wanting to find someone to ask a question and not a soul to be seen...

borderlinemeath

Freiheit wrote: »

Went into a city centre chemist today to browse and maybe see what I was looking for, but very quickly two separate sales assistants within about 15-20 seconds of each other asked if they could help me. Another said 'well hows it going' or something to that affect. I simply wanted to browse and all the attention,which felt very false, in a relatively small store was a major turn off. I didn't even check whether what I wanted was in store, I simply left. I don't like overzealous shop assistants, especially in smaller stores. Frequently all I want to do is look and if I want help I'll ask for it in my own time.

Anyone relate?.

In fairness you were browsing in a chemist. It's not like popping into H&M to waste some time.
The majority of people go into chemists for medicinal purposes/prescriptions. The remainder are usually looking for something quite specific and there appeared to be staff on hand to help.

samhail

another point of view... specifically in chemists...
Might someone go in who might be slightly reluctant/shy to approach staff in relation with what ever they have, and by staff approaching them they will get what they want easier.

also... have you gone abroad where you cant walk down the street without people jumping out from shops at you telling you to come in ? i think we get off lightly

Freiheit

Well chemists are more than little corner shops nowdays, more than purely medical stores, take Boots for example. Anyway I can only say how I felt and it felt military like and false to me......I like to firstly browse......and if I need assistance I'll look for it.

I tend to avoid smaller retail outlets in general for the same reason,too much individual attention when what I really usually want to do is browse and during browsing I might see something I want......

Everyone has their own style and that's mine......;)

phasers

I hate when people do this! It puts me right off buying anything in a shop when sales assistants come over to you the second you come into a shop.

IMO they should make themselves available, be on the floor for questions and stuff but leave me alone when I'm browsing!

chriscross1

totally agree, so annoying, can i help u,:mad: no just go away

Nolimits

I dont like sales assistants coming over to me either but I don't let it bother me. If I had to tell 5 people in a minute that I was ok and didn't need any help I wouldn't care and I certainly wouldn't leave the shop because the staff are trying to be helpful as misguided as I think they are.

Max Power1

claire's is terrible for this IMO. Anytime im dragged in there by the oh, I dont think its been longer than a minute or two before the staff are over. Sometimes you just want to browse for a minute or two FFS!

Gavin "shels"

Used to work in one of the major shops in town, sales assistants are told they have to approach customers, thing is most of the employees wouldn't be watching to see who was asked and would ask again, gets very annoying I know, but people are just doing there job.

stupidusername

I've been at both sides of this.used to work in a shop where I had to approach people. hated doing it because I knew it made absolutely everyone uncomfortable. most people would end up leaving soon after I approached them. I hate it myself.

Don't mind so much if it's just one person, but in a local tech store there's a woman that constantly does it. Last time I was in there she asked me twice within three minutes. Obviously she didn't realise she'd already asked me, but it is SO annoying. And then one time I was in there waiting to buy something and the girl at the counter was looking for someone to go upstairs and get my product, and she took about five minutes to find someone to do it! They've no idea how to work these places.

rebel10

Max Power1 wrote: »

claire's is terrible for this IMO. Anytime im dragged in there by the oh, I dont think its been longer than a minute or two before the staff are over. Sometimes you just want to browse for a minute or two FFS!

Think Claire's do it because of all the shoplifting that goes on, thats why you will always see them running over with a basket so they can really keep an eye on you!

Corruptedmorals

I love the fact where I work there's way too many customers and way too little staff for that ****. I love the fact that people think that sales assistants are DYING to go over and wreck people's heads..there's no managers watching them or anything. Nobody wants to leave themselves open to be snarled at and would prefer to remain working and answer questions if asked.

I will say, Lush is the one shop where I find it difficult to excuse the overly-perky staff for the store policy they have to follow.

jill_valentine

Corruptedmorals wrote: »

Lush is the one shop where I find it difficult to excuse the overly-perky staff for the store policy they have to follow.

I have to agree to this. Because I'm in retail myself, I try to be patient with approaching sales assistants, but the folks in Lush are nothing short of creepy. Like really overenthusiastic cultists or something. *shudder*

Freiheit

I worked in Dunnes, Tk Maxx and Next myself so am not unsympathetic to Sales Assistants. I used to hate the fitting room policy in Tk Maxx where the pockets of every garment going in and out of the fitting room had to be checked and I stress -the pockets!- most customers hated it and it drove my conscience mad.... there was never time to give customers the attention that I wrote of in my original post...but I was always on tap....not on top

Faith

I've worked in retail where we *had* to approach every customer that came in. We were bollocked out of it if we didn't. We were also given out to if you didn't try to get the customer to buy at least two products. If you approached someone, and they wanted help with X, you'd have to say "Y goes fantastically with X. In fact, we recommend you use X, Y and Z together for best results. Shall I bring them up to the till for you?". It was horrible. I quit very quickly.

That being said, I had a similar job in the States and customers loved it.

Spanish Eyes

I don't have a problem with staff approaching me in a shop. I usually say " I'm just having a look" or something like that. These folk are just doing their job, and doing what they are told to do at end of the day.

I smile though, because often I would need to find out something like if they have the dress in a different size, and can never find anyone to ask! Anyway, even if I did find someone, the usual answer is " if it's not on the rack, sorry, we don't have it" they do offer to order it in though, not great if you need it tomorrow! So what is the point of all this customer service stuff??

I think if assistants must approach you, they should use something different than " can I help you with anything there etc." and say something non threatening (cos that's how most of us feel when someone asks the above), and say something like " hi, if you need any help, I am just over there, bye" !!

They are always there when you don't need em, and never there when you do!

Notorious

I'm gonna step up here (like some others have), to just say that if I don't approach you within 2 minutes of you walking into the store - I get a bollocking. I hate doing it, especially since I can generally tell who wants/needs help and I know who I should approach.

Try to remember that we all don't want to approach you or piss you off. If I didn't have to do it, I definitely wouldn't.

astrofool

I don't mind these, but for some reason, I don't like being the only one in a shop with more than a couple of assistants around (this is pretty universal in retail, busier shops get busier).

I don't really *get* the welcome person, i.e. they say hello, goodbye, stand there creepily, and that's it.

pearljamfan

Notorious wrote: »

I'm gonna step up here (like some others have), to just say that if I don't approach you within 2 minutes of you walking into the store - I get a bollocking. I hate doing it, especially since I can generally tell who wants/needs help and I know who I should approach.

Try to remember that we all don't want to approach you or piss you off. If I didn't have to do it, I definitely wouldn't.

completely agree! anyone who's is good at their job will know who needs help and who is just having a wander, im sure the managers know this, but we still get given out to if we dont do it.its their job to hand out the bollocking and our job to put up with it all!

eth0_

Irish people hate this Americanised in-your-face, over-friendly style of customer service/sales. I think we'd all prefer to be left alone to browse so long as there are staff members available to assist when we need help.

At the other end of the scale is the "my job would be much nicer if there were no customers" store, e.g. Halfords. I've shopped in a couple of Irish Halfords and the staff are so disinterested in making sales it's amazing. I was in their Drogheda shop a few weeks ago and there was literally not one member of staff in the shop, neither upstairs nor downstairs. A queue of people stood at the checkout for at least 5 minutes and no one came to serve them. One guy had the bright idea of walking through the exit door to set off the theft alarm which soon had the staff scurrying out of their hiding places.

ocokev

Freiheit wrote: »

Frequently all I want to do is look and if I want help I'll ask for it in my own time.

Anyone relate?.

Shop assistants are not mind readers, they are there to assist potential customers.
What if you were in the same shop and couldn't find what you were looking and nobody batted an eyelid.
Sound like a customer was having a bad day?

eth0_

ocokev wrote: »

Shop assistants are not mind readers, they are there to assist potential customers.
What if you were in the same shop and couldn't find what you were looking and nobody batted an eyelid.
Sound like a customer was having a bad day?

In general, if I can't find what i'm looking for in a shop, i'll find a shop assistant and ask them for help.

ocokev

eth0_ wrote: »

In general, if I can't find what i'm looking for in a shop, i'll find a shop assistant and ask them for help.

Its a chemists. Some people, and chemists are well aware are shy when comes to buying the more embassasing items.

Freiheit

All the more reason why immediate apprehension could be startling...But I wouldn't limit my feelings to 'Chemists' (which as I said earlier as far more than the technical defintion of chemists nowdays)...I general I like assitants to be on tap,not on top.

rubadub

noodler wrote: »

The amount of people who complain they were in a store for 5 whole minutes and weren't asked do they need help is quite staggering by the same token - sometimes they can't win.

jayj224 wrote: »

Working as a part time manager in retail its hard to strike the balance on this

I think it is easy enough to get a balance, they should look to see if the person is actively looking for a salesperson, trying to make, AND maintain eyecontact. If somebody strolls in and is actively and obviously not making eyecontact you can be sure they are browsing. If you ask and they say they do not need help -leave them be, if they DO want you after a few minutes they will look for you and make eyecontact. Then make a move again. It is all quite simple and most do this.

colly10 wrote: »

I hate this sort of crap, especially in small clothes shops.

+1 that is the only shops I ever had annoyance in, there were a string of shops near liffey street going up towards the ilac centre. They would not leave you alone, asking you to try on stuff etc, its a fecking t-shirt I am looking at, not a wedding dress! I used to walk out and saw plenty others leaving, you would think the manager would cop on and tell them to stop overdoing it.

ocokev wrote: »

Its a chemists. Some people, and chemists are well aware are shy when comes to buying the more embassasing items.

Pretty off topic but the last 2 times I was asked if I needed help in a chemist I asked what medicines contained particular drugs I wanted, after a blank look from them they walked off as they were clueless. Happened to another mate of mine, they even went out back to get what he presumed would be an actual pharmacist, and that person had no idea what he was talking about either.

jill_valentine

I think it is easy enough to get a balance, they should look to see if the person is actively looking for a salesperson, trying to make, AND maintain eyecontact. If somebody strolls in and is actively and obviously not making eyecontact you can be sure they are browsing. If you ask and they say they do not need help -leave them be, if they DO want you after a few minutes they will look for you and make eyecontact. Then make a move again. It is all quite simple and most do this.

This is the theory, yeah, but in practice, shops operate with the bare minimum number of staff they can to keep running. So if it's at all busy - and it might not look busy to the customer, but merchandising etc needs to be done every day whether anybody is there or not - it's not so easy to keep track of who looks like they need help and when, and whether they look like they need help now, and check again in a few minutes.

Again, we hate doing cold approaches on customers - we do it because we are required to do so by either company policy or managerial instruction.

eth0_

rubadub wrote: »

Happened to another mate of mine, they even went out back to get what he presumed would be an actual pharmacist, and that person had no idea what he was talking about either.

What exactly were you looking for? Sounds as though the pharmacist may have thought you were up to something dodgy.

complicit

If you want to browse , go to a Library .