Sales Assistants approaching customers in shops

veryangryman

Are companies really that stupid that they think people in to browse the store want to be bothered?

Nothing gets me out of a store im iffy about quicker than a "Hello my friend" from a gimp in a shirt. Even the chick in the short skirt in <insert high end clothes shop name here> doesnt fool me with her "Is there anything i can do for you" remark.

I know theyre on commission/made to do it by the company so fair enough. My question is...Do any of you actually part with more of your cash because of the "rapport" you got from the stranger with the plastic smile?

If i need to ask something, i can do it myself. I think most people are the same.

Cill Dara Abu

Maybe there just been friendly?

Crazy Horse 6

They should be shot. Nothing annoys me more when in a shop.

joshrogan

If this gets you hot and bothered you must be a veryangryman.

starbelgrade

You are indeed a very angry man!

BBDBB

yes people do spend more in shops where they are made to feel welcome and they also return for repeat business and will recommend the shop to friends and family

thats the way it is

hondasam

It's their job to make customers feel welcome. Some people like it. I would usually say I'm fine thanks but if I need your help I will ask.
It's worse to be ignored imo.

Triangla

Just doing their job in fairness.

Say you're fine and browse on.

starbelgrade

hondasam wrote: »

It's worse to be ignored imo.

.

AlmightyCushion

I find "I'm grand, if I need anything I'll ask you though" generally works quite well.

MagicMarker

OP, this is a worldwide practice, do you think companies globally would do this if it didn't work?

krudler

veryangryman wrote: »

Are companies really that stupid that they think people in to browse the store want to be bothered?

Nothing gets me out of a store im iffy about quicker than a "Hello my friend" from a gimp in a shirt. Even the chick in the short skirt in <insert high end clothes shop name here> doesnt fool me with her "Is there anything i can do for you" remark.

I know theyre on commission/made to do it by the company so fair enough. My question is...Do any of you actually part with more of your cash because of the "rapport" you got from the stranger with the plastic smile?

If i need to ask something, i can do it myself. I think most people are the same.

having worked with the public in retail for years I can tell you they arent, 90% of customers are retarded.

woodoo

It can be a problem. I was in clothes shopping recently and tried on a few pairs of jeans. I was approached by three different assistants. It made me feel paranoid so i left.

Local-womanizer

Jesus! People are never happy.

You would get a thread if someone went into a shop and nobody spoke to them!

FearDark

If I want something I'll ask.

Nothing gets me outta there faster than some creep asking "am I allright"

If I find something I like, and I cant find the size I'll ask you.

Don't fúking come near me.

hondasam

starbelgrade wrote: »

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you is so funny star.xx

ejmaztec

They're just lonely because they haven't seen a customer since 2008.

DEFTLEFTHAND

Store policy I would imagine.

kerry4sam

Some businesses ensure the staff take this approach so it mightn't always be the decision of the staff member to ask "can I help you with anything; if you need assistance with anything just ask; if you'd like anything else brought to you in the changing-room just ask etc etc..."

I usually find it helpful. You can easily tell though if it's genuine assistance or asking for the sake of asking, as in 'told' to take this approach.

You could always just say "I'm grand thanks. If I need anything I'll ask"

newmug

Local-womanizer wrote: »

Jesus! People are never happy.

You would get a thread if someone went into a shop and nobody spoke to them!

Ah in fairness, you wouldn't, Veryangryman is right, it is annoying.

ejmaztec

woodoo wrote: »

It can be a problem. I was in clothes shopping recently and tried on a few pairs of jeans. I was approached by three different assistants. It made me feel paranoid so i left.

It must have been hard to walk out wearing all of those pairs of jeans.

starbelgrade

hondasam wrote: »

you is so funny star.xx

.

krudler

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Store policy I would imagine.

this, store workers dont want to talk to the unwashed gimps that shop there as much as you dont want to talk to them, its just a job.

TheUsual

No not really.
They leave me alone.

Veryangryman, you must look like a junkie shop-lifter. Maybe lose the track-suit.

Local-womanizer

newmug wrote: »

Ah in fairness, you wouldn't, Veryangryman is right, it is annoying.

Ah now,it's not they are hounding you around the shop! Asking one simple question is perfectly acceptable. Those who take offence with it should be posting in the mental health thread I think! :pac:

ejmaztec

krudler wrote: »

this, store workers dont want to talk to the unwashed gimps that shop there as much as you dont want to talk to them, its just a job.

Maybe in a soup-kitchen, but not in Brown Thomas.:p

AnonoBoy

I prefer the ones that hide behind the counter and run away when I try to buy things.

CoolHat

veryangryman wrote: »

Are companies really that stupid that they think people in to browse the store want to be bothered?

I've worked in my fair share of retail jobs. And its always the managers fault as to why this happens, and as to why it happens too much.

I remember in one job the manager always saying "approach people!" and would often personally tell the staff to 'go over to that guy in the blue shirt there' (etc) I was often asked to go over to a guy i already asked if he needed help :pac:

But the best one was because the manager was so pushy about staff approaching you would get 3 different staff members approach the same person over a 5 min period.

ejmaztec

AnonoBoy wrote: »

I prefer the ones that hide behind the counter and run away when I try to buy things.

Yes, they're a strange bunch in Ann Somers.:(

sonic85

i dont like it but id much prefer sales people being polite and asking can they help me rather than being a complete pr*ck.

i was in a sports shop a couple of years ago ended up spending around 100 euro. went up to the counter with my purchases and while the chap behind the counter was sorting them out i tried to make small talk - asked him was the shop busy that day (there was only one other person in the store).

the twat basically told me to mind my own business and not to be commenting on things i know nothing about. havent been back there since.

R.D. aka MR.D

Listen, this is shop policy!

I work in a shop where i am forced to do this.

I hate it when people do it in shops to me but i have more sympathy now since i've been forced to talk to people in this unbelievably annoying way.

Just smile and say no thanks.

Definitely do NOT say nothing and look away. Or say in an angry tone- 'no i don't need any help'.

Unfortunately you are not important enough that i am singling you out to pester you. deal with it.

x_Ellie_x

I hate that too. Yesterday morning I was in a little boutique on Middle Abbey St and I actually walked out of the shop without buying anything even though I really wanted to buy this top. The sales assistant was really annoying. She asked me if I needed any help twice even though I made it clear I didn't need or want any help the first time. Then she stood about a foot behind me hovering over me. I hate being watched. She just made me feel so uncomfortable that I just dumped all the stuff I was holding on the nearest rail and walked out. I was the only customer in the store at the time but surely the sales assistant must have had better things to do than harass her sole customer.

Wetai

sonic85 wrote: »

the twat basically told me to mind my own business and not to be commenting on things i know nothing about. havent been back there since.

Going to another shop instead (if there's the option) and buying there would've made more of an impact, IMO. Especially if they work on commission.

hondasam

starbelgrade wrote: »

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ha ha we could play all night:p

SilverScreen

It is store policy in a lot of places to great customers and ask them if they need assistance. As a shop assistant myself I only approach customers that really look like they need assistance judging by their body-language, for example a customer that has been standing looking at a product for a while, and in a lot of cases they do need assistance or even just ask you a few queries. I certainly don't go up to every customer straight-away that comes in the door because from a customer point of view I know it's annoying. There's some certain electrical retailers in my town that I don't even go into any more because as soon as you step inside the door you are approached. It's nice to be there for the customer but not overdo it.

sonic85

LiamN wrote: »

Going to another shop instead (if there's the option) would've made more of an impact, IMO. Especially if they work on commission.

it was too late the cash was handed over at that stage. couldnt believe it. it costs nothing to be polite.

ejmaztec

hondasam wrote: »

ha ha we could play all night:p

that's just dirty.

Jimoslimos

Most large shops/chain stores employ a secret/mystery shopper to analyse staff performance. One of the key metrics is to approach and introduce yourself to browsers within a certain timeframe.

Don't be pissed off with them for being so bold as to try keep their job.

gigino

some people I know feel insulted if people do not ask can they help !

SilverScreen

Jimoslimos wrote: »

Most large shops/chain stores employ a secret/mystery shopper to analyse staff performance. One of the key metrics is to approach and introduce yourself to browsers within a certain timeframe.

Don't be pissed off with them for being so bold as to try keep their job.

One trick is to just give the customer a quick smile and a greeting. That way you make them feel welcome and you're not really bothering them, and in a lot of cases they will stop you and ask you for something or ask you a question while you're near them.

Sticky_Fingers

I don't like it myself but I understand that the poor guy/gall are just following orders. What gets me though is that like many people I just go into shops to have a qawk, approaching someone who has just stepped in the door is pretty useless since I haven't seen anything yet that I may want to inquire about.

To any store managers reading this, please give us at least 5 minutes of aimless browsing before you stick the sales assistants on us.

ejmaztec

The Christmas season is the worst, with all those extra staff coming at you from all sides, and you have to run screaming from the shop to get away from them.:(

Still, it saves you the cost of buying anything.

newmug

gigino wrote: »

some people I know feel insulted if people do not ask can they help !

Weirdos!

Overheal

veryangryman wrote: »

Are companies really that stupid that they think people in to browse the store want to be bothered?

Nothing gets me out of a store im iffy about quicker than a "Hello my friend" from a gimp in a shirt. Even the chick in the short skirt in <insert high end clothes shop name here> doesnt fool me with her "Is there anything i can do for you" remark.

I know theyre on commission/made to do it by the company so fair enough. My question is...Do any of you actually part with more of your cash because of the "rapport" you got from the stranger with the plastic smile?

If i need to ask something, i can do it myself. I think most people are the same.

I work in sales, and (*AND*) I know how you feel, because that's usually how I feel about salespeople, especially pushy salespeople.

Fact is though: a lot of sales staff aren't on commission. Or at least I am not. That could be seen as both a good and a bad thing based on how the economy is going.

Secondly, it's poor sales staff that use "can I help you?" - gosh. f*ck off. F*ck right off if you use this zombie line. Same thing with boring hello's or other robotic greetings best left for McDonalds employees. Thank you for choosing McDonalds today wouldyoulike to try an Ice Mocha. You can tell they've said it 200 other times that day. Imagine how they must feel after a month. Poor bastards. I try to be polite with them. Sympathy.

Most good sales people aren't there to 'sell' you on sh*t. Obviously we make a customer feel welcome and yes the goal is to turn a shopper into a buyer but the good associate knows if you sell someone crap it's going to end up as a return or exchange the next day. That's not what we really want. I'll happily let people do their own damn thing, but I have a job that does require me to welcome everyone and get a feel for if they need help finding a solution. If they got it pretty much figured out, I'm not there to waste their time - or more importantly: mine. I'm not going to try and force someone who is not willing to buy, into a buyer. Someone on the edge of buying something, who wants or needs something? Yeah my job is to feel you out and see if you're just holding back because of X Y Z. Most of the time it's because you don't know enough about the product or are concerned about buyers remorse. Thats where my knowledge and my store's return policy comes into play.

All I can say OP is be careful about being pissy with anyone in sales please. It's a bit like pissing off your waitress or mechanic. Eventually you'll want their input and if you're a d*ck they aren't going to want to give it to you.

I will say though it used to annoy me being greeted within a minute or two, as Im the guy that likes to get a feel for everything first, but understand that the majority of customers (and this is my personal experience) are not like you and me: they have jobs they have bills they have kids they have errands and they aren't just drifting into your store to kill time they need help and then they want to get on to the next thing. So on behalf of everyone in sales we apologize for making sure you feel welcome. And I mean seriously I don't mind just bull****ting with anybody if they are just their to browse either. I'm a people too. Having fun on the job is part of that so don't mind me if I wanna small talk or show you something we have for sale for no other reason than I happen to think its cool.

I promise I am never there to sell you something I think you won't ultimately see good value in. I don't sell 3DTVs to the blind. I don't sell Wheelchairs to athletes. I don't sell Gaming laptops to grannies.

/rant?

To any store managers reading this, please give us at least 5 minutes of aimless browsing before you stick the sales assistants on us.

Thats how I feel but theres realworld studies that have analyzed this: if customers arent greeted properly within 2 minutes of entering the store they are extremely likely to leave. This would indicate to the researcher that they are there trying to find help for something. If they don't find it or the help they need they leave. Additionally if greeted and asked to wait for appropriate help they are more inclined to stay than leave for up to an additional 15-17 minutes.

This being aside from true browsers who either don't like to ask for directions or are really just looking. I like the guys who are like "**** off just looking" then you see them go from one corner of the store - to the other - back around again - and finally they're like, "where would I find this thing?".


Oh another thing if I show you where something is, please dismiss me, unless you have some question about it. I like to be sure I'm not running off before leaving someone clueless about whatever they were looking for. Just be like "Thanks, that's all I needed". If you sit there scrawling the package I just assume you have a question about it - usually one that I could answer for you.

Tigger

If you don't greet customers they ask " do you work here" .

I say hi smile and make eye contact and feck you if that's not good enough,

bnt

If you're a sales assistant, don't you learn anything about body language? Surely you can tell if a customer needs assistance or not? If I'm focused on the product, thinking, then leave me alone. If I'm looking around for assistance, that's your cue to come forward. It's that simple.

I have particular trouble in computer or other high-tech stores, since I invariably know more about the products in question than the sales assistants. Not because I'm particularly geeky, but because the sales assistants are generally clueless about anything beyond the specifications on the box. Maybe they'd leave me alone if I looked more geeky ...

Other times, when I get sales assistants pestering me, I can't help but think that they think I'm going to steal something. Trust me, people, I can afford to pay for that pair of socks ...

Sticky_Fingers

bnt wrote: »

Other times, when I get sales assistants pestering me, I can't help but think that they think I'm going to steal something. Trust me, people, I can afford to pay for that pair of socks ...

It's not the socks their worried about, its the 3 pairs of jeans you've got stuck up you jumper that has them concerned:P

Novella

I worked in River Island for a few years and before every single shift, and I am not kidding, we were told to approach every customer, ask open ended questions so a conversation would have to ensue etc. We really did get in trouble if it was seen that we weren't greeting everyone on the shop floor, asking them what they were buying for or whatever.

On one hand, I felt absolutely awful 'cause I am the sort of shopper who likes to be left alone but on the other, I was so grateful to the people who would have a little chat with me 'cause it helped make my day go by faster!

whatdoicare

I've been on both sides here:
I've worked in a certain large costume jewellery store that required me to hand a basket to each customer and greet them with "Welcome to "insert shop name here", just to let you know blah and blah are on sale today etc etc etc" the basket had extra trinkets to buy already in them aswell. It was very pushy sales and I hated having to do it as you could see the customer backing away and getting angry BUT we had to do it as there was always the chance that the customer was a mystery shopper and we'd get in some amount of trouble if we got a bad score!

As a customer I have been hassled by assistants but I have a clever thing I always say when they approach - I cheerfully greet them and add- Ah, I'm grand, just doing a bit of wishful thinking here.
You're instantly letting the sales assistant know you have no money and are just window shopping - hassle adverted!

Wertz

It annoys me personally but I'm the type that likes not to be bothered and is either just browsing or knows what I'm looking for and usually know more about rhe product I'm after than the assistant...
Understand why it's done...most peple like being asked, and staff have to do it A) for the sale/commission or in case it's a mystery shopper.

Once staff are courteous and mannerly and not overbearing then I'm fine with that...

Saint_Mel

veryangryman wrote: »

Are companies really that stupid that they think people in to browse the store want to be bothered?

Nothing gets me out of a store im iffy about quicker than a "Hello my friend" from a gimp in a shirt...

Hahaha I had a similar rant to people the other week .... by any chance was your anger born out of a visit to a sports shop????