Can I help you? No thanks

trishasaffron · 13-07-2010 10:08PM #1

Is it just me or does anyone else get pestered by overly pushy retail staff?

I've stopped going into Body Shop cos as soon as I approach the products I normally buy just to check the price I am interrupted by "do you need any help?" so since she's just doing her job I say "no, fine thanks" - I turn around to look at another product and get the same thing from another assistant. Now I'm a well dressed working woman...........so its not a question of acting suspiciously. I believe these assistants have been trained to act like this - but the thing is that far from encouraging me to buy it puts me off.

I was at the top of Grafton Street today ready to go down to Body Shop - but remembering my last few trips there I turned around and dropped into Boots instead.

easyeason3 · 13-07-2010 10:11PM

They are either working off commission or they think you are a well dressed shoplifter.

Walk in talking to yourself the next time & they probably won't go near you.

Benny Lava · 13-07-2010 10:11PM

Yes. I'd much prefer if they were quiet, grumpy and unhelpful as possible.

UrbanSea · 13-07-2010 10:14PM

easyeason3 wrote: »

They are either working off commission or they think you are a well dressed shoplifter.

Walk in talking to yourself the next time & they probably won't go near you.

Eh or helping customers is just beneficial to them as it helps pass the time during a long day on the floor. If I didn't have customers to help on products and adivse them where I work (alright an electrical shop,where people would need advice) I'd crack up standing there all day.

Daisies · 13-07-2010 10:17PM

A lot of places have guidelines for approaching a browser within a certain window of time.

Waking-Dreams · 13-07-2010 10:17PM

I believe these assistants have been trained to act like this - but the thing is that far from encouraging me to buy it puts me off.

Think it's bad here? During my time in Canada many sales people often tried having a very awkward and unauthentic conversation. Just asking, "do you need help?" and then walking away wasn't their tactic. "We must engage the customer and help them buy something, even if they're just browsing."

Sales people are all drilled to act this way. Sell, sell, sell, they're told, and even though the ground staff know they can be coming across as pushy, do you think the upper management give a rat's ass? They just want the person to buy something, regardless if they need it or not.

Yet, they contradict themselves all the time. In meetings they tell staff, "we want to provide customers with a positive experience so they'll come back" AND THEN LATER "we need you to sell this product to these customers, the bottom line is make the sale".

Welcome to consumerist capitalism and all its oxymoronic personas.

Fluorescence · 13-07-2010 10:17PM

It's a bit annoying alright. I found it irritating when I used to play Warhammer, that any time I walked into the Games Workshop the staff assumed I needed help or that I was in there buying for my boyfriend or brother or whatever. Aaaagh!

The_Joker. · 13-07-2010 10:17PM

greetings wrote: »

Eh or helping customers is just beneficial to them as it helps pass the time during a long day on the floor. If I didn't have customers to help on products and adivse them where I work (alright an electrical shop,where people would need advice) I'd crack up standing there all day.

Theres nothing helpful about jumping down peoples throats with 'are you ok there' the second you step foot inside the shop, what the hell is that all about seriously ! The ****ers dont even give you time to browse

easyeason3 · 13-07-2010 10:18PM

greetings wrote: »

Eh or helping customers is just beneficial to them as it helps pass the time during a long day on the floor. If I didn't have customers to help on products and adivse them where I work (alright an electrical shop,where people would need advice) I'd crack up standing there all day.

As opposed to being asked 101 questions & not getting a sale?

I don't mind a shop assistant asking me if I want help, can be great at times when I don't know where to find things. But I don't need someone constantly asking me. That's just annoying.

When I worked in retail we were told to ask every customer if they wanted any help, which in theory sounds good but in reality it got a lot of people pissed off. Most people found it intimidating to be asked by two or three different people did they need any help.

UrbanSea · 13-07-2010 10:19PM

The_Joker. wrote: »

Theres nothing helpful about jumping down peoples throats with 'are you ok there' the second you step foot inside the shop, what the hell is that all about seriously ! The ****ers dont even give you time to browse

Well I'd tend to give them a few minutes to look before I approach them. I've seen people's awkward reactions when they're asked would they like help before they have even reached the appliances they are looking for.

Creamy Goodness · 13-07-2010 10:20PM

fluorescence wrote: »

It's a bit annoying alright. I found it irritating when I used to play Warhammer, that any time I walked into the Games Workshop the staff assumed I needed help or that I was in there buying for my boyfriend or brother or whatever. Aaaagh!

well tbh a girl (especially one that actually doesn't look like a man) in a warhammer shop sticks out like a clown at a funeral. no wonder they thought you needed help.

UrbanSea · 13-07-2010 10:20PM

easyeason3 wrote: »

As opposed to being asked 101 questions & not getting a sale?

I don't mind a shop assistant asking me if I want help, can be great at times when I don't know where to find things. But I don't need someone constantly asking me. That's just annoying.

When I worked in retail we were told to ask every customer if they wanted any help, which in theory sounds good but in reality it got a lot of people pissed off. Most people found it intimidating to be asked by two or three different people did they need any help.

Why would there be several people asking them? If we ask someone and they don't want help,we tend to let the other workers know that we've approached them so we don't have all of us going down annoying the customer

Fluorescence · 13-07-2010 10:22PM

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

well tbh a girl (especially one that actually doesn't look like a man) in a warhammer shop sticks out like a clown at a funeral. no wonder they thought you needed help.

Well... Depends who you ask

Waking-Dreams · 13-07-2010 10:22PM

fluorescence wrote: »

It's a bit annoying alright. I found it irritating when I used to play Warhammer, that any time I walked into the Games Workshop the staff assumed I needed help or that I was in there buying for my boyfriend or brother or whatever. Aaaagh!

hahah those poor souls in GW deserve a whole thread of their own.

mikemac · 13-07-2010 10:22PM

Better then being ignored by staff who stand around chatting and texting and ignoring customers

I'd prefer to be approached

trishasaffron wrote: »

Now I'm a well dressed working woman...........so its not a question of acting suspiciously.

That means absolutely nothing.
Not all women who shoplift are in tracksuits and hide stuff in their childs buggy though that's a stereotype
You're as likely to steal as anyone in the store

easyeason3 · 13-07-2010 10:23PM

greetings wrote: »

Why would there be several people asking them? If we ask someone and they don't want help,we tend to let the other workers know that we've approached them so we don't have all of us going down annoying the customer

Different people in different sections, someone back from the stock room/ break/ lunch etc.

The_Joker. · 13-07-2010 10:25PM

I think the shop assistants should wear a radio controlled electrified dog collar , and when the customer requires assistance , on each shelf/rack should be a button the customer can press to electrocute the assistant to get their attention.

UrbanSea · 13-07-2010 10:25PM

easyeason3 wrote: »

Different people in different sections, someone back from the stock room/ break/ lunch etc.

That's fair enough,there's only 4 or 5 of us so at least we don't have that problem,which I understand how annoying it would be.

owenc · 13-07-2010 10:27PM

You should be thankfull that they are helping you they are only there to help you and be kind, leave people alone. God its bad now when people moan about getting help whats it going to be like in 10 years time!

Mars Bar · 13-07-2010 10:34PM

It's the sole reason I hate Claire's Accessories. They are the preppiest people ever.

I don't mind some one saying, "If ya need a hand, gizza shout".

I hate the "Well today we have this offer when you buy this you get this. Over there, the ____ are half price. (My thought: "I know, the frickin' sign with 50% off is the size of the shop itself.") You also get this cute fluffy pen when you pay."

I DON'T WANT A FLUFFY PEN!! :mad:

trishasaffron · 13-07-2010 10:37PM

Is the art of sales not all about understanding the needs of customers? My need is not to be repeating "no thanks - I'm fine" over and over. And so I take my business to places that seem to be able to understand that if I need help I'LL ASK FOR IT.

Just sayin........

gurramok · 13-07-2010 10:44PM

I thought the Bodyshop people were grand. I've often gone in there to buy herself some bombs(bath ones that is:)) and they were always helpful!

caseyann · 13-07-2010 10:47PM

I would say better then when you go into shops and cant find staff,and then you get a moany cow who doesn't like her job and makes you feel like you are putting her out:rolleyes:

neil_18_ · 13-07-2010 10:47PM

Mystery shoppers are the problem. They're afraid that a person hired as a mystery shopper will come in and if they don't approach them they will get told off by the boss. When i worked in a mens clothes shop we were told that we had to acknowledge every single customer by at least saying hi to them.

The other day i walked into Champion Sports and i stopped at a table of t shirts. Half a second later a girl comes over saying do you need any help. FFS i didnt even get look at the t shirts yet. I don't mind if i clearly look like i'm searching for a size or something and then they ask.

Sheeps · 13-07-2010 10:49PM

Retail staff are getting a lot of sthick on AH this week.

Thomas828 · 13-07-2010 10:59PM

This practice of asking customers if they need help should be more common. It's only polite... and it deters potential shoplifters.

trishasaffron · 13-07-2010 11:03PM

Thomas828 wrote: »

This practice of asking customers if they need help should be more common. It's only polite... and it deters potential shoplifters.

How many times is reasonable?

caseyann · 13-07-2010 11:18PM

i am guilty of been annoyed about it,when i am in a bad humour.:o

Nervous Wreck · 13-07-2010 11:23PM

It takes less than one second to say "no thanks". Get over it.

Larianne · 13-07-2010 11:32PM

I used to work for a well known make-up brand and we were told we had to approach people within a certain time frame and ask did they need any help.

I myself hate getting asked "Can I help you?" but I also hate when shop assistants either ignore you or are no where to be seen. So if a customer came into the shop I used to go up to them and pretend to fix something on the shelf or look for stock and say "Hi, if you need help with anything give me a shout. I'll just be over there". It meant I was acknowledging the customer, I was offering my assistance and if needed nhey knew where to find me if they needed it. Simples really! It was going against what we had been trained to do but worked for me.

stovelid · 13-07-2010 11:50PM

owenc wrote: »

whats it going to be like in 10 years time!

2020?

Can I help you? No thanks

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