Those Hair Kiosks at the Mall!!!

[Coonhound]

We have one for iPod/iPhone cases...all kind, bejeweled to death. They are pretty aggressive. I find them annoying but I've never been personally bothered. I just cannot believe how MANY cases they sell. Feathers on them, rhinestones, etc.

We also have the child modeling agency kiosk from time to time, which makes me sad. They are ALL scams (legitimate agencies do not operate that way), and so many parents waste thousands on them because they start believing the rep's ego-boosting lies, telling them their child is so special, and then they don't want to miss out on an "amazing opportunity" for their child. And since most people don't know how the entertainment industry works, they don't know enough to know that they are being scammed until it is too late.
I think those kiosks are the worst because what they are doing, plain and simple, is preying on a parent's love for their child.

 

[Disfan1]

Deep down, I do feel bad for the prople working at those kiosks. DH & I were walking through the mall last week when I heard a Christmas carol I had been dying to hear (It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas). I stopped and said, "Oh! There it is!" when I heard it over the PA and a girl at a nearby kiosk lit up and said, "Really? Were you looking for these?" holding up whatever the kiosk was selling. I said "Um, no, not quite" and scampered away, meaning I missed hearing the rest of the song. My DH was the rest of the way through the mall, though.

 

[skater]

My DD abandoned me one day just to go the long way around these people . It is pretty awful.

On a side note, I'm a sales rep in pet stores, but this is not how we're supposed to operate. Unfortunately, people sometimes hate me just because I'm a sales rep (even when I can genuinely help them). Usually I have great customers, but once in a while, I get some of the fall out from the mall type salespeople.

 

[si-am]

In the malls around here, they are usually on the bottom level of the mall, so I avoid them by always walking in the 2nd level.

 

[GraceMonica]

I can't avoid these kiosks. The one in the mall I go to is literally in front of the disney store.

I have noticed that they do not approach me when my hair is up in a messy bun. So every time I go shopping at the Disney store, I make sure my hair is up!

Also, I don't make eye contact. At all. I wont look at them. I show no emotion when I walk by them. Nothing.

Oh and the most annoying kiosk to me is the ones who sell the remote controlled flying devices. When they do their demonstrations, im always scared that its going to malfunction and hit me. So I avoid those at all cost.

 

[spacemountainmom]

I literally hate walking by those kiosks. The worst place on earth is the Mall of America. I live close enough that I shop there every month or two and those people are vultures.

A few years ago I was out there for a quick trip. I knew what I wanted and just had enough time to pick it up and get home to meet the bus. A guy from one of those lotion places tried to engage me. I was polite and said no thank you. He tried again and I again said no thank you. He pushed a third time and I got a bit testy and told him I was not interested. He starts in on me about being rude. I am literally walking away and he's shouting after me about how rude I was. I stopped, turned around and explained to him that he was the rude one and that when I say no, I mean no. I also told him that if I wasn't in such a hurry, I would have found some kind of mall security and reported him. I left him standing there with his mouth hanging open. I doubt it even registered with the guy.

I would think the MOA would be more on top of the vultures. Let's face it MOA is a giant tourist attraction and no one really wants to be harrassed while they are there. I wonder if people just don't complain about it.

My kids are funny because they hate them too so if we are all out there the kids are the first to say, don't make eye contact, do not resond, just keep walking quickly!

 

[Marlea98]

When will those things go away?? Ugh. There is one at the local mall that has been there for years. Every time I pass by, they do all but drag me over by the arm to go sit in their chairs. I have tried the old being on the phone trick, texting, bringing a friend with me, ignoring...nothing!

I am so tired of it. I usually just tell them "No thank you" in a polite but firm voice but sometimes they practially jump out in front of you to get your attention. Of course, they're flanked on all sides by salespeople so walking on the opposite side does no good!

It baffles me that with how annoyed everyone else looks when they try to dart by that it's still around. I still see people in their chairs getting their hair done though...I have a hard time believing their products are A) really all that great and B) sold at a fair price. I saw one lady buy their speil hook, line, and sinker one day. Oh well. At least those darn Seacret Spa kiosks are gone!!!

So that's where the Seacret Spa things came from!!!! They're like a plague in the shopping centres in Australia I guess we will have to watch out for some hair kiosks sneaking in and up on us in time to come Thanks for the warning In all seriousness, the ones we have nearby are pretty good so far at taking no for an answer and don't seem to bother people Too much. I understand they have a job to do and are probably working on commission, so I think many of them try and make things easy for everyone by being nice.

 

[~Brandy~]

I literally hate walking by those kiosks. The worst place on earth is the Mall of America. I live close enough that I shop there every month or two and those people are vultures.

A few years ago I was out there for a quick trip. I knew what I wanted and just had enough time to pick it up and get home to meet the bus. A guy from one of those lotion places tried to engage me. I was polite and said no thank you. He tried again and I again said no thank you. He pushed a third time and I got a bit testy and told him I was not interested. He starts in on me about being rude. I am literally walking away and he's shouting after me about how rude I was. I stopped, turned around and explained to him that he was the rude one and that when I say no, I mean no. I also told him that if I wasn't in such a hurry, I would have found some kind of mall security and reported him. I left him standing there with his mouth hanging open. I doubt it even registered with the guy.

I would think the MOA would be more on top of the vultures. Let's face it MOA is a giant tourist attraction and no one really wants to be harrassed while they are there. I wonder if people just don't complain about it.

My kids are funny because they hate them too so if we are all out there the kids are the first to say, don't make eye contact, do not resond, just keep walking quickly!

I also live by the Mall of America and it's getting out of control... there is an area on the first floor that's jam packed with them and I dread even walking through it. How can that be good for business? I go to the mall to walk around, buy a snack, take my kids on some rides, etc., not worry about making eye contact with people that are going to start forcing their weird scalp massager on me.

 

[Mickeyrella]

I don't mind them but I don't enjoy them either. I wouldn't file a complaint though, other mall goers might find them helpful, just because I don't like it doesn't mean it has to go. I just say smile and say no thank you. No big deal, it doesn't take more than 2 seconds.

 

[kate_wdw]

Ugh. I hate walking the gauntlet of mall kiosks. It's so uncomfortable.

 

[HeatherFeather]

These are the ones that always harass me! The Dead Sea people! "Have you heard of the Dead Sea?" My strategy for the kiosks is twofold...first I walk as far away from them as possible, almost riding the wall and storefronts. Second, as someone else mentioned, do not make eye contact under any circumstances. Pretending to be texting or talking on the phone also helps confuse and disorient them so they move on to another potential victim.

I HATE the people with the lotion something about the dead sea. They are the WORST. I try to be polite...no thanks but when the same person is aggressive to you each time you pass in a short period ( like 10 min) I yelled rudely the last time NO THANK YOU and think she may have finally got it. I noticed the same company also set up on the other side of the mall here nail stuff too. The guy was talking to me and I was like what...something about my shoes and then he went in to his nail speech and told me my nails were not lady like....really that is going to make me buy

 

[Ceila]

I don't mind them but I don't enjoy them either. I wouldn't file a complaint though, other mall goers might find them helpful, just because I don't like it doesn't mean it has to go. I just say smile and say no thank you. No big deal, it doesn't take more than 2 seconds.

It sounds like you haven't had the same experience as some of us on here. It is a big deal when they see you talking with someone and interrupt your conversation. It is a big deal when they don't take your "no thanks" for an answer, follow you, and keep pestering you. It's a big deal when they try to grab your arm. Not all koisk workers are like that...I was one way back in high school and waited for customers to come to me, I never tried to solicit business from passersby and wasn't expected to by the owner of the business. But the ones who do harass people are like vultures and should be dealt with by mall management.

 

[Ceila]

If I ever have enough time, I'd love to just take up their time asking question after question about their product and then not buy a thing. I figure I'd be doing a favor for all those people who pass by me during that time. (This only applies to the ones who are rude to the people walking by. I would never do something like that to the folks who don't harass mall customers.)

 

[spacemountainmom]

I also live by the Mall of America and it's getting out of control... there is an area on the first floor that's jam packed with them and I dread even walking through it. How can that be good for business? I go to the mall to walk around, buy a snack, take my kids on some rides, etc., not worry about making eye contact with people that are going to start forcing their weird scalp massager on me.

I know exactly where you mean. It is the worst!

 

[punkin]

It sounds like you haven't had the same experience as some of us on here. It is a big deal when they see you talking with someone and interrupt your conversation. It is a big deal when they don't take your "no thanks" for an answer, follow you, and keep pestering you. It's a big deal when they try to grab your arm. Not all koisk workers are like that...I was one way back in high school and waited for customers to come to me, I never tried to solicit business from passersby and wasn't expected to by the owner of the business. But the ones who do harass people are like vultures and should be dealt with by mall management.

I don't care if they pester me. I just ignore them and continue walking and talking. There is no reason for me to even favor them with a polite "no, thank you." I act like they don't exist. None of that is a big deal to me. However, I would draw the line if one of them actually touched me. That is assault IMO and I would report him/her to mall management.

 

[Pumbaa_]

the hair ones skeeve me out. How many different heads of hair were touched with the straightener?

then the fake hair and jeweled clips nad what noe, how many dirty heads touched those

Make wide circles around both of those. Ignore the rest

 

[mrsheppo]

I went to the mall last week and was pestered several times by the kiosk people. My favorite is when they ask "Can I ask you a question?" and I tell them "You just did" and walk away. Ticks them off to no end.