Have you ever walked out of a store...

[Wishydoo]

where you really wanted to buy something, but the salespeople hounded you to the point that you just walked out?

That happened to me yesterday. I was in Bath and Body Works, and they must have had 5 employees working. Each one of them approached me a few times.
I have been in that store often, and am aware of the "buy 3, get one free" deal. I didn't mind being reminded of it the first 3 times, but after that....

<B>Everytime</B> I stopped "to think", I was approached, That broke my
chain of thought and concentration, lol. I told them, "thank you...I don't need help yet, I'm just thinking here."

Then I was at the register, and was checking out the cute gift boxes (because I was looking for gifts for someone else, not myself this time), and was wondering (to myself) how much stuff I could fit in there. Again, I was reminded of the sale. And when I said, "I think I have what I need, thanks", three of them chided in at once, with "Oh, come on, just one more and you get one free".

At that point, I just set my stuff down, and turned on my heels, and walked out....without making a purchase.
I think my daughter was embarrassed.

 

[Wishydoo]

BTW...I am not bashing sales people here.
This was unusual. They don't generally bother me.
They do watch me though. I don't carry a purse, and I think they suspect me of getting ready to pull a heist, lol.

 

[Princess Michelle]

It has always bothered me to go into a store where the sales people are overbearing. I love to go somewhere and be greeted and asked if I need help and I don't care if 100 different employees say it to me but it's the pushing of the sales that really bothers me. I'm a leisurely shopper, I go into a store and I want to look and take my time, not have people telling me what I should buy and how much of it. I've never walked out of a store because of it but it really does annoy me. The Bath & Body Works here is bad about it and so it the Disney Store.

 

[CarolA]

I told off a salesperson at HHGregg once. After the 4th or 5th approach, I just turned to him and said. You are the 4th salesperson to attack me in 5 minutes and I am now leaving. You may tell management that I will buy my TV someplace where I am allowed to look without this. I did buy the TV someplace else.

I used to be in retail sales. I did work on commission, so I know they were out of line. These guys were paying no attention to the store or they would have realized that they had hit me up several times already.

 

[Planogirl]

I'm another that can't stand pushy sales people and I particularly hate being followed around. You know the type that stands there and watches you intently while you're browsing? That's always enough to cause me to flee the store.

 

[Michelle]

Yes, I have absolutely done the same thing. I detest salespeople who hover over me as well, and will leave a store where they are doing that.

It's nice to have friendly service with salespeople who greet you ONCE and ask if you need help, but who then leave you be if you say no, thank you.

 

[Disney Doll]

I've done it lots of times, although I don't seem to get bothered as much now as when i was a teenager. Maybe now that I am a chubby, middle-aged woman, they figure I won't steal anything !! Anyhow, my response is usually "No thanks, I'm just looking.If I need you, I'll call you." If they continue to bother me after that, I leave.

 

[CarolA]

LOL! I once told the store security (who was trying to act like a normal shopper) that I knew she was secuirty and I was not planning to steal anything. I then opened my large shopping bag and showed it to her. She turned about 10 shades of red and tried to pretend she was not security. (Trust me she was, she blew it by coming out the employee door and going back in that door!)

 

[shep]

I've walked out of stores upon eye contact at times...lol..
But then there are times when you can't find anyone to help..

 

[eeyoreforever]

Sheps response about sometimes you cant find anyone to help reminded me of the one time I walked out of a store. I was looking for a new couch or bedroom set (I don't remember now as this has been a number of years ago). I went into a kind up uppity furniture store that I normally don't go in. You have to understand that I am not one to dress up. I had on my old jeans, a ratty looking shirt and probably old sandals or tennis shoes. I don't wear makeup and so was just rather plain and drab looking. I had the cash in my purse, but the salespeople completely ignored me and chose to hound the customers who looked like they had money to spend. I haven't gone back in there to shop since then. I take my money where you aren't judged on your looks.

 

[Wishydoo]

LOL CarolA...
When I was younger, I worked for a detective agency. Part of what I did was work as a store detective, catching shop-lifters.
I can spot 'em (store detectives), a mile away, lol.
Funny thing is...I know, often when I shop, I "look" like what the store detectives look for in shoplifters, ie: wearing baggy clothing.
I like to be comfy when I shop, and be able to slip in and out of clothes easily when I will trying them on, hehe.
I also still spot shoplifters...can't help myself.

Shep...that's true too!

 

[Wishydoo]

eeyoreforever...I've had that happen to me too!!

I must be the shopper from hell, huh?? LOLOL

 

[hercamore]

I like Bath and Body products, but I detest going ito their stores here at our mall.

They are very pushy. Sale, sale, sale,.

I think B/B has the purshiest sales people (excludign car sales) that I have ever encountered.

The clerks act so disappointed if you "just buy one" item".

herc.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I'm the opposite.

I walk out of a store when someone doesn't ask me if I would like assistance. I especially like when there are 4 sales clerks all talking to each other, while I am trying to grab the jacket on a tall display! I'm 5'2" tall, why do people put these items so high up and no-one ever asks if they can get it for you? Am I suppose to carry a rod and hook with me????

 

[Kermit]

I've walked out for both too much pushiness and because no one would help me. I'm really not that picky, but I would like for people to help me without hovering while I shop. I get ignored a lot more often. I guess since I look about 17 and have a baby with me, everyone assumes I don't have any money.

 

[UncleKyle]

If I'm approached too much I do get up and walk out. But if I can't find someone I love to go and tell a manager, when I do that I always get a deal or I walk out

 

[Wishydoo]

Originally posted by UncleKyle
.... But if I can't find someone I love to go and tell a manager, when I do that I always get a deal or I walk out

slick, Kyle, slick, hehe

 

[vald1977]

Originally posted by Laurajean1014
I'm the opposite.

I walk out of a store when someone doesn't ask me if I would like assistance. I especially like when there are 4 sales clerks all talking to each other, while I am trying to grab the jacket on a tall display! I'm 5'2" tall, why do people put these items so high up and no-one ever asks if they can get it for you? Am I suppose to carry a rod and hook with me????

This happens to me constantly too. I'm only 5' 0" so it is very rare that I am approached with the pushy sales tactics or for assistance. 99/100 times the person will make eye contact and specifically ask dh about coupons, sales, etc. It's kind of annoying at times but then again I guess it is better than being hounded.

I remember one instance of the sales people laying it on too thick. It was at Bath and Body Works as well and it was Christmas time. The store was mobbed and you could barely walk through the place. There were salespeople EVERYWHERE and they each had a different scent they wanted you to sample. They were spraying body spray and pumping lotion at you so fast you couldn't say no. My friend and I somehow find what we need after being sprayed and lotioned more than once and make our way to the long check out line. There was a salesperson going up and down the line with one of those back massagers, rolling it on people's backs. They just started doing it while they asked if you wanted them to. My tall friend had this priveledge and was pretty grossed out. Sometimes it pays to be ignored !

 

[Nancy]

I have never experienced too pushy, usually I just get ignored. I guess I'm lucky! But one really bad experience still sticks in my mind and it was over 10 years ago.

I was looking at cars while pregnant with DD#3 and had both other DD's with me. I was looking for a car for me, so my DH said to look and pick something out and he would come back later and sign any papers. The salesman almost refused to show me any cars, I had to practically beg look at the car I wanted. Then he did not want to talk to me about prices...he kept saying "well, we'll discuss all this further when you bring your husband in".....needless to say I never brought DH in, we went to the dealer about 2 blocks away that were very nice to me and answered all my questions like I wasn't some total idiot.

 

[BriarRosie]

I had a car dealer problem like Nancy's, sort of. I needed a new car immediately because a truck had totalled mine.

I had done my homework ahead of time, and I walked into the dealership where there was NOBODY to acknowledge me, let alone assist me. There was one person on the phone who completely ignored me.

I walked around the showroom for a few minutes, waiting.
Phone Guy didn't notice me and when someone else walked onto the sales floor, he seemed to be "busy".

I wondered how long I'd have to wait before getting a "hello", and finally, I just had enough. I walked out of there without looking back.

As for the first posts about being greeted TOO much, I have been on the sales end of things, as a former TDS cast member. I would greet people, but I wouldn't follow them around. I know that I hate it when I feel hounded, so I would introduce myself and let them know that I would periodically check back with them if they had any questions.

Of course, we DID hound the people we felt were shoplifters. There were a few who we all knew were caught in the act, and yet they'd come back and we'd hound them.

I prefer the method I used at TDS to be used on me.