Jewelry Store Mistake?

[Maleficent13]

So, last night I stopped at a jewelry store. Someone greeted me within 30 seconds of my walking through the door and asked if I needed help. I said I wanted to look around. In the minute after that, four - four - saleswomen asked me if someone had approached me yet. I responded yes to all of them.

Approximately 5 minutes later, I had found something I wanted to see. It was fairly busy, and I caught the eye of the closest salesperson and asked her to open the case. As soon as she came over and opened the case, sales associate #3 (of the 5 who approached me) came over and said to the one helping me:

"I asked her if someone was helping her and she said yes."

I looked at the item and then asked to see another one. Again, the person not helping said, "I asked her if she had someone helping her." She then turns to me and says "I would have helped you if I'd known you wanted to see something."

All three comments were made in an exasperated tone of voice. Did I commit some kind of jewelry store faux pas? I get that they work on commission, but the person who originally greeted me was with someone else. Should I have wandered the store, working my way down through the list of greeters in order?

 

[Art 1]

Don't worry about it, it's up to them to keep track of that sort of thing. I deal with one person, I call to let him know I'm coming and he sets time aside for me. Sometimes he calls me if he gets a hard to get piece in.We go into a room to look at what we may want. It's good to develop a relationship with a salesperson at a jewelry store, it really makes buying jewelry a much nicer experience.

 

[sunnyday123]

I don't know, it sounds like they work on comission. It would've seriously annoyed me, though....

 

[shortbun]

She was out of line. You have the choice to have someone help you or not. I would have told her that I chose her co-worker to ask for help, quietly but pointedly.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd have said "You know what, I'll solve your problem" and then I'd have walked out so no one needed to help me.

That is one of the biggest pet peeves I have.

 

[Becky2005]

Rude on the salesperson's part that wasn't even the original one that asked.

Honestly, if anyone should be snippy due to commissions it should have been the first person who approached you, not #3 or #4.

I used to work in a jewelry department and on commission. Thankfully, we all got along. So, I'm picturing this scenerio and I can't even imagine any of the people I worked with doing this directly to the customer. It happens, you deal with it. They could have dealt with it "in the back" but to say what she said directly to you was just out of line.

About the only time we would be ticked off is if we had given the person our card with the information on what they had looked at, the person came back in WITH the card, told the other salesperson what they wanted and they didn't give us credit for it. Of course, I suppose that happened to & if we weren't working that day no way to know.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I really dislike pushy salespeople. The ONLY tolerable excuse could be if I got wind of a really difficult boss in the background, which could explain the fact so many people bugged you when you walked in, sometimes I just get a vibe about it. I don't think I would buy from such a place though because if they are that pushy I wouldn't trust them to be honest.

 

[Becky2005]

I really dislike pushy salespeople. The ONLY tolerable excuse could be if I got wind of a really difficult boss in the background, which could explain the fact so many people bugged you when you walked in, sometimes I just get a vibe about it. I don't think I would buy from such a place though because if they are that pushy I wouldn't trust them to be honest.

That could be true to....not so much when I worked in jewelry (since it was set-up in a way it could be obvious) but occassionally here we get "the big boss is coming, make sure you talk to EVERYONE" even if it's to the point of customers complaining "I had 20 different people ask me if I needed help" -- yeah, well all 20 of them didn't know someone else just asked you AND we have been told to step it up because heaven forbid you are a secret shopper and we get nailed on "didn't ask if I needed help".

If that happens, the memo gets sent around and basically the "You WILL do this or get written up" type of heavy handed stuff comes down. Even when you can see it's irritating the customer (and/or they are on the cell phone, in the middle of a conversation with their buddy or you *just* saw a co-worker ask them 2 minutes ago and they are now walking past you, you must ask them again!).

 

[focusondisney]

I'd have said "You know what, I'll solve your problem" and then I'd have walked out so no one needed to help me.

That is one of the biggest pet peeves I have.

Great response!

 

[bigbabyblues]

I'd have said "You know what, I'll solve your problem" and then I'd have walked out so no one needed to help me.

That is one of the biggest pet peeves I have.

This. If the original person who asked me was busy, I would have gone to the closest one who wasn't busy. I hate being bombarded as soon as I walk in the door, and it's even worse when they follow you around as you're looking.

 

[indimom]

I'd have said "You know what, I'll solve your problem" and then I'd have walked out so no one needed to help me.

That is one of the biggest pet peeves I have.

I don't know, I kind of like the thought of saying...
"Yes, I'm aware you were the third person to offer to help me and she was the fifth. I just liked her better." And then buy the most expensive thing I could find.
Wish I had the kind of money to do something like that.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

It almost sounds like the one you asked to open the case was the manager and the salesgirl didn't want her boss to think she never approached you.

 

[focusondisney]

This. If the original person who asked me was busy, I would have gone to the closest one who wasn't busy. I hate being bombarded as soon as I walk in the door, and it's even worse when they follow you around as you're looking.

I hate when they start on me as soon as I walk into a store, too. Seems like most of them do that now too. I like to browse on my own & make my own selections, in any store. Then when I check out, I always say no when I'm asked if anyone was helping me. And that is the truth. I don't feel like saying hi as I walk in or unlocking the fitting room door once (why are they locked, anyway?) qualifies as "helping me".

 

[xJenna]

I hate when they start on me as soon as I walk into a store, too. Seems like most of them do that now too. I like to browse on my own & make my own selections, in any store. Then when I check out, I always say no when I'm asked if anyone was helping me. And that is the truth. I don't feel like saying hi as I walk in or unlocking the fitting room door once (why are they locked, anyway?) qualifies as "helping me".

Well in retail (especially in larger companies) there are secret shoppers. If the secret shopped comes through when I'm working and I don't greet a guest within (I think it's) three minutes of them coming in the store I get 10-15 points deducted. I have to get at least a 90 to pass. If I fail two or so I could get fired. Believe me, the people nagging the crap out of you feel just as annoyed as the people being bugged. We understand you just want to look at stuff on your own (that's how I like to shop) but we HAVE to help you, it's our job.

 

[NMAmy]

Did I commit some kind of jewelry store faux pas? I get that they work on commission, but the person who originally greeted me was with someone else. Should I have wandered the store, working my way down through the list of greeters in order?

Maybe you could carry those numbers with you like they have at the deli so you could keep them in order.

My guess is that you approached a manager and the saleswoman was covering her behind. They'd probably been told that they need to ask every customer if they can help.

So, now the big question--did you buy something?

 

[focusondisney]

Well in retail (especially in larger companies) there are secret shoppers. If the secret shopped comes through when I'm working and I don't greet a guest within (I think it's) three minutes of them coming in the store I get 10-15 points deducted. I have to get at least a 90 to pass. If I fail two or so I could get fired. Believe me, the people nagging the crap out of you feel just as annoyed as the people being bugged. We understand you just want to look at stuff on your own (that's how I like to shop) but we HAVE to help you, it's our job.

Yes, I understand that's how stores operate these days. I was just explaining why I wouldn't feel any need / obligation to seek out the first, second or third rolleyes salesperson when I'm ready to make a purchase. I'm still just going to find the closest / most convenient clerk. And not feel guilty about it.

 

[MM27]

I experienced something similar when I went to buy my car. The first day I went to the dealer, I was really just looking around. I wasn't really sure what I wanted and I had spent the day at a few different dealerships. At the Jeep dealer I was approached by a guy that asked if I needed help and I said, "No, I'm just looking today."

Fast forward to the next week and I decided that I wanted to go ahead and get a Jeep. Mind you, the guy only asked if I needed help. The conversation ended there. When I arrived at the dealership, I was again looking around outside, trying to decide what color I liked, and nobody at all came out to greet me or offer assistance. I walked inside and asked the first salesman I saw if someone could help me. He sent someone out. I spent a lot of time with this guy, asking questions, negotiating, going on a test drive, etc. We went inside, did all the financial stuff and at the end, the original salesman, the one that said, "Can I help you" came over, never acknowledged me, but told the salesman that I was his customer and he wanted the commission. I learned later that the GM made them split the commission. I was so mad because the first guy did NOTHING to help me.

 

[focusondisney]

I experienced something similar when I went to buy my car. The first day I went to the dealer, I was really just looking around. I wasn't really sure what I wanted and I had spent the day at a few different dealerships. At the Jeep dealer I was approached by a guy that asked if I needed help and I said, "No, I'm just looking today."

Fast forward to the next week and I decided that I wanted to go ahead and get a Jeep. Mind you, the guy only asked if I needed help. The conversation ended there. When I arrived at the dealership, I was again looking around outside, trying to decide what color I liked, and nobody at all came out to greet me or offer assistance. I walked inside and asked the first salesman I saw if someone could help me. He sent someone out. I spent a lot of time with this guy, asking questions, negotiating, going on a test drive, etc. We went inside, did all the financial stuff and at the end, the original salesman, the one that said, "Can I help you" came over, never acknowledged me, but told the salesman that I was his customer and he wanted the commission. I learned later that the GM made them split the commission. I was so mad because the first guy did NOTHING to help me.

Wow! That's just wrong. I would have been annoyed at the comment that I was "his customer". Too bad you didn't know ahead of time so you could have tried to do something. I'd probably be so mad if that happened to me, I'd write a letter to the dealership or owner to complain. I'd want my money & the credit to go to the person who actually did the work, not an obnoxious immature co worker.

 

[Maleficent13]

It almost sounds like the one you asked to open the case was the manager and the salesgirl didn't want her boss to think she never approached you.

That hadn't occurred to me, but you may be right. None of them wore name tags to differentiate.

So, now the big question--did you buy something?

I did...a small blue topaz pendant. I read that it helps restore and maintain sanity...I don't know if that's true or not, but at this point I'll try anything to help with my crazy job. It's also really pretty.