Please Be Nice to Salespeople!

[Hollywoodhaha]

I worked at a little girl's retail store [Justice, formerly Limited Too..] and I had to approach people.

You have to make sure every person who walks in is greeted because there may be a secret shopper.

Then we have to every once in a while see how people are doing. I got annoyed because I would have just checked on someone and my manager would push me to go check again. I got tired of asking because I didn't want them to become annoyed and leave or something. Just give them space to shop!

We also had to have someone in the front of the store to make sure that noone stole something.

Oh, mall jobs..NEVER AGAIN.

 

[Grand Duke]

I'm always nice to salespeople, even commissioned sharks.

 

[Elmo9607]

Ive been in retail for 3 1/2 years and I don't approach every customer. When I'm up at the service desk, I say "Hi" from about 10 or 15 feet away. Sometimes I don't even say hi. I had a thread on here awhile ago about this...I've come to find if they look at me when they are walking in, I'll greet them. If they aren't looking at me, I don't greet them. They don't miss it.

Since I'm usually not out on the floor, I don't need to approach people to see if they are finding everything okay, ect. But when I am on the floor, I wait for them to come to me. Most people are not too shy to ask a question where I work and I think it works much better that way.

However, doing that is a HUGE loss prevention tool. Where I work, we have many small things that are worth a lot of money. It is extremely easy for someone to put something in a coat pocket and walk out the door. Once there was someone (not at the store I work at, but a different one) put over $500 in copper fittings in his coat and walk out.

Sometimes you just can't win for trying. However, I've seem to have struck a decent balance.

And I just have to chime in on a specific kiosk at the mall here...I think it was Seacret Spa or something...they had the most agressive salespeople EVER! I used to go clear to the other side of the mall and not even look over that way when I passed it, or I swear someone would have ran over and dragged me back with them!

When I'm in a store, I'm always polite to the salespeople and 99% of the time I don't need any help. I always say "I'm just looking, thanks". I say that even if 5 people approach me. Really, it takes about 2 seconds to say that. Say it 5 times and you've "wasted" 10 seconds. Is it really worth getting upset over?

 

[Diznygrl]

I don't blame the salespeople since they're just doing their job and I certainly don't act rudely toward them, but I have to say I'd like this 'rule' to be abolished. I don't like being approached all the time when I'm in a store. Seriously, if I need help, I'll ASK.

As for the scary aggressive kiosk people...don't get me started.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have to agree that customers seem so very short and snarky lately. It always happens as the holidays roll in. Customers don't want to wait in a longer line, they get upset when they think you are working to slow, or if you don't have an answer they approve of. I had a woman continue to call the store and show up to the store and yell at me after I told her we had a no hold policy. It's not my policy it is the company's policy. She told me how rude I was each and every time she called and asked if I had arms. Last black friday I was called irritating because I told the woman I was helping that I could not leave the front room. She never let me finish my sentence to let her know I was going to call to the back to have my manager help her locate her items in the back room. Customers be kind and be willing to wait a little longer than you normally would. I can honestly say we don't really have anymore people staffed than usual as it gets busier which means we just have to do more to get the job done. I might not be able to answer all of your questions, I'm only an employee who gets paid minimum wage and I'm sorry If you can't have the item off of the forum or if we don't have the size you want, but that does not give you the right to yell at me. I get upset over these things too when I shop, but I don't take it out on the person helping me. I also understand that If I'm going shopping during the holiday madness I'm going to have to wait a little longer for assistance. Just have a little holiday spirit!

If store policy is followed, I won't be rude just because I don't like it.

I won't be rude when it isn't followed either, but I will express my disdain.

Last week another customer didn't like that I extended her wait time by 60 seconds when I made a complaint. But I had been delayed 45 minutes b/c of a squatter in the pharmacy drive thru. It is not meant to be a parking spot while you wait for the pharmacy to work out the issues with your prescription. I was mortified that the customer said anything.

But had the pharmacy been functioning as it should and not allowing the person to block access to the drive through--that all could be avoided.


I expect stores to follow their policies. When I worked retail/grocery--I expect customers to not feel they were above company policies simply for breathing.

 

[MIGrandma]

Most of the time I, too, tell salespeople "I'm just looking" but I say it politely and with a smile. I don't mind at all that they ask if they can help me. They are doing their job.

I always hate to see someone be rude to a salesclerk. There is no need for it.

 

[penn19]

I try to remember that they're just doing their job. That being said, I do not like being accosted by kiosk people at the mall when I'm walking by, especially because they do not take the simple 'no thank you' for an answer.

I used to be polite to them. "No thank you". Then it just got annoying. I don't expect them to remember every customer that they have accosted, but it drove me nuts. Now I just ignore them. I walk right past and do not acknowledge them. I know it's rude....But I just don't like the kiosk people! To the salespeople in the stores I am polite. I know they have to ask.

 

[RitaE]

This time of year you really have my sympathy over your job - stress doesn't even begin to describe retail sales for the next two months.


But try to understand where your customers are coming from also.

As for the scary aggressive kiosk people...don't get me started.

That.

My husband and I were at the mall last weekend and we weren't even IN a store and we couldn't even carry on a conversation with all the salespeople interruptions.

No, we don't want to talk about a cell phone plans, no we don't want to buy Dead Sea Salt scrubs, no, we don't want a free massage, no we don't have a couple of minutes to answer a few questions. That was just out in the walkways ... you can imagine what the STORES were like.

I admit it. I finally snapped and told some kid selling some kind of RC helicopters to back off and I never do that.

We were at that mall for less than an hour and I left in an absolute foul mood over it.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I work in retail at a non-commission sales job. Over the past few days, whenever I have approached a customer who is browsing in my department, before I even say hello, they whirl around and snap " I'm just looking! Don't waste your time!" Please don't take it out on me if you have run into commisioned sharks at another store. I REALLY just want to say hello & be friendly.

Sorry to hear that!

I get upset when no one says hi - you're supposed to make people feel good that they are in your store - you want them there so you can continue to make money!!!

 

[si-am]

The kiosk people are bad-- the lotion guys in particular! The kiosks are on the first floor of most malls around here, so I always stay upstairs to avoid them.

 

[jen0610]

Exactly, some of these people are the same ones that B&M that no one is around to help them. It is like you have to have ESP to work with people anymore. Everyone gets all ticked off over the dumbest stuff. I will say it again, I could never work with the public again, I can't stand them.

Just be nice to the sales people, it really isn't that hard.

You can say that again.

I know of one lady who gets pissy with the floor people if they ask her if she needs help. But it's a travisty, if there isn't one there johnny on the spot the nano second she does need the help. You can't win with her.

If your close by, your being pushy and hovering. If she has to look for you or wait for you to finish answering another customers question, your aren't doing your job. I hated shopping with her and flat out refuse to go anymore.

 

[jenjifer]

I agree, they're just doing their jobs. I just say "I'm all set, thanks" and smile.

What I CAN'T stand, however, is when salespeople complain about customers in front of other customers. The other day at Kohl's I witnessed a customer be a little rude toward an employee. (nothing bad: just expressing his displeasure with wait time). For the rest of my time in line I heard her complaining to her colleague how she wanted to punch him in the face. Really? I don't care what you say in the breakroom, but customers are the lifeblood of your business. At least pretend you're glad to see us.

 

[bevgray]

I've worked retail (was actually used to train temporary staff for the holidays) and it is a fine balance between greeting a customer and badgering.

Good salesperson: "Good morning (with smile). Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you today." Salesperson backs off but keeps an eye on the customer in case they do have a question. Now, this means you back off, don't hover and don't reapproach. If customer leaves empty handed, try to make eye contact, smile and say "Thanks for coming in." Or at least give a smile and nod of the head if you are too far away to give the verbal thank you.

Less desireable salesperson: "Good morning (with or without a smile). Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you today." Salesperson backs off and starts discussing her latest boyfriend issues with another staff member. Customer spots something, looks around for assistance and is ignored or has to go track down the salesperson.

Unacceptable salesperson: "Good morning (with or without a smile). We have some great bargains today, let me show you what we have." Customer - "No thank you. I'm just browsing." Salesperson tags after customer who starts looking at bathrobes. "I see you are interested in bathrobes. Isn't that one to die for? The color is perfect for you." Customer - "I'm really just looking today. I'll let you know if I need assistance." Salesperson continues to follow customer. This has now turned into a salee stalking incident. Result, customer leaves store with bad temper and takes out her ire on the next poor salesperson who tries to help her. Alternative result, customer leaves store and never returns to shop there but goes strictly to the competition.

Second unacceptable salesperson: No greeting or acknowldegement of any kind for the customer, even if the customer comes up to the register.

 

[Heidict]

As a former retail worker, I am so glad I was able to get out of it. Between the idiotic management, the rude customers and the crazy hours it was enough to drive anyone insane.

All most all of the customers were great, but you always ended up getting someone who was either rude and outright mean or the ones who thought you were their servant. All it took was one of them to take a perfectly pleasant day and turn it upside down on its head.

Trust me, they do not pay retail workers enough to take the crap that gets unloaded on them by the public.



As a customer, I hate to shop. I loathe going into a mall. The kiosk people remind me of the midway at the local fair. They are yelling and grabbing at you from every side. I have given up even the semblance of politeness with them. They apparently don't understand what 'no thank you' means. I think it is secret code for "please, bug me some more, follow me and annoy me". DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH THEM!!! That just encourages them and allows them an opening. Keep your eyes forward or looking down at the ground whenever in their vicinity.

If I am in a store and am asked if I can be helped, I am always polite and say no thank or I'm just looking and even give a smile. However, if the same person comes over and asks me again and again and again the same exact question, then I will start to get annoyed and I'm sorry but it will show in my response. Some may call it loss prevention, but the paying customers calling it annoying and harassing.

 

[cepmom]

I worked retail customer service for over 5 years...and I just quit last month. I couldn't take it anymore, lol! I know it's aggravating to be asked over and over if you need help, or to ask question after question ( loyalty card, open a new cc, extended warranty??) but please know that the employees are just doing their jobs! Management puts a lot of pressure on associates to do these things and often times will be written up if they don't.

instead of snapping at a minimum wage associate, that is probably having as bad a day as you are, for simply doing their job, please complain to management or corporate if you dislike their practices!

 

[Sorsha]

I worked retail customer service for over 5 years...and I just quit last month. I couldn't take it anymore, lol! I know it's aggravating to be asked over and over if you need help, or to ask question after question ( loyalty card, open a new cc, extended warranty??) but please know that the employees are just doing their jobs! Management puts a lot of pressure on associates to do these things and often times will be written up if they don't.

instead of snapping at a minimum wage associate, that is probably having as bad a day as you are, for simply doing their job, please complain to management or corporate if you dislike their practices!

Yup - I get it - I get it because I work it!! I work at a Leading Fabric and Craft Retailer, and not only am I required by my job description to greet you, ask how you are doing, ask if I can help you find anything, ask what you are making, ask if you everything you need to complete that project, suggest things you might not have thought of that you MIGHT need to complete that project, but then I am required to badger you forty-eleven times to fill out the little card to sign up for the flyer you can get in the mail. And let me tell you they keep track - I have to have a certain number of flyer sign-ups for each hour that I am on the clock Or Else. I know... I am obnoxious. And I apologize.

In my area though, the worst is Target... I swear I cannot walk two feet in that store without being accosted by a Target associate.."Can I help you find anything?".. "No thanks, I am just browsing." And I swear the next one is swooping down on me before the last one is even done - the new one HAD to have heard me respond to the last one!! I told my BFF I am going to have a T-Shirt printed up just for Target shopping trips "No You Cannot Help Me I Am Just Browsing Please GO AWAY!!"

 

[golfgal]

There are some stores where I would expect a salesperson to ask if I needed help and others where I don't expect it and it throws me off if they DO ask . I don't expect to be asked if I need help finding anything at Target. A simple "hi" is just great. If I am in a fancier place, yes, I would expect someone to ask "can I help you", to which I will either say yes or just looking.

What I CAN'T stand are DRESSING ROOM PIGS!!! Is it REALLY that hard to hang up the stuff you tried on-especially this time of year when the stores are so busy and the poor sales people only have so many hands. At least put it back somewhat neatly on the hanger, even if you don't bring it out to the rack. I just don't understand how someone could try on clothing, dump it on the floor, turned inside out from trying it on, etc.

 

[jrmasm]

I am rude to kiosk salespeople. If I am walking down the mall and have not looked at you or your merchandise or approached your kiosk, do not freaking speak to me!!!! I am not in your store!!

I expect to be greeted, approached etc when I'm in a store. No big deal.

But those kiosk people...

 

[npmommie]

I never expect anyone to ask if I need help in Walmart but that is just what happened back when I was looking for those window hook things, and the kid found them for me!!!
I have to admit for a second it annoyed me because he was persistent about helping me so when I told him what I wanted THEN he actually got them for me, I was impressed

I was in walmart the other day and the garden section at ours is like a christmas wonderland now, the lit trees, decor, the christmas music playing and I commented to the woman who was stocking how nice it sounded and how christmasy it felt, and she agreed and told me all the customers were being very nice, she felt like it was bringing out the best in people! LOL

 

[RitaE]

This thread really reminds me of why I buy almost everything via the internet.
I need to get my lists finalized so I can order everything next week.