pushy marketing at the till

[YBR]

It feels like every time I go to the Post Office/WHsmiths/Costa/Upper crust/Pumpkin etc this they're not listening.

If I go to buy stamps they push insurance, if it's a tea they push food, and if it's a snack they push a hot drink. I realise that these people's bosses expect them to do this in the hope of making more sales, and consequently I say clearly and politely as I approach the till that I only want this item. I'm fed up with being ignored and having to repeat "No, I only want this."

Does anyone think a clear statement should be accepted by till staff the first time, so I don't get marketed-at?

[threepiecesuite]

Wilko and Claire's Accessories also bad for this.

Our Post Office is the worst. I went to get a passport application form. None out, so had to ask. Had to go into a booth for an 'interview' which basically involved the staff member asking when/where I was going - then heavily trying to push the Check and Send service as 'recommended', travel insurance, currency and a credit card for abroad. None of which I wanted. She wasn't happy.

[mrsjay]

superdug lady asked me if I was interested in some fake eyelashes on offer at the counter she got this face and a DO I LOOK LIKE I WEAR EYELASHES , Pushing offers and whatnot on people really annoys me and i always just say NO im fine thanks then dont engage

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

They literally HAVE to ask. You are better of letting them do it and then saying no. I agree it's fucking irritating though. It's irritating when you are the staff and you have to do something you know will irritate the customer.

[freddiefrog]

No, it drives me mad. I just want to buy my stuff and leave, not enter negotiations into whether I want a storecard/stamps/insurance/whatever. I've selected my purchases, if I wanted all these extras I'd've picked them up in the first place

Superdrug are the worst for it, they always seem determined to sell me phone credit and won't take no for an answer.

[DeepRedBetty]

A loud 'no thank you' with something rather like a death-stare normally stops the WHSmith chocolate selling in its tracks. You'd think they'd know by now though, it's not a very big shop, I go fairly often, and haven't ever, ever said 'yes' in three or four years since they started this mullarkey.

To be fair, my bank has now given up attempting to upgrade my account/get an ISA/re-mortgage. All five of the staff remember the slight meltdown when I threatened to move my overdraft elsewhere if I heard another word of spiel about such things when I'd been stuck in the queue behind a man paying in a week's worth of takings in cash and a very old lady rather confused about her savings and I could see the warden homing in on my car.

[Trills]

Someone somewhere has a spreadsheet.

They believe that the number of customers who will leave in disgust and never return is outweighed by the number who will think "oh yes I will have a biscuits/stamps/travel insurance actually, thanks".

[Tee2072]

Every time I go to the Post Office they ask me if I want to buy long distance service, as I am American.

"No." I always reply. "I don't call my American family. I hate them." Big grin. "Have a nice day!"

[mrsjay]

I can Imagine the till assistants dont like doing it either they sort of need to push the offers dont they

[VivaLeBeaver]

I was in Clarks yesterday and the manager was giving two of the staff a bollocking. Saying that they weren't doing enough till sales of stuff like leather protector, etc. It was affecting the shop's targets and she was getting grief from head office.

So yes, they do have to do it. I know they have to, but people have always been OK when I've said "no, thanks".

[strawberryswing]

Its so irritating. I had to do this when I worked in retail and till staff do get in trouble if they're caught not asking.

However once a customer says no then its a no, simple as that. Its completely rude to actually ignore the customer and carry on pushing and its different to asking once because you have to.

[RedPencils]

I try not to get too narked because they're only doing their job and would probably get in trouble if they don't ask.

Particularly annoying is costa asking if you want the giant size or whatever poncey word they use to try and trick you into buying a bucket of overpriced cold coffee.

[ElleMcFearsome]

AFAIK it's mandated by the companies and the staff are told to upsell. Same at the staff on supermarket checkouts commenting on purchases (as per a thread past). The staff don't want to do it either - it's bloody company policy. It drives me mad too, but I try to smile and be polite. Write/email/phone the customer relations part of said company and tell them you find it objectionable? Maybe then everyone will stop having to partake in it?

[ElleMcFearsome]

Massive x-posts with many

[Justforlaughs]

I work in retail and there are times when you have a massive list of questions that you HAVE to ask. "are you interesterd in this or that deal today?", "Are you collecting....?", and even worse "WHat is your postcode???!!!"" I can understand how frustrating it is for customers but believe me, it's far worse as a cashier, having to repeat the same thing over and over. I even end up saying it in my sleep!

[mrsjay]

what is the WHat is your post code thing about ? TBH although it is annoying I am never rude and the superdrug woman did laugh when i said do i look like I wear lashes, but it would be nice just to get your stuff and leave

[raisah]

Kim147 the next time they push lottery tickets say that you are a JW/Mormon/ Muslim/Christian (delete as required) & gambling is against your religion!
It works for me every time!

[MyChemicalMummy]

We have to do it or face a disciplinary. We don't like doing it, but we have to so that we keep our jobs.

[YBR]

I know till staff have to ask, and realise that local manages get grief from their head offices. I just wish the whole system would accept that when we customers state clearly that we only want this then we're not going to say yes to that.

[mrsjay]

Same at the staff on supermarket checkouts commenting on purchases (as per a thread past

DD works in a supermarket and they HAVE to ask and interact with customers , fwiw she thinks it is rude commenting on peoples shopping but they are told too,

I had a emoish looking young guy mumble ask me if I was having a nice day in Primark bless him he looked so awkward putting bras and pants in my bag

[AuraofDora]

It doesn't really work though IMHO it just causes long ques and pissed off faces ... don't them with the spreadsheets and fat pay packets who thought up the idea not have to think up a better idea instead of inflicting this kind of ridiculous retail rigmarole on the rest of us.

[treaclesoda]

what I don't understand is the 'did you get everything you were looking for today?'. I foolishly answered 'no, actually' once, thinking the cashier would tell me if they actually sold the thing I was looking for, or if it was sold out or whatever, but actually she shrugged and said 'oh', then carried on. Not much point asking then, was there?

[cardamomginger]

Hate this. Gives me the rage when then do it in my local Post Office, where the staff are always unbearably slow and the queue is inevitably out the door.

[FrenchRuby]

I know it's annoying but they get in trouble if they don't ask, I used to work at Claire's and had to ask people and hated it because no one wants the random tat by the till but my manager used to have a go at me if I didn't ask. Just say no thanks and don't get annoyed at the till person, they're only doing as they're told.

[Tabliope]

Hate this too. Especially at the bank. I want to pay a cheque in and go. Instead they scrutinise my account balance, which I find rude, then try to sell me something. I say "no, thanks" and they say "are you sure", "it won't long" etc, forcing me to repeat myself. I want to go in, pay it in and leave. I do not want to engage. If I want anything I'll either ask or in a shop have it already among the things I'm buying.