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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that if you're going to keep a salesperson behind over half an hour late...

35 replies

MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 09/08/2010 18:37

...you could at least make it worth his while by buying from him?

So, a salesperson is polite and patient enough to spend half an hour of his evening, when he would normally be on his way home to his family, which you can tell he has as he wears a wedding ring and has photos of his children on his desk. He is kind and careful and generous with his time. You drag the transaction on and on and on. And then you just say 'oh, I don't think we will buy after all'! So the poor salesman has just wasted half an hour of his pitifully short evening with his family and got bloody jackshit out of it!

Please don't do this to salesmen! Far too many people do and it's not fair. If you're genuinely going to buy something, then fair enough. But if you're not, then please don't make them stay behind after the place closes.

OP posts:
midori1999 · 09/08/2010 18:40

Maybe they intended to buy it and then changed their mind at the last minute? Or maybe said salesperson made them feel obliged to listen to his 'spiel' and they feel that half an hour of their time was wasted?

MaudofallHopefulness · 09/08/2010 18:43

Just because you show interest in something doesn't mean you should buy it or feel pressured to buy.

Lots of jobs require you to stay behind after work hours. I'm afraid I do not feel sorry for salespeople or their families.

Ragwort · 09/08/2010 18:44

Surely that's what you have to expect in a sales type career? My DH is in sales and frequently has to travel overseas - works v. long hours, travels at weekends etc - no question of 'time off in lieu' and sometimes it doesn't result in any extra business. That's what sales careers are about. How is the customer supposed to know what is 'clocking off time' - few people work 9-5 these days.

sapphireblue · 09/08/2010 18:45

I expect they stayed to listen to the salesperson's inevitable load of waffle out of politeness and would have been only to happy to be off on their merry way could they have gotten a word in edgeways.

Lulumaam · 09/08/2010 18:48

how would they know he was running late?

people should not be obliged to buy sometihng, simply because they've asked loads of questions and taken up the person's time. which is their job

should they have bought the product and then returned it the enxt day or not bought it and complained htey were being hurried out of hte door so the salesman could spend the evening with his family?

so they could then tell all their friends he was rude and pushy and when they weren't interested , he could not get rid of them quick enough?

if the salesman can't take the chance of using half an hour extra to try to close a sale, maybe it's not the job for him?

Lulumaam · 09/08/2010 18:49

in this economic climate, going the extra mile is very prudent.

the customer might not have bought anything this time, but might well next time, and certainly be postiive ot their friends about it

i'd be very wary of buying off anyone who was obcioulsy clock watching

Original poster
MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 09/08/2010 18:53

DH doens't do waffle. He's teased relentlessly at work for not selling like the rest of them do - not bullying or hurrying people.

He always, always goes the extra mile - well out of his way to help people.

I doubt very much that he was obviously clock-watching - he's just not like that.

And he can take the extra half hour or hour to close a sale - he is about a million times more patient than all his colleagues, and my brother, in the same trade, is always shocked at how hard my DH works.

And of course we expect it. Doesn't make it any less shit, does it!?

OP posts:
Lulumaam · 09/08/2010 18:58

fair enough but you're basically saying people should buy from him,becuase he does all that

no-one should ever feel obligated to buy something whether that obligation comes from niceness/nastiness.

MrsC2010 · 09/08/2010 18:59

YABU

MaudofallHopefulness · 09/08/2010 19:01

We're only talking half an hour, not long is it. Commuting can delay you that long - it is fairly normal.

Original poster
MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 09/08/2010 19:01

No I'm not saying that in the slightest! I'm saying that it's not fair to keep someone behind so late Sad.

He used to find it when he was in non-commission based retail as well. And I've worked in shops and found the same.

Staff can be leavning, other shops shutting, plenty of signs saying when the shop shuts, but people just keep on hanging around. And, in the name of good customer service, sales staff stay behind late to help them.

But it's taking advantage and not fair! It happens so often!

Ok, ok, we expect it, and we're used to it. It's still shit though!

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 09/08/2010 19:02

Yeah, he commutes for 45 min too - sometimes longer if traffic is worse than normal.

Seriously, I am expected not to be unhappy that my husband works such long hours? Are forces wives happy about what their husbands do? Wives of nurses or shift workers? Business men? Anyone who works long hours and then some will find it shit at times, won't they?

OP posts:
MrsC2010 · 09/08/2010 19:03

It isn't taking advantage, it is part of the job and it happens in pretty much every field of work. It was only half an hour, that doesn't even count as late in most places, certainly didn't in every office I've ever worked in.

LadyintheRadiator · 09/08/2010 19:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

needafootmassage · 09/08/2010 19:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OrmRenewed · 09/08/2010 19:12

You're right it is shit! Sad

But people on Mn don't tend to be that sympathetic to retail workers I've noticed.

yama · 09/08/2010 19:16

YABU

Either he willingly stays behind or he leaves when his shift finishes.

greenbananas · 09/08/2010 19:21

YANBU. Customers can be very thoughtless and don't always think of the person behind the counter as a human being with a life outside of work. I've worked in retail, and really do sympathise.

Yesterday I apologised to a girl in a shop because I reached the front of the queue at 5.32pm and thought she probably wanted to go home instead of serving me. She looked ever so surprised and gave me a lovely smile.

overthehillsandfaraway · 09/08/2010 19:23

I sympathise completely. I used to manage a shoe store and it was sooooooo annoying that people thought it was their god given right to stay behind for 20/30 mins and longer if you left them trying on shoes when the store is SHUT!!! and its past 10pm at night..and then walk out without even a thank you. Used to drive me INSANE!

InWithTheITCrowd · 09/08/2010 19:27

YANBU to be a bit fed up with DH working extra hours for no visible return, but it?s not the customers fault - part of retail is the service, isn?t it? It doesn?t have to culminate in a purchase if they decide they don?t want the product. Surely it?s the same in most fields of work? I work in a school (when not on maternity leave) and am often late home because some child has forgotten his log-on, or I?ve ended up breaking up a fight etc. Goes with the turf. My DH works in the media, and while he is supposed to finish at 2pm every day, in reality it?s anything from 2pm-4pm depending upon all sorts of factors - interviewees showing up late, an unexpected news item. It?s just part of a working life, I think.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 09/08/2010 19:33

YABU - maybe they thought they would buy and then things didn't quite stack up?

DH is in business sales and frequently has 'wasted' days and hours with customers but they are part and parcel of the job.

hairytriangle · 09/08/2010 19:42

Fair enough. But I do wish sales people would take no as an answer instead of wasting my time trying to sell me additional stuff u don't want. And forcing me to
say "hounding need to do the hard sell. I don't want xyz I just wNt to insure my car"

Lulumaam · 09/08/2010 20:25

it's supposed to be DH's day off today. He's been in work for 4 hours. them's the breaks. i do sympathise, but i don't understand the ' the customers made him stay late so they have to buy something' feeling, unless it is sheer frustration which i do understand Smile

cupcakesandbunting · 09/08/2010 21:00

YABU about the customers and the expectation of them to buy but YANBU in wanting DH home. On a very PMT-y day last month, I sobbed pathetically because DH was going to be an hour late home and I just really wanted to see him :(

I work one day per week in retail (gets me out the house, you know?) and I never, ever leave on time due to selfish idiots perusing the wares at their leisure then complaining when I won't process their order because I've had to shut my till down. Tough shit, twats. It says CLOSE:5.30pm on the door, not CLOSE:5.30pm but will stay open an extra twenty minutes just for you. Because you're special.

Piss off.

compo · 09/08/2010 21:05

If your dh was unhappy about it he should have said
'well give me a ring in the morning if you want it as the office closes now '
I feel sorry for te security men , cleaners who were probably thinking why can't he close the deal so I can lock up/ clean on time and get home

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