AIBU to think that 'up selling' has got out of hand since the economic down turn

[helloclitty]

I was out at a high street restaurant today and ended up feeling worn out dodging the barrage of up selling throughout the meal.

"Would you like some sides?" "extra of this?" "something to nibble while you wait for your starter?" "more drinks?" "Oh! we don't have that wine but I can recommend this more expensive one" and so on and so forth.

It's not just restaurants, I have noticed it in shops too.

AIBU or have shops and restaurants gone overboard with the up selling since the down turn? And aren't they just going to make customers run for the hills.

Lyingwitch ah good and therein lies the problem with the shop-floor upsell; people with half an oz of sense realise that the shop assistant is less than enthusiastic about the product, or even just reciting from a script like a drone about the product for the 100th time that day. Not the best way to get folks to purchase a more expensive bank account/life insurance etc. Especially now people research every option (money-wise as well as policy benefits etc.) than they used to, due to the economys nosedive.

Am now severely tempted to print this thread off and anonymously leave it on my bosses' desk

I decline politely; I barely notice upselling when shopping, I know they're required to ask. I notice it more in chain restaurants, but we so rarely go to them (not that we're picky, we just don't live near any) that I don't have to face it too often.

It only irritates me when they don't take the initial 'no' for an answer.

I bought a birthday card for my dad with 65 on the front and the assistant asked me if I wanted some glitter confetti to go in it. How many 65 year men would like glitter confetti in their birthday card.
And what's with the massive bars of chocolate in smiths?

But no need to be arsey with them, it just a job.

Actually most of the time I don't mind it. I used to work at quite a high level in IT sales and I respect people and businesses who are actually making an effort to sell stuff to me. I just say no thank you politely. I get more annoyed if the opposite occurs - I want to spend money and no bugger seems interested in taking it.

The only time it tends to piss me off is in the Post Office - invariably because I will have queued for bloody ages because there is only one window open with the person manning it moving at a glacial pace. If they think that's going to tee me up for an opportunistic travel/life insurance purchase they can think again.

twopeas
You have the hit the nail on the head. I too am never rude because it is obvious they have been told to do it. But it does make me less inclined to shop there again.

Note to TwoPeas' boss (incase thread is printed and left on desk):

Dear Mr Money-grabber,

The UK, as you might be aware, is in reccession. Money is short everywhere. It might have been somebody's bright idea at some point, to see how much more you can push on your customers when they are already shopping with you; maybe then, not now. The money isn't available for everybody to make 'on spec' purchases of things they don't need.

To make your sales assistants responsible - on pain of losing their jobs - push these items to unwilling customers, is tremendously unfair. It could cost you dearly though, not just in the loss of repeat customers who tire of this and vote with their feet but from the claims for constructive dissmissal from your staff who are on the receiving end of abuse from these same customers.

Whatever bottom line you are trying to protect will not begin to cover the claims and once a precedent has been established, there will be nowhere to hide.

Making your shareholders happy will then be the least of your worries.

Please heed.

Thanks ever so,
A patient but exasperated shopper

I can't believe it, just went to M&S got my Barclays visa debit card out to pay, which the assistant saw, she then said "are you going to pay with your M&S card today?" I gave a look and she said "oh! we HAVE to say that to every customer even if the customer is handing over cash"

I am seriously thinking of writing to them. It is seriously missing the customer service mark. It not only feels patronising to be asked such obviously stupid questions but makes the assistant look like a moron, which clearly she wasn't.

yanbu

I had a really big one recently, but I cannot remeber where, or what they tried to upsell me.....

I think the Post Office are the worst for this (although haven't been out for dinner in a long, long time!).

When DD was teeny last year I took her to the local Post Office in a sling. The man behind the desk said "Congratulations on your baby!" I said (all proud) "Thank you!" Then he said "Have you thought about what would happen to her if you died?"

I said I was from a family of oil millions and didn't have to worry about money even though I was buying second class stamps at the time.