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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

I know they are only being polite. However....

44 replies

C999875 · 28/05/2013 14:36

I am being unreasonable to feel somewhat patronised when I buy myself clothes ect and the cashier says "Are you treating yourself". Does anyone feel like this or am I a strange comodety.
All thoughts and opinions welcome.
Thanks in advance for your responses. xx

OP posts:

fieldfare · 28/05/2013 14:39

They've probably been told to chat to the customers more and to make small talk.

MrsTerryPratchett · 28/05/2013 14:40

What they are really saying is, "I'm bored and hate my job but my PRP relies on making inane chat with customers. I actually don't give a monkey's".

My favorite was in a shop when I asked the salesperson if they had a certain CD, they said no, I walked to the till to buy the one I had and she said, "did you find everything you were looking for?" Ummmm, no.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 28/05/2013 14:43

Small talk - far less awkward than serving a customer in stony silence.

Dont sweat the small stuff :)

JollyOrangeGiant · 28/05/2013 14:45

Shoe salesman: Are you buying these for anything special?
Me: Yes. My old ones have holes.

I don't think he expected that response

Lottapianos · 28/05/2013 14:49

Would much prefer it to stony silence, no eye contact, no smile, just acting as if I am not there - that gives me the

HeySoulSister · 28/05/2013 14:50

My dd works in next and has to do this.... She didn't find it easy at first as she is quite shy, as some teens are. Put yourself in their position?

HeySoulSister · 28/05/2013 14:51

Also, they live in fear of 'the mystery shopper' coming in....

girlylala0807 · 28/05/2013 14:56

If shop assistants ask me if I would like anything else I always say yes...tonights winning lottery numbers :)

Original poster

C999875 · 28/05/2013 14:57

Hi Heysoulsister. No I don't mind small talk. It's just the are you treating yourself that gets me. xx

OP posts:

TheBigJessie · 28/05/2013 15:33

It's probably one of the approved "lines".

Tee2072 · 28/05/2013 15:36

This is why I love self service tills. All shops should have them. No inane chatter from the staff.

I don't want to be your friend. I want to buy something. STFU

Moominsarehippos · 28/05/2013 15:39

I usually get asked in Tescos how I am proposing to cook some unusual vegetable or other that I'm buying!

OwlinaTree · 28/05/2013 15:41

I hate it when they say 'would you like to open a store card account?' At 45% apr or some such s*? No thanks

recall · 28/05/2013 15:45

I had one in Tescos, he drove me fucking nuts in the end

"oooh ! Just the one tomato?"

"yeah"

"why just one ?"

"I only want one on my sandwich"

"why don't you buy more at once?"

"well?.cos they would go off"

"You could store them in the fridge?"

"But I don't like them cold"

"Well you could take one out a few hours before you planned to eat it ?"

I was feeling a bit stabby by this point, and really did want him to STFU

Tee2072 · 28/05/2013 15:47

Owlina that's where it's helpful being American. They assume I'm a tourist.

TheCrackFox · 28/05/2013 15:51

Do you really think shop assistants enjoy chatting to you? No, but if they don't they can get sacked.

GlitterFingers · 28/05/2013 15:54

What do people want from sales assistants? You don't want them to be rude and unhelpful but you don't want them to be happy and helpful

Tee2072 · 28/05/2013 15:56

They can be as happy as they want, but a simple 'Thank you.' is enough without the simpering, inane, obviously company required chatter.

GW297 · 28/05/2013 15:57

It's when you try on shoes and they say, 'we haven't got that one in a 6, would you like to try it in a different size? We have it in a 3 and an 8...'

TheCrackFox · 28/05/2013 15:58

I'm sure the staff would be delighted if they didn't have to make inane chatter but they have no choice.

treaclesoda · 28/05/2013 16:02

The inane chatter is a bit annoying but I feel sorry for them having to do it. They hate doing it, the customers hate them doing it, they know the customers hate them doing it, yet do it they must, because some senior manager who is too rich to shop with the plebs has decided its a good idea and people will like it. It grates a bit, and I hate the feeling that the contents of my supermarket shop, for example are under scrutiny. 'ooh, Dioarlyte and toilet roll? Got a bug in the house?' ok no one has actually said that, but I'm sure its happened to someone.

It certainly beats the arse off the old fashioned approach to retail which was for the staff to look bored and ignore you whilst discussing some sort of staff room gossip.

Snowflakepie · 28/05/2013 16:11

I work in retail. We are measured on customer satisfaction and our bonus, should we happen to sell enough to qualify, is dependent upon having a high customer rating. It sucks beyond belief. However, we are given all sorts of opening line suggestions to try and get a customer to chat and feel positive. Treats fall into the feel good category, after all who doesn't like to treat themselves! The idea being that if you associate the particular shop with a treat you will feel happy and link that to the brand, come back again and spend more!

It still sucks. I hate being asked it myself, especially if I'm not treating myself. But it's better than the sullen grunting or silence, and sometimes you do end up having a lovely chat with a customer that actually makes your crappy job seem that bit better. Why not make up a long and crazy story the next time it happens and know that your sales assistant will be that little bit happier too?

CrispyFB · 28/05/2013 16:13

I've had sales assistants ask me if particular pregnancy test brands are any good before, and another one asking if the test is for me. I get the need for small talk (I worked in Sainsburys on the tills myself part time for four years, I do understand!) but there's a line..

OwlinaTree · 28/05/2013 16:22

crispyFB maybe 2 lines on the pregnancy test

treaclesoda · 28/05/2013 16:26

Out of interest, how do they measure 'customer satisfaction?' in these situations.

Nearly every time I am in a shop like TK Maxx/Dunelm Mill/Boots these days, they hand me the receipt with the 'would you take the time to fill in a quick online survey please? You can be entered into a prize draw' then follow it with 'my name is Jill, and if you just quite my name and tick box 5 to say you are extremely satisfied' or something along those lines. Jill may indeed have been the most lovely, helpful staff member, but even so, that is hardly an objective survey to measure customer satisfaction

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