Shop assistants asking if I need help

[blueskypink]

I probably am just being an intolerant bitch but I wish shop assistants would just leave me alone.

If I'm standing in a shop looking around with a puzzled/confused expression THEN, by all means ask me if I need help. IF, however, I'm walking purposefully towards some merchandise, am deep in concentration studying a label or an item, or have literally just walked through the door (avoiding eye contact and keeping as far away from you as possible) could you please just leave me alone?

If I want your help I'll ask for it.

I also don't want someone saying hello as I cross a threshold and saying 'bye - thank you' when I leave 5 seconds later because I've realised very quickly it's not my sort of shop.

I presume assistants are obliged to do this? Or maybe everyone else likes this sort of attention and doesn't snarl the way I do? I'm being unreasonable aren't I? But after a day's shopping I just wanted to scream "leave me the fuck alone!!"

Someone should have kept tabs on how many customers endured the three unwanted interruptions without walking out in annoyance, Lance.
Very few, I’d guess.

The third approach in the situation described by Lance makes me cringe both as staff and as a customer. No need unless it's part of an ongoing dialogue offering help.

Another one who understands they have to do it but who absolutely loathes being bothered in shops and restaurants. Once I’ve started eating my meal and I’m chatting to my friends, why would I want you to come up, interrupt my conversation and make me speak to you, or even worse, try and speak with my mouth full.

Would you hate it if you worked in a restaurant and I asked you (politely) at the beginning of the meal not to do it? It’s amazing but I can never get anyone to bring the bill but they’re always available with the ‘everything alright here’ question. I once said no in Zizzis because the chicken tasted like chicken roll. She just looked astonished that I’d said anything and wandered off. Pointless exercise all round.

@Cutietips

The idea of the 'checkback' is so that the customer can raise any issues with the food and it can be sorted rather than waiting until the end of the meal, when you may not have enjoyed it by that point, and don't want to leave the table to find a member of staff. It can be as simple as wanting a specific sauce with the meal, or something may have gone wrong. Not everyone will attract your attention to say something and it only comes to light after the meal - too late to correct anything by then. But I do understand about having your mouth full and the intrusion and some people not liking it. Just a nod is fine! And I wouldn't hate you if when I delivered the meal you said "We're fine now, if we need anything we'll call you over" but I'd be a bit if you did that, then proceeded to complain at the end of the meal about something I could have put right, and that's happened.

Do you really think shop assistants on minimum wage really WANT to go up to every miserable, rude individual in the store and speak to them? Good God.

It's part of the job and if you don't follow the "customer service model", you get a bollocking. You could lose your job.

What a clueless thread.

What I hate is when you actually do want help and the shop assistants totally ignore you ( a certain electrical retailer is awful for this)
I’ve walked out of shops for this before now

So people should expect to feel stressed and uncomfortable so you can keep your job? People like me have to stay home and can’t even visit the shops due to these customer service models and that’s okay?

My need to be able to keep a roof over my head kind of trumps that, yes.

I think it’s a stupid situation where a group of people can’t go to places just so another group of people can remain in employment and shops deserve to go out of business if they are behaving in such a draconian manner towards their employees.

Where will you go if your store closes down I wonder?

CeridwensCottage - it's the Head Office you want to moan about, they set the policy. I was a store manager for several companies over many years. I hated having to follow these policies and make my team colleagues do the same. As the manager it was my responsibility to ensure this was happening. This is what Head Offices, in their infinite "wisdom", dictated.

People have complained and are told that this is what customers prefer and so it must continue.

So people deserve to lose their jobs (and these will be the people who don't make these policies up) deserve to lose their jobs because you might feel uncomfortable? 🙄

Exactly my point, Ceridwens. I repeat: this is what Head Office dictate the store staff must do, so what on earth do you expect us store teams to do? It's our jobs. If we all argue with H.O. or simply don't follow their instructions, we'll get the boot. So don't have a go at us for simply doing our jobs (which many of us undoubtedly hate, but have the tiny matter of mouths to feed and bills to pay.) It's not our responsibility to deliberately go around losing our jobs because people like to shine about what we are told to do.

*whine. not shine!

Hate it too, especially the "did you find everything you wanted" that gets asked at the till. If you say no, it's just a blank look back. No point to the question.

Also, as you're browsing through a rail, when they - usually Whistles - say "we have other sizes" - you already have the 8/10/12/14 out, and I'm clearly visibly well within those sizes but thanks mate.

Definitely a new thing and another reason why Modern Life is Rubbish.

Buswankeress Thanks for responding. I understand why it’s done. And I will try saying we’re fine now thanks. It must be really annoying when people complain at the end of the meal. I wonder if some of them are just trying to get a discount!

So people should expect to feel stressed and uncomfortable so you can keep your job? People like me have to stay home and can’t even visit the shops due to these customer service models and that’s okay?

Are you going to pay the wages of the people that don't do it because that's what you want and they 'just' lose their job? 'Just' end up unemployed and 'just' end up not being able to claim anything because they've made themselves unemployed effectively by not following company policy. 'Just' ends up ruining their life, that of their family and the repercussions. And that's OK?

Or would you rather have a go at the people who have a job, follow the rules as dictated to them, over something they can do absolutely nothing about, and even say they lose their livelihood over it, rather than (if you feel that strongly) complaining to the head office who can actually do something about it?

@Cutitips

Yes, I think that's sometimes the motivation. Some will even say all is fine at the check back and then complain upon payment about things. The ups and downs of dealing with the general public - you can't manage every single persons expectations.

Another tale of OTT customer service from me... at least not every retail assistant is as enthusiastic as the barista I met in a Starbucks in America who boomed, with great cheer, across the whole cafe as I walked through the door, "Good afternoon! How may I service you? "

Rather forward of him I thought.

Trying to get British people to adopt the American service model is always going to end in awkwardness.

God I hate it! I feel pressured. No I don't want help. Had it yesterday in Hollister so walked out and got something from Superdry instead as they were less intrusive. I just want to yell f...off. Well they lost a £70 sale. I always leave as I can't stand it.

I think I need a badge that says "yes I'm fine! If I want help I will ask and if you speak to me I will lose my shit and leave" I could make a fortune on Dragons Den!!!

This thread has opened my eyes. I'd assumed it was a requirement that sales assistants were told to be attentive. But I hadn't appreciated that the consequences of going off script could be being disciplined or sacked. That truly is an atrocious way to treat employees.

@blueskypink Apologies if my original post to you came across as rude. I was actually "failed on my probationary period" (sacked, obviously) from my role as Store Manager with a company that has been mentioned several times here, several years ago. This was because I didn't force my team members to "play goalkeeper" at the door. This basically meant stopping them from leaving by pointing out random offers on their way out, basically accosting them. Head Office expected me to subtract "points" for every customer that got last the so-called goalkeeper.

It was hideous, and I'm glad I 'm elsewhere now.

You sound so angry op. Lucky you that you don't have to do this kind of job. Unfortunately I do.

I have to jump though hoops for the management, and do as I'm told. I'm not paid to think.
I have to worry every time I open my mouth to a customer, that it might be a mystery shopper, and so I have to say exactly the right thing, in case I get marked down.
I think I'm good at my job, and I am very polite to the customers..I go above and beyond to give good customer service.
It's a shame that every single day, I get abuse from customers that can't see that, as a shop assistant I don't have total control over everything that happens in the multi billion £ company I work for.
You really wouldn't believe the total disregard many customers show shop assistants. It's quite disgusting.
Maybe a few shifts in retail may help to see the bigger picture op...do you fancy giving it a go??

*past, not last. Autocorrect sucks.