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!!"

It costs you nothing to say "no thank you, just browsing" or "hello/goodbye" when you leave.

That would be fine if it was one person that asks you once. It’s not. In shops like Lush, it’s multiple people asking you multiple times. That’s rude and extremely irritating.

Gosh. I didn't realise it bothered people so much. What's wrong with a cheery, 'No thanks, just having a browse'?

There was a restaurant in the USA called Mo's diner. Every time a customer walked through the door ALL the staff shouted "Welcome to Mo's" I thought it very cruel to torture staff and customers like that.

I know it's part of their job to greet you in shops etc or ask if you need help but a bit of common sense from "the high heid yins" wouldn't go amiss. It just makes the majority of people including the staff uncomfortable. I'm ok with it but I've gotten used to it from living in the USA and plus I'm 47 so I'm not nearly so self conscious anymore. In my 20s I would have blushed and wanted to leave.

I hate it too, and it makes me want to rush my browsing and get out asap. I especially loathe being asked multiple times, Jones the boot maker is very bad for this, you know you can't just pick up every shoe before you decide which are the ones you want to try.
By all means have people present and ready to help when I have decided but, please, don't harangue me out of the store.

Yes, but we're just doing our jobs. If we don't say those things we get a bollocking, swiftly followed by a disciplinary and a sacking if you repeatedly fail to talk to customers.

I really appreciate it pisses people but if you don't like it then you need to either vote with your feet or complain to head office or the owner. Being rude to the minimum wage assistant who is just doing their job isn't really fair or nice!

I hate it too OP - but I know they are meant to as I've worked in retail.

Trust me, most retail workers HATE it too.

But this is the reason why I NEVER go into the Body Shop...

Agree with above posters that it usually makes me leave the shop without buying anything. I have concentration issues and strange though it sounds if I’m aware the salesperson is stalking me I can’t focus on what I need to buy. I actively avoid those sorts of shops. Does anyone remember the days of Benetton where literally the minute you had touched a sweater the assistant would be hurriedly folding it back up again. I reckon their sales assistants probably had recurrent jumper-folding nightmares....

Ever heard of the 5:10 rule? Anytime a guests or customer is within 10 feet, a staff member should make eye contact and smile, if within 5 feet they should greet them and offer assistance. I've worked in retails, hospitality and cruise ships and this has been drilled into me for nearly 18 years, I do it as I'm walking down the street.

It’s such a dated sales technique - surely the people at the top who make sales assistants do this must know it by now, its so counterproductive! I used to have to say “Hi, would you like any help today?” Which I found excruciatingly patronising and by the look on customers faces so did they. We also had to say “have a nice day” when they left - if they had replied “fuck off” I would’ve applauded!

A brief no thank you is all that is needed. Or shop online.

I have concentration issues and strange though it sounds if I’m aware the salesperson is stalking me I can’t focus on what I need to buy

Not strange at all. It's all very well people saying it costs nothing to be polite and assistants are only doing their job. But I can't concentrate either when I know someone is hovering waiting to pounce!

I hate it when I walk in to my local petrol station and the staff say 'welcome to shell'. It's so fake and insincere. Why can't they just say hello and why can't managers of these corporations realise that customers hate it.

Just hit me though. You know what is THE WORST?

When you have people thrusting lotions and potions at you as you try to run through the shopping centre gauntlet you know the ones who jump out at you and say 'can I ask you a question?'

It MUST work on some folk or they wouldn't do it though. Little makes me walk faster (aside from a chugger with her/his arms outstretched).

Being rude to the minimum wage assistant who is just doing their job isn't really fair or nice!

I think most reasonable people would agree with this^^. It’s hardly the fault of the shop assistant is it? If I saw anyone being openly rude about this to a shop assistant I’d think they were a nasty wee bully tbh. I hate it when angry people take out their frustrations on someone who can’t really answer them back. It’s really cunty and tbh if you can’t keep a civil tongue in your head and your temper in check on a shopping trip, you have some big problems. Save it for an e-mail to management. An email is so much less aggressive and intimidating, even if it comes from an angry person. Plus it might actually go to the people who make these decisions.

Mmm....given you dislike polite human contact, you really ought to just shop online.

I find that worse than the 'Good morning,' and the 'Thank you for coming, please come again,' which are no big deal, are beauty counter assistants who spray you with perfume as soon as you are within range. I hate it. They stink like cats' pee and they make me wheeze.

dont go to america then they follow u round the shop

ive always had helpful assistants though when i need something

Goodness me, I must be alone in this - I quite like a "good morning" or offer of assistance! I'm in the happy position of being well off, but when I was a student I did restaurant and retail work. I really hated it, and so am always, always pleasant and courteous. It only takes a minute, a smile and a "no thanks!". They're only trying to do their job.

Lush is one of the worst places for this. My son loves buying bath bombs but I can’t do with the constant pestering. I don’t so much mind being greeted and asked if I need help, but just the once is enough.

I think I must be in the minority here as I hate going into a shop and being ignored. It costs nothing to say hello or good morning and show they have acknowledged a potential customer. Also if I'm asked if I need help, either yes please or a no thanks just browsing. I went into a well known baby shop in town the other day and the 4 assistants in there totally ignored my husband and I. Instantly put me off. Also I manage a charity shop and ask all my volunteers to say hello and goodbye, thank you; it's good manners and helps built a sense of community as you know you are being acknowledged (and it puts off shoplifters).

No point telling people who work in retail to complain. Nobody at management level gives a shiney shit what the minions think. You will have to write and complain. If they don’t do it and miss a mystery shopper, god help them!

As PP have pointed out its less to do with wanting to actually help you and more to do with reducing shoplifting.
Apparently if you're singled out and given a happy greeting you're less likely to feel invisible enough to make off with the stock. Its proven to work which is why shops persist with it even though shoppers don't like it.

I feel like cosmetic counters are the worst for this. I think the worst time was when I visited one in N airport duty free and the lady literally followed me around going "That's an eyeliner", "that's a concealer" as I browsed. I'm fairly makeup savvy and really just wanted her to leave me the hell alone!!

They have to do it, so I really don't get too bothered with it. I smile, say "No, I'm fine" or I ask for whatever I need.

They only place that really gets my goat is the Body Shop. I stopped going there because it's relentless.