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!!"

And I see the Body Shop's already been mentioned!

I’ve worked in a shop for 13 years and I can honestly say it pisses me off aswell, especially if as soon as you walk through the door they ask you if you need help, I usually just say I’m not sure just walked through the door.
I personally give customers time, maybe 2/3 minutes but that also depends on thier facial expressions if they are trying to look at something high or looking for a certain size. Otherwise I usually make myself available so if someone does need to ask a question I can help them.

YABU. Surely a polite ‘I’m fine thanks’ when they ask isn’t too taxing? For those too socially awkward to cope with this? Internet shopping might be best for you. The rest of us actually enjoy an element of customer service from sales staff when we are out spending our hard earned cash. I’d be more upset to be ignored by sales assistants.

Iamyourequal -- have you read the thread? The majority of those responding would disagree!

Some people have mentioned waiters asking them about their food during the meal - when I worked in a bar we were trained to approach customers within 5 mins of them being given their meal, and to ask them if they're enjoying it. This was so that we could quickly replace the meal/change it/help the customer if they were dissatisfied as quickly as possible, and prevent cases where customer would finish the entire meal and then ask for a refund... I think if the waiter doesn't pounce mid-forkful it's actually a good strategy.

Also, in terms of shop assistants greeting customers I don't so much mind a "hello" and a smile. But I do mind being asked what I want to buy or open-ended questions - I'm probably browsing and have no clue what I want, and I don't want any assistance

If someone came in our store and wasn't approached they would be pulled up on it by management.
Also someone who came in and wasn't actually looking at our products, could (and unfortunately often) be a potential thief checking out the staff situation.

I wish there were 2 colour baskets, one for those that like to be asked if they need help and one for those that never require assistance.
I would want the one for those that like to be asked if they need help- I love bossing people around Maybe there would be a third colour basket just for me warning staff to stay away!

YABU. Surely a polite ‘I’m fine thanks’ when they ask isn’t too taxing?

As people have said, if it was just one shop person asking you that once and then going away, it would be fine. It isn’t. In Lush recently, I was asked three questions (the most annoying being, ‘what smells do you like?) after I had said two polite ‘no, thank you’s and was then approached by two MORE shop assistants with more questions!

If each of us who hate being approached by staff in a shop asked for a member of management and said:

''i'm not complaining about your staff member, because i know they have to do it, but i am leaving the shop without purchasing anything today because i don't want to be approached every time i walk in''.

How long do we think it would take for a change to take place? I might try it next time i'm shopping and i've got the time.

I hate it too.

Lots of retail workers are saying you have to do it though. What, to every customer? I find that surprising because, tbh, it doesn't happen all that often to me. I frequently browse in Next, Debenhams, M&S, TK Maxx, House of Fraser, and I hardly ever get bothered. House of Fraser is the only one in which it happens with any sort of regularity.

And as pp mentioned, go to PC World and there's not a member of staff as far as the eye can see, and the place is the size of an aircraft hangar and, what's more, full of precisely the sort of stuff you need help with! Most places, you don't need "help"!

I was told by a sales lady years ago never to say can I help but to be more subtle & start a conversation like a chat - ie indirect ie they have that in brown -I like this style etc but hold back . She said that nothing scares customer off quicker than asking can I help?

Lush is the absolute worst for this. Their customer service is so intense that it’s just an awful experience

Prior to visiting lush, you actually have to prepare yourself for an in depth discussion with the sales staff😂 you can’t pick up/sniff anything in peace without someone coming over, evaluating the product then insisting that you have a demo. It’s a shame because lush actually have interesting products, but the staff really put me off.

I also find going into the Body Shop an uncomfortable customer experience. I love the products, the staff are nice but they pounce straight away.

@AnxiousPeg it completely depends on where you work, but yes, in the store I'm in we have to do it.

We get pulled up on it if it doesn't happen. Every time. We have a whole page of mystery shop criteria that we have to meet each time. If we are mystery shopped and get below a certain percent, we get a talking to. If we fail, it's a verbal/written warning depending on the severity.

My old boss was known to get rid of people in their probation if they didn't meet mystery shop criteria on a regular basis, because if we failed, he failed and got a bollocking as well.

I'm shocked! I went in Lush for the first time in forever yesterday and nobody approached me. I'm all honesty I probably could've done with a bit of help as I wanted some soap but it wasn't wrapped and priced yet - so I picked up the smaller one already priced. And a bath bomb and had no idea what was the best!

I probably could've been persuaded to buy more things but instead went to the till and paid and that was it. I'm disappointed now I didn't get any attention, wasn't even dressed like a scruff!

Worst one for me yesterday was The Fragrance Store, I'm too scared to go into perfume stores unless I'm actually buying. I asked for the price as my favourite was on special offer in Superdrug, they agreed to price match then when the Superdrug price didn't come up on their computers I was basically accused of lying for a discount. Great customer service!

I also used to work in retail, and as others have said, it's something we're told to do. It's to also let the customer know we've seen them in the hope that they're less likely to try to steal something.
And look at it another way, if you don't acknowledge a customer there's always a chance they will complain they've been ignored. It does happen. So it's easier to approach even though you know the customer probably just wants to look in peace and be left alone.
I never had a problem chatting to customers, but then the shop I once worked in very much about personal service/shopping, so chatting was the best way to build relationships (and sales). I also never asked 'can I help you?' That's the thing we were explicitly told not to do along with asking 'are you looking for something in particular?'

I have to admit that when I'm shopping, if I'm in a small boutique or expensive shop to buy something in particular and no-one acknowledges me with a hello or approaches me because they're all too busy talking to each other, I will leave. I think at the very least a sales assistant should welcome a customer. A hello costs nothing.

I just wish retail management would let their sales staff uses their own judgement re. approaching a customer. But they don't. They just see it as a lost opportunity to create a sale.

I have to acknowledge customers as they walk through the door

But due to the good manners my parents instill in me i say hello because its polite

I also say hello to shop assistants...

Those fucking manners again...its a curse

(And yes.... some customers do complain when they are not acknowledged)

I dont approach them

Just to make that clear

I usually just belt it out over the shop floor

(So not that polite...my mother would be so ashamed of me )

anxious

It depends on the shop i would guess

We are supposed to ask if people would like help or if they are ok

I only do it that if im bored

The Tescos near work have put the same irritating greater woman on the door to accost people as they come in and hand them a basket. The really annoying thing is that she is slow at it and is often stood right in the doorway chatting to people.

I did start sneaking in and getting my own basket (I like to speak to no one on my break as it gives my brain time to unwind) but she started hoarding the baskets so you could only access them via her.

I stopped using that Tescos. If she is on the door I go elsewhere for my lunch. Must have annoyed so many people I've not seen her in a couple of weeks.

@blueskypink some customers love it!

As a customer, i don't mind being greeted and ask if i need any help as long as they leave me alone when i say no thanks

We have to do it. It's highly irritating doing it constantly, but I try and make it natural. I usually say "hello, how are you/are you okay there/can I help with anything" depending on where in the store they are and whether they look like they need help or not.

Most of the time before I've even managed to utter "hello" the customer will bark "I'm just looking" which I actually find a bit rude and disheartening. I'm only being polite, it's my job. You can't win though, I read so many reviews of people moaning that the shop assistant never acknowledged them too. You can't please everyone.

Those of your on here who are forced to ask customers these questions...what replies do you get from people tht don’t want to be asked questions but that you find polite?