To think this is ridiculous

[Sparkly212]

DS (18) works in retail at the weekends. He has had a hard time since he got This job last summer with his new manager who started a few months ago and another bitchy two faced colleague who thinks she is better than everyone else and who outshines herself to make her look the best.

Anyway, I’ll not get into that, DS has been told by his manager that as soon as a customer enters the shop, he needs to approach the customer and ask them if they’d like any help. AIBU to find this ridiculous?

I know myself that when I go to shops I don’t like the staff annoying me as soon as I come in, I’d expect them to give me a minute or two and if I’m still there and haven’t approached the staff myself, I’d have expected them to ask me if I’m okay and if I need any help.

DS’ manager has told DS that it is unacceptable to leave a customer for a minute or two when they come in as they may feel ignored and then leave. Yes nobody should ignore a customer - but is it really necessary to hassle a customer as soon as they enter? Surely that would piss them off more?

Pretty much all retailers do this now. It’s nothing to do with commission based sales.

You may think it is wrong but it is the company line and he need to toe it. Tell him you think it’s stupid but he sucks it up or moves on. It’s just like the poor woman that clearly felt mortified offering me interest free credit on on quilt cover in Argos.

Oh, just read your first thread.... I've never been approached in argos, but that doesn't mean that they don't do it, but I don't understand how you can defend your son bad mouthing and slagging off another member of staff, that's just asking for trouble

Leave your DS to deal with it himself. If he doesn't like the job he can find another one if it's anything like where we are, plenty of places needing weekend staff.

I don’t like being approached by over enthusiastic staff but a simple “let me know if you need any help” and then move away can’t irritate anyone.

It’s his job, he should just run with it in the least possible embarrassed teenager way.

When DS was 16 he had a Saturday job at H Samuel, when it was quiet he had to stand outside cleaning the windows and enticing random passes by in.

He absolutely hated it.

Yabvvvu. Your son is an adult. Let him get on with.

It depends what kind of retail role he has.
Supermarkets not so much but clothing stores, phone stores etc need staff to engage customers as part of the selling process and customer experience.

Who's to say it's not a mystery shopper?

It's retail and he's customer facing. Its what retail staff are instructed to do. Its part of the role. The decision isn't made by the manager - it is made by head office.

They have individual store targets that need to be met.

YABU....

I worked in retail years ago and we had to engage with the customer as they entered the store, even if it was a simple Good Morning!

YABU. Part of his job is approaching the customer upon entry. If he doesn’t like that, he either needs to suck it up or find another job.

None of this is your problem. Let him live his own life, you’d be doing him a massive failure. No one likes a mummy’s boy.

**favour

It's retail. You approach customers say "hi, are you just browsing or do you need any help?" Most will say I'm fine thanks, I'm just browsing or grunt at you. Then you say "ok just shout if you need me" or similar and bugger off with a smile. It takes 20 seconds and is store policy in most major stores and has been for a very long time.

They want people to feel "welcome" but it's also an anti theft measure. The fact someone has spoken to them and looked at their face can put off casual thieves as they are more likely to be recognised.

He needs to do his job or find a new one. Simple.

When I worked in retail we had to do this to, its normal practice. He needs to do what he's told

To be honest this sort of shit is why I hate employing some junior members of staff. I work in a large corporate company and the amount of entitled kids who start and tell me how the proven to work policies are stupid.

@Sparkly212 doesn’t matter whether you like it or not. Doesn’t matter whether I or anyone likes it or not, it is not an unreasonable request. He has a choice. Suck it up and get on with it or leave.

Rather colleague. Again he has a choice, find a way to get on with them, or leave

He has a long working life ahead of him where he will come across people like this. You can either help him learn how to work with people or you can carry on slating people and encouraging him to feel victimised

I was in retail for a while, and we were taught the phrase :

'Do let me know if there's anything I can help you with'

Which is useful in that you can say it to the customer pretty much immediately they get in the shop = satisfies the manager's interaction request and yet also keeps the customer happy in that it sounds like you're just letting them know you are there being helpful but will back off and leave it up to them to ask you if they want anything.

I actually find it rude when I walk in and am not acknowledged. Where I live (states) it's only ever 'hey, let me know if you need any help' then they walk off. If people find that offensive then they should just shop online.