I hate being ignored in shops and worry it's due to being a middle aged mum!

[iloveshetlandponies]

Went in JD sports earlier with one of the DCs . We were looking for Uggs for me and converse for DC so I was going to be spending a good £200 or more

Stood there for ages trying to get someone's attention so we could try some on and got completely blanked and ignored by the teenage staff. It wasn't even busy in there, I'd understand it more if it was

Ended up walking out muttering to dd that perhaps we'll try John Lewis instead as you get better service in there . Which made me feel even more middle Aged

Absolutely Fuck middle age and the way it makes us completely irrelevant and invisible . It really makes me feel shit . Left the house today feeling like I looked pretty good as well. But Obvs not

I'm sorry OP that sounds shit - to be honest JD Sports is a teenagers shop though, they probably wouldn't notice anyone over 30 (as we're all ancient).

Don't let it be a measure of how you look or feel. They are quite self absorbed at that age.

Also, I've noticed a general decline in customer service these days. Staff do just ignore people or don't seem interested.

Could you not just go up to a member of staff and ask them for help? Or did you just wait for them to approach you? I’m 38, I’ve always found staff in JD pretty good tbh.

I'd have stopped someone and asked for what I wanted.

Why not just walk up to one of the staff and ask if they can get the size you wanted? Not difficult

It's not you. I've noticed I'm having to constantly find staff who are usually milling around doing nothing

How were you trying to get noticed? What were you doing?

Don't let poor customer service make you feel bad about yourself. They ignored you because short staffed, especially busy, lazy, bored, lacking confidence/initiative to offer help. Who knows, but it is a them problem. You are not irrelevant or invisible.

I think it's both.

A general decline in customer service AND being invisibly middle aged.

the young man serving me in the supermarket today didn't even look at me whilst putting the change in my hand, never mind saying thank you. I bet his parents are dead proud of him.

It can't be as bad as trying to buy trainers in Sports Direct. They are completely uninterested in the customers in their shops.

You need to get their attention at the weekends, they can be pulled in quite a few directions, restocking, helping customers, on the till, fetching shoe sizes, cleaning and sometimes security. Plus the whole world is short staffed apparently!

This.

If they are not getting a tip from you, they don't give a crap.

I went shopping with my teenage DDs for trainers. DD was quickly helped by a young staff member who could not do more for her. I was left with a sandal in my hand looking for someone to approach. I think it’s partly ageism, the young ones speak the same language. Don’t take it to heart. Also, shops just don’t have enough staff, I think. They’re all busy with their earpieces and constantly moving about.

Don't worry your not the only one I'm in my early 20's and it's like I'm begging them for help you have to give them a kind of attitude for them to even assist when your to nice they take the piss it's weird sorry you had to go through that

Why did you not just ask someone for assistance? 🤔
I am an old grandmother but manage to get served easily enough in shops, even jd sports!

I was stood there holding the shoes we wanted and trying to catch someone's eye but we were definitely being studiously ignored

Yes I guess I could have gone chasing after one of them 😬

It's just the general uninterested dismissive attitude you get in places like that
I'm 44, shouldn't give a shit should I

They ought to get paid commission, I'm sure they'd be more interested in engaging with uncool old people then

After all we are the ones with the money to spend .

I recently didn’t but £150 of makeup in Boots as the no7 counter lady was too busy on her iPad and kept ignoring me. I felt upset so left and ended up buying Mac at the airport and the lady in duty free was lovely.

Also didn’t by a Ford car as the garage kept ignoring me. Went next door to VW and bought a Tiguan cash. I’ve decided our local Ford garage is a front for something else.

Yeah I get what you mean actually...even when I was young these shops defo have a bit of an attitude

I always just march up to one of them and go 'Excuse me' I'm nice about it, but no way am I waiting for them to notice me if they aren't busy

Ohh I had similar in YSL in selfridges a couple years ago

Wanted a mascara, a brow pencil, perfume and one of their highlighter pen things .
So would have spent loads

Got absolutely blatantly ignored by the extremely young and glamourous assistant .
Walked away

Tbh that was the first time I truly understood this middle age invisible thing was real

Lol, in one thread it's we hate being middle-aged because we get ignored, and in another, it's we love being middle-aged because we get ignored.

I hear you. I went in a virtually empty foot locker. The guy saw me and nodded, and then proceeded to turn to his side and lark around with his colleague. I waited a few more minutes and walked out. I was prepared to spend around £150. I emailed them over the shocking customer service and got some feedback. But I just take my custom elsewhere. I find Schuh really good, the staff are helpful and when I returned something after a couple of weeks that had an issue they swapped them no issues.

Carry a big bag, something like an oversized duffle bag. You'll be far more visible.

Funny enough I was in Gucci recently too and bought a purse . I was not particularly dressed up or anything either I was just on a day trip in London with dd

The sales associate was genuinely lovely , attentive without being pushy and so helpful.

So maybe the key is shop in only very high end stores

But Sadly this was a very rare treat - I don't exactly frequent gucci and similar places😝