Retail workers in high end / designer shops - how do you feel?

[Cliffordthebigreddog]

Just wondered how retail workers / sales assistants feel when customers come in and spend the equivalent of their monthly mortgage payment / electric bill on one item? For example a designer bag costing £100’s / £1000’s +

Presumably pleased that they’ll earn commission (?) but also presumably shocked at the same time?

I worked in retail years ago but not when the cost of living was going through the roof!

I feel fine, thanks. I don't judge how other people spend their money, not everyone is short of money and they can spend it how they like.

I don't earn commission either. OP, would you really judge every customer by how much they spend?

People regularly spend lots in my shop. I don't even look or notice what they buy as it's just auto pilot to serve them. And I have other stuff on my mind...retail generally don't care what people buy.

@ChicCroissant no, I wouldn’t judge people at all by how much they spend, as you say it’s their money they can spend it as they like.

i just, perhaps wrongly, feel slightly guilty spending in high end type shops when it’s well known that retail workers don’t earn a great deal of money.

It's day in job so we don't judge stuff like that. I really don't care!

@Airymanning that’s good to know! Don’t know why I feel a bit guilty. Obviously it’s misplaced! 😅

Think about all the lovely VAT they are paying. What would you prefer they did with their money OP? At least if they spend it they are keeping businesses open and the shops are paying business rates on the premises.

I use to manage a high end retailer ( outdoor gear )! It was not uncommon for a customer to spend thousands on ski gear or £500 for a waterproof jacket . Absolutely no judgement from me . I never even thought of the cost and instead tried to find the best product for them . Our staff felt the same way .

I work at an expensive private dental practice (as a dental nurse not an overpaid dentist!) and yeah I wish I had as much money as some patients clearly do. But I don't, so I don't spend much time thinking about it. Comparison is the thief of joy and all that. We're getting quite quiet so anything people spends means it's a bit longer until we go bust and I have to go back to NHS nursing...

DP is the manager of a designer clothing store and he's delighted when people spend so much money as he and his team earn commission and bonus! In his company he gets commission of 1% on all takings regardless of if they hit target or not, then quarterly bonus for hitting target. May not seem much but his commission has been as high as £22k in a good year.
His team get paid well above minimum wage and earn commission on individual sales, a full timer who works hard can comfortably clear £25k a year with zero responsibility, just serving.
They want and need people spending money.

@sheener 😂that’s one solution!

@EnglishGirlApproximately thats great to hear! Thank you.

@LizziesTwin thats definitely a good way to look at it. Spending money is obviously keeping the economy going

If people who have money stop spending it because they're worried at how it will look, we are all royally fooked! I'm sure the people working in high-end shops would rather have customers 'wasting' their money than have no customers and lose their job as a result.

How ridiculous! Estate agents are still selling houses!

@rbe78 True! I need to look at why I feel guilt at spending my (hard earned!) money rather than worry about what the sales assistant may or may not be thinking 😂

@ThatGirlInACountrySong yes 100% - DH and I went to look at new cars last weekend and I didn’t feel guilty at all……only feel like that when I go in high end / designer shops. Maybe I have an ingrained guilt about buying that type of thing (bags etc)

Well I got one do not feel guilty buying any thing deemed as 'high end'

@Cliffordthebigreddog We don't have oodles of money to waste, but are more comfortable than many will be this winter - we are assuaging any guilt at spending by thinking about where we are spending. We live in a town with lots of lovely independent shops, businesses, pubs, cafes etc, so are really trying to focus on spending our money there rather than online or in big national/multinational chains.

SMEs employ something like 60% if the population, so hopefully if enough of the population do the same indpendent businesses will survive the tough winter and carry on their massive contribution to the economy.

@rbe78 I always go to independent cafes / bars and support local shops where possible for day to day shopping so I completely agree with you on that - I wouldn’t go to Costa over a local coffee shop for example.

I work in an art gallery, I don't judge people on how much or little they spend even if its a transaction that's more than my monthly take home.

It would never cross my mind to think they shouldn't be spending the money, especially as I'm usually just extremely happy on behalf of the artist if I make a really big sale for them. (artists who need to make a living too) I might feel differently if I was working for a huge company though and didn't think the products were very good.

The only basis on which I judge people is of they are unpleasant to deal with, which in my experience has little to do with money.

Obviously there are huge huge issues in this country with inequality that need to be solved from a government/societal level, I just don't dwell on it on an individual level. It's like how I disagree in principle with second home ownership, yet get on perfectly well with clients who are second home owners.

I used to work in Harvey Nichols fresh out of uni and we didn't get a commission in my department (ladies wear). I don't think I thought about it much at all how much they spent compared to how much I could afford (not a lot in the store).
I get house envy now if I have to drive my daughter to school (thanks District line). Why oh why can't I afford to live in these £5m plus homes???? I'm sure the UberEats guys thinks the same delivering to my neighbourhood (why can't I afford these £1m plus homes). It's all relative.

I work in a high end store and I do think about it! I don't get paid commission and I'm amazed at regular customers who spend £100s week in week out. Its another world to me. I can't comprehend spending £100 on toiletries ( shower gel/ soap etc) when mine would cost £5 in Boots or similar!
But at the same time I'm grateful that there are such people as otherwise our store would not make money and I wouldn't have a job! Most of our customers are very nice . There's only a few who are patronising or rude but I think that probably applies to all retail/ service industry

Yes, you quickly get used to the prices of stuff in the store and it all just goes over your head in terms of how much people are paying. I certainly don't feel embarrassed or lowly in front of customers. I love chatting to people!

It's a sad fact that not everyone is happy. I know this. I have a simple enough life- I have a husband who would never be bad to me and is the best, 4 beautiful children, we own our house and we have so much fun, I live near the sea and swim most days with friends. I earn minimum wage! Yet I know I am blessed for my happiness, I know money doesn't buy happiness...it really doesn't phase me what someone is buying- I know that's just a snapshot of someone's lives, and that is all. I want people to keep spending so I can work!

I don't work in retail but I do work with luxury items (jewellery)
Today I fixed a cartier ring. I've no idea how much it cost - I didn't sell it. I don't really think about whether people should or shouldn't be buying such things - assuming they can afford it. (It's possibly easier for me to separate the person from their spending because its pretty anonymous and I don't often deal with the customer themselves)

It's obviously a complete non essential...except its essential to us who sell it/make it/fix it because its our livelihood!