Does anyone else feel Superdrug staff are too quick to offer help?

[AllezAllezPronto]

Is this a new thing? I know it's small gripe but Superdrug used to be a shop where you could browse and not be 'bothered'. The one in my town is on the small side. I sometimes pop in just to have a browse at some ELF make up .

Every single time, within seconds, one of the young woman assts will hover over me, asking if I need help. No, I just want to be left alone.
It doesn't happen in Boots (where you can't find an asst for love nor money)

No - my branch is deserted!

I expect they have been told to approach customers. Just say 'no thank you' and get on with your browsing.

Oh give them a break, this is just a polite offer which you politely decline.

I feel like staff in retail can't win.

It's only ever the make up section, in ours there is often a member of staff loitering there semi tidying what doesn't need to be tidied or asking people if they want help, I think it's to deter shoplifters

I do - both.

I just find it a PITA as if they think I'm a potential shop lifter when I'm a very middle aged woman, who usually buys high end make up other than 1 or 2 bits from Elf.

I only go into SD to look at testers, as Boots often never have many testers- presumably they have all been stolen!

My question was is this new? I've shopped in SD for years and they have clearly changed their policy.

I do. My question was if this is new.

I just find it a PITA as if they think I'm a potential shop lifter when I'm a very middle aged woman, who usually buys high end make up other than 1 or 2 bits from Elf.

Pretty much every shop now thinks we're potential shop lifters - my local Waitrose is beginning to look like airport security.

It is only in the makeup aisle if my SD branch is typical

Everyone is a potential shoplifter and shops are dealing with increased shoplifting.

Strangers can't know your financial status and approach to crime, and being middle aged isn't relevant.

Yes, I know that. But it's rather unpleasant to think that you are being considered a shop lifter. It's also not very effective to ask someone if they need help, get a polite no-thanks then disappear.

My question was really about if this was new for superdrug.
You expect being asked if you need help if you're browsing Chanel, because that's part of the service, but not cheap end stuff.

Go to Boots instead. There are never any staff on the shop floor.

Exactly! Larger Boots are great. Mine is very small and their range of stuff is limited. But as you say you can't find an asst when you want one!

Ahh welcome to my world.
When younger with my accent anywhere away from home viewed me as dodgy in some way.
I say this tounge in cheek kinda

There's always someone 'tidying' the makeup in my local one too, they usually just ask if I'm looking for anything specific and I say just browsing thanks. I've always assumed it's to deter shoplifting.

But I was really pleasantly surprised the other day when I was after a brown tubing mascara and couldn't see one, and I got given 5 options, the assistant knew exactly what shade of brown each was, and was able to tell me the pros and cons of each. I'll definitely be saying what I'm looking for in future, it was great.

I think the staff in Superdrug, in the main, are much better trained in customer service than many other high street shops. I visit multiple branches in London. They seem friendly and switched on. I don’t really need their help, but it’s refreshing they at least notice you exist.

I've never been offered help in any Superdrug, but I only tend to linger when they've moved products around again. I have noticed my local Superdrug shops don't do self-checkout, which I presumed was down to their choice of shoplifting prevention.

I agree with others that it is a difficult balance for retail workers, and they're likely following guidance from on high.

I just find it a PITA as if they think I'm a potential shop lifter when I'm a very middle aged woman, who usually buys high end make up other than 1 or 2 bits from Elf.

While culturally we're not the typical picture of shoplifters, there are plenty of middle age women who do, most who can easily afford otherwise.

The most prolific shoplifter I've worked with was a very middle age affluent woman who would dress very nicely and go into shops with her kids and a large pushchair as part of her tactic. She targeted shops with a lot of self-checkouts or the scan as you go systems like Sainsbury's SmartShop, scan some cheap items, and dash out.

Yes it is a new policy.
Several reasons…

1. They had a lot of shoplifting.
2. Young groups of girls would gather & use the testers without any intention of buying anything, blocking the aisle & generally obstructing genuine shoppers.
3. Sometimes young children would play with the make-up.
4. A lot of the time people using items that are not testers which are not sealed, which is unfair on unsuspecting customers.

I definitely think this too! It’s off putting.