shopping rant

[davestlouis]

My boss has an absolute fit if our shoes aren't shined, and the edges dressed...we have a corner of one office set aside for shoe shining. We also have a steamer and iron/ironing board down there.

I took my wife on a date last night, and got great service in the restaurant , and every bar we visited, so that went a lot better than the shopping excursion. Also didn't get to bed until 4:30am...

 

[Paisley]

Have you tried a consignment store? They have a good selection of near-new clothes for one-third retail price and often, the owner works there. The only time I was ever ignored was in one run by the Junior League.

 

[Smuterella]

I absolutely HATE people approaching me in shops. If I have a question I'll ask.

The worst shop I've been to for this is the Diesel store in Covent Garden. they pounce as soon as you walk in, and then I always immediately walk out.

 

[Foofoogal]

It may have to do with how old one is and what they expect. I still remember when at nice shops things were carefully wrapped in tissue and such. No way would a customer not be acknowledged when they walked into the establishment.
To me it is the same as a good waiter. When one runs across one then one knows it.
I recently had a very good saleslady at a furniture shop. When we came back after comparison shopping I specifically asked for her. They actually said she was new. Either that is why she was so attentive or she is just a born salesperson. She got my business.

One thing I also do understand though is something I saw recently that blew me away. I am not one to go to the mall much but I went into a fairly nice mall with nice chain store. In the furniture department teens were laying on the beds and sitting in the chairs like they owned the place. I am talking loitering. So possibly this is why sales people are not so cheerful. They have to put up with stuff unheard of in other eras. :eusa_doh:
I do not expect hovering at all but do expect if I ask to at least be pointed in right direction. When sales people are hired they should at least know the merchandise or layout some.

 

[Puzzicato]

The worst shop I've been to for this is the Diesel store in Covent Garden. they pounce as soon as you walk in, and then I always immediately walk out.

Have you tried Jigsaw on Long Acre? Hell.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

I remember another Lounger who avoided shops because the clerks asked him to fast.

I wouldn't go shopping either if they insisted I not eat for a day or more.

 

[Mario]

I wouldn't go shopping either if they insisted I not eat for a day or more.

lol lol lol :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

If it's a shoe shop you might end up with a severe case of foot-and-mouth disease...

 

[Harp]

The worst shop I've been to for this is the Diesel store in Covent Garden. they pounce as soon as you walk in, and then I always immediately walk out.

...stroll over to Punjab for dinner next time.

 

[Miss Molly]

Occasionally I work at a local fabric and interiors shop when it gets busy and they need an extra pair of hands. I always try to be helpful whenever a customer comes in and if they don't need help I am still friendly! It can be difficult to judge whether the customer is the type who wants to browse by themselves quietly, or the kind who wants to have chat and ask for your opinion and your help, but I try to cater to both types by asking if I can help them with anything in particular, and if they say no I just say that I'm always here if they need help and for them to feel free to ask and then I just leave them be. I can never understand it when a sales assistant is unhelpful and rude. Their whole job is based around being polite and providing good service, so you would think they would make more effort. It's not difficult to smile and ask someone if they need a bit of help! Receiving bad service is something which really bothers me, since I try so hard to give good service myself!

 

[Zemke Fan]

Two words of wisdom...

Nordstrom Rack. Lots of terrific stuff from regular Nordies at steep discounts.

 

[Edward]

I absolutely HATE people approaching me in shops. If I have a question I'll ask.

The worst shop I've been to for this is the Diesel store in Covent Garden. they pounce as soon as you walk in, and then I always immediately walk out.

Yeah, pushy sales people bug me too. Course, there was a time when getting closely followed round shops in England was the norm for me...

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Strange, I usually wish to be ignored in the store. But they will never leave me alone.

Unless I'm buying a service then I usually just want browsing solitude.

Sounds like my experience in stores. When I'm just looking they never leave me alone but if should have a question or, God forbid, I want to buy something, then they're all on their break. :rage:

 

[Tomasso]

When I'm just looking they never leave me alone but if should have a question or, God forbid, I want to buy something, then they're all on their break. :rage:

They're kinda like cops in that way............

 

[Lola Getz]

One thing I also do understand though is something I saw recently that blew me away. I am not one to go to the mall much but I went into a fairly nice mall with nice chain store. In the furniture department teens were laying on the beds and sitting in the chairs like they owned the place. I am talking loitering. So possibly this is why sales people are not so cheerful. They have to put up with stuff unheard of in other eras

Ha! I recently worked in a (non-furniture)store with a linen display on a bed on top of which was a sign: "Please do not sit on the bed." As I made my rounds, cleaning up here and there, I saw a customer sitting on the bed so I said, "I'm sorry, there's no sitting on the bed. There's a chair over here though if you'd like to rest a bit." The customer snapped, "I can sit here! There's no sign!" to which I was delighted to respond, "Actually, you're sitting on it." lol

There's a fine line I suppose. I was taught to greet a customer and offer assistance if they wanted. However, I have been snapped at more often than I'd like for just saying, "Good morning" or "How are you today?" Some people think the appropriate response is, "I'm just looking!" Calm down, I said "hello", not "How much are you going to spend today?"

 

[Beaubeau]

It's also been my experience that people have ridiculously high ideas of what I, low on the totem pole Frontend Service Clerk, can actually do.

This is my job description, verbatim: "Help customers, bag groceries and take to cars without tip, retrieve carts from parking lot, some cleaning"

What does "Help Customers" mean? It means I talk to you and bag your groceries. It means if you don't know where something is, I take you to it. It means if you forgot something at checkout, I go run and get it for you. It means if you can't reach whatever is on the top shelf, I get it down for you. It does not mean go into the back and try and figure out whatever organization scheme they got going on back there, wading in and possibly injuring myself in the process. Going in the back and actually looking through things is officially referred to as "Assisting customers", and it's not in my job description. I am not supposed to assist customers, I am supposed to get a Stock Clerk, whose job is to do that and hope they know where it is. If we don't have it, or I can't find a Stock Clerk? Sorry, we don't have it.

I am not superman. I'll do what I can for you, but I won't risk hurting myself for your sake.

 

[1961MJS]

I rarely shop for clothing in normal stores, I tend to buy everything at thrift stores, but I got a wild hair today, and went shopping. I'm in my 40s, cleanshaven, ironed white oxford, charcoal wool trousers and shined loafers, so I didn't look like a bum.
Store #1, free-standing Jos. A. Bank location...

Hi Dave

Jos. A Bank hint. If you go into a store, try on sport coats until you find you size, then sign up for online Jos. A Banks Spam. They have a catalog, but given the spam from them, I'd never use it. Buy one get 1 free, buy two get one free, buy one get two at half price, the possibilities are endless. I get a new sale email every three days minimum, more over the holidays.

Later

Mike

 

[1961MJS]

Sounds like my experience in stores. When I'm just looking they never leave me alone but if should have a question or, God forbid, I want to buy something, then they're all on their break. :rage:

Ha, I had that experience CAR BUYING on a Saturday in good weather no less.

Later

 

[Honey Bee]

There's yer problem.
I internet shop, as well. Despise stores. And crowds. And everything that goes with it. Like human interaction- I get enough of that at work.

I stick to the thrift stores

But, I too, got one of those wild hairs (must have been in the wind..) and seeing as I had to get new glasses at the mall, I strolled through...surely Macy's would be halfway decent (I mean it use to be..back when I was a kid and wheels were square!).
Hello? What happened to customer service? Since when does ringing up a sale while chatting to someone about being too lazy to make a tuna sandwich, constitute customer service? They spray the perfume of paper sticks now..no little sample vials?
See, I haven't been to a "proper" store since I was a kid...and apparently there isn't anything like a "proper" store around here anymore
But on a happy note, the Tractor Supply store special ordered my hubby his jeans, called to tell me they would be in the store in a week AND then called when they were ready for pickup!
Too bad they don't have a vintage department!!

 

[The Lonely Navigator]

BeauBeau: It's also been my experience that people have ridiculously high ideas of what I, low on the totem pole Frontend Service Clerk, can actually do.

This is my job description, verbatim: "Help customers, bag groceries and take to cars without tip, retrieve carts from parking lot, some cleaning"

What does "Help Customers" mean? It means I talk to you and bag your groceries. It means if you don't know where something is, I take you to it. It means if you forgot something at checkout, I go run and get it for you. It means if you can't reach whatever is on the top shelf, I get it down for you. It does not mean go into the back and try and figure out whatever organization scheme they got going on back there, wading in and possibly injuring myself in the process. Going in the back and actually looking through things is officially referred to as "Assisting customers", and it's not in my job description. I am not supposed to assist customers, I am supposed to get a Stock Clerk, whose job is to do that and hope they know where it is. If we don't have it, or I can't find a Stock Clerk? Sorry, we don't have it.

I am not superman. I'll do what I can for you, but I won't risk hurting myself for your sake.

Been there - done that too (yes a grocery store).

I think many people believe that being a front end clerk is an easy job...

 

[Derek Cavin]

Eye contact

Unless I am pounced up, I try to make eye contact with the clerk basically letting them know I need help. Otherwise, leave me be.