I was out shopping this afternoon and took advantage of the fact that I was babyless to look for bras. The second I walked into Lane Bryant, the sales woman was on me. I don't mind being greeted, informed of a sale, or offered help, but this was ridiculous!
She asked me if I was looking for anything in particular, then offered me a charge card, told me everything was on sale, then told me I'd save even more with a charge card, all while I'm doing the polite, smile-and-nod-while-attempting-to-shop. This might not sound like a lot in the retelling, but when this is all occuring within three feet of the entrance, it was enough to make me turn around and run! ('Cause I was already in a good mood having to shop for bras, ya know?)
I get that she probably works on commission and has a credit card quota, but GEEZ. Greet me, let me know there's a sale, let me browse a bit and THEN ask me if I'm looking for something or need assistance. I was afraid to tell her I needed a bra - she might have felt me up right there to tell me the size I needed!
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"I never understood why blessings wore disguises. If I were a blessing, I'd run around naked." - Sophia Petrillo
Pretty much the same thing happened to me last time I went to Bath and Body Works. I told her I wanted to look at the products in a specific scent but she wouldn't leave me alone. She even tried to spray me with something she "thought I would like" based on what I was looking for. I had to put my hand up in a "stop" motion and say "no" to keep her from spraying me. Then when I was trying to just look at the products and decide which ones I wanted she kept trying to sell me stuff in other scents! It was so distracting - she would not shut up. I even specifically said "I just want to look at these, it's the only scent I really like".
I got extremely pissed off and just walked out. I went there intending on purchasing some body wash and maybe something else. They lost a sale that day and I haven't bought anything since.
What pisses me off even more is that I love that particular scent and haven't found an acceptable substitute. So I will eventually have to spend money there but likely will be online rather than a store.
Have you been to a furniture store recently? Furniture sales people are on commission too and can be relentless. At least they don't try to spray you with lemon pledge!
Oh My, I walked out of a rooms to go because the pushy sales lady would not drop trying to sell me the fabric protector package....before I'd even decided on buying the couch. She would not shut up about it even after I told her I would walk if she brought it up again.
I bought a nicer couch elsewhere for less, with the fabric protecor already on it, so it worked out.
I hate pushy sales people. Leave me the heck alone!
I walk away from pushy sales people too - there's not much that I would not go without just to avoid that experience. On the flip side - when I worked in retail, we could get 'written up' for not saying the whole sales pitch/offering alternative options/etc. Why do companies do that? Is it just that the pushiness works often enough to increase their bottom line?
And especially the 'spray people with stuff' idea - does the company really want assault charges???
I really hate pushy sales people. I tend to do my looking online first and then seek out a local place to purchase because I like to keep my money as local as possible. I will find someone if I have a question, I do not like to be put on the spot when I am just trying to browse.
Not in a store, but a pushy sales lady. Avon to be exact, and a long time ago when I was single. But this lady is the reason I will no longer deal with Avon directly.
I used to buy from Avon, got hooked on their stuff through people at work. So "my" Avon lady, was their Avon lady. I bought perfume, jewelry, gifts for other people, etc. I'd buy more if there was a sale, but not always. And sometimes I had other bills to pay, so there'd be months when I didn't buy anything.
The Avon lady called me to tell me that there was a sale catalog out, she was getting ready to send in her order, maybe there was something I wanted? She was pretty insistent and I wanted to get off the phone. So I told her that IF a certain ankle bracelet was ON SALE, I'd go ahead and get it since I'd been looking at it from one catalog to another.
She called maybe a week later to say it was in, and asked when could she drop it off. As always I asked for the total, to be sure I had it on me in cash. Well, the darn thing was not on sale, and I told her I didn't want it at the regular price. She had a FIT; it was like she didn't hear a word I'd said about wanting it only if the price was reduced. So finally I told her to come by my place the next day, around noon. It was a rare Saturday off for me and I wanted to sleep in.
Around 8 AM I heard this knock at my door, rolled over, looked at the clock and decided to ignore it because, hey, I wasn't expecting anyone. Next thing I know whoever is out there is knocking so LOUD I figured they must be trying to KICK THE DOOR in. Seriously!
So I put on a robe to go see what the hell was going on! I lived in a row of small apartments, all one floor. Nobody was at the door but then I heard my name being screamed from behind my apartment. That's when I realized who it was. The Avon lady!! My apt. was third from the end. She left off kicking my door to walk clear around to scream in my bedroom window. Geeeeezzzz Louise!!
I don't put up with crap anymore. Even if deperately in need of something and in a hurry, I'll say I'm just looking and go on my way. The trick is: don't make eye contact, but be polite! :D
I sold Avon for awhile. I wasn't very good at it lol. I spent all my profits on products and would never push anyone to buy stuff. Most of the time I wouldn't even ask, I would just put flyers out and hope for the best. I had to quit when it started costing me money.
That's what I've heard from friends who sell Tupperware and other kinds of stuff through a home business. They take their profits, too, and spend on what they're trying to sell to other people.
But you're right, she was nuts!
I don't even remember the Avon lady's name anymore, but she put me off of buying directly from almost everyone. If I have a friend who's into something - like Tupperware! - and doesn't mind including one or two pieces I'd like to get in her order, then I'll buy. I give my friend the money and get my stuff when she gets hers. I guess that lady kind of traumatized me. I was just 20yo and not yet into my grown-up personality where it was ok to stand up for myself.
And going back to your previous post, about someone trying to spray you with scent?? O.M.G.
I've walked out of stores with pushy sales people. I don't need to be harrassed. I went in, intending to make a purchase or do the necessary research to make one and don't want or need to be followed around and harangued. When I want your help, I'll find you. Until then, shoo!
Frankly my dears, I don't give a fat rat's arse if it's the store/company policy for the sales person to keep pushing. It's a bad policy and I'm sure they lose more sales than they make with policies like that. I'll not only walk out, I'll let them know why -- on the local and corporate levels.
My college roommate and I went to the Mary Kay place at the mall for makeovers. We fully intended to buy some new makeup, but probably not everything they demonstrated. I remember wanting new blush and eyeshadow, can't remember what Felicia was going for.
While the makeup lady was doing my face, she had something in her hands, then said, "you don't even need this!" and put it back down. What it was, was undereye concealing cream for dark shadows. The two of us actually bought more from her because she did that.
I don't have any personal specific sales people stories, but I really hate the body lotion, skin care, whatever mall kiosk people. They will actually step in front of you to stop you from moving to try to pitch their product.
A few years ago at Christmas DH was literally grabbed by a girl there as he walked by on his way to a bathroom - DH is a bus driver who had a run to that mall and would have a few minutes to use the bathroom, get a drink, whatever, before he had to head back out on his bus run. He kept telling her he was working and didn't have time, but she HELD on to him tight for quite a while before finally letting him go because she needed both hands - he walked away and called me.
He's not a complainer but I am! I lit up that mall's phones that day!
