Shopping Pet Peeve

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poor

Some people really dislike shopping or being in malls and I think they have good reason to be because customer service in a lot of retail shops leaves a lot to be desired. Generally, I prefer to be left alone when I browse around. I really dislike it when I approach products and the sales person glues herself to me. This happens quite often and in some places more than others. I wonder if it’s their strategy to force customers to purchase something but it has the opposite effect on me as I can’t wait to get away because I hate being stared at when I look at products. Somehow looking at the sales person doesn’t have the desired effect as they don’t get it that some customers prefer some private space.

There are sales persons who love stating the obvious like those who tell you the dresses are on 10% or 20% discount when the discount sign is big enough to be seen by anyone approaching from 10 feet away. These are the same people who tell you that you can try on the dress. Duh! Didn’t know that, thought one has to buy without trying. I know, I know, they are only doing their job but it gets on my nerves when I meet Captain Obvious.

Some time ago, I was at Isetan The Gardens where there’s a clothing retailer who also sells accessories. The sales person at this retailer loves to stand close to me whenever I approach the baskets of accessories and she just stands there frozen, rooted to the ground. Can’t she observe me from a little distance? I’ve purchased from them once but after that, I get so put off when I check out their accessories as they have to come really close to me when I look. It’s as if standing next to me and breathing down my neck will make me buy.

I don’t know if anyone else is as bothered as me when it comes to shopping. It’s fine if I need their assistance but I can’t wait to get out of the shop if a pair of eyes is on me as I browse and worse, being followed all over the shop. I’m sure they can just as easily observe my movements on their CCTV.

8 COMMENTS

  1. I know what you mean :/ Since people often mistake me for a teenager, there is always someone watching that I don’t steal anything. It has made me quite upset since I’m a regular at my local makeup store and always leave quite a bit of money there. If it weren’t my only local source for high quality makeup, I would definitely stop buying there because of their bad consumer service. I have never felt so offended in my life :/ Alas, I have no choice.

  2. I have the same dislike for that kind of service whenever I visit shops. I don’t like those assistants staring at me unless I really need assistance. I will avoid buying because I am the type that like to browse and scrutinise the products before buying. How to feel comfortable when someone is staring at me when I am reading the labels of the products?? True, I would immediately get out of the shop the moment I realise that shop assistants like that or still do not get the idea after I said ‘ I will ask you if I have something to ask’.

  3. Same here! I never like the sale girls to follow me like my shadow as if I’m going to steal! I like to have my own space and browse through the products on my own and to have some discussion with my family and friends. It’s very very uncomfortable for me to exchange ideas with my shopping partners when the sale girls are watching me like an eagle. They’re chasing their potential customers away!

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