Shopping experiences.

[Deleted]

Do you prefer a sales person who helps you or leaves you alone?
I went shopping this week for an entire new work wardrobe and had a few different experiences. At the limited I had a few things I ordered off line that were the wrong size. The sales guy ignored me for a while then asked if I needed help I told him what i was doing and he walked away. I eventually asked for help and he have me help with attitude.
I spent nothing there and ended up returning everything I bought.

In white house black market the sales girl was super helpful without being pushy, started me a dressing room, put some items in I didnt pick out (most of which I ended up getting), and checked on me enough to be helpful but not annoying. I ended up spending about $600 there.

So maybe I prefer the rude guy to save myself $600

[natablue]

I've never had that type of experience at the Limited; the sales women are usually super helpful. They'll ask if I would like them to start a dressing room if they notice I have a couple items in my hand, and check to see I I need any different sizes when I'm trying things on. I've never had a bad experience.

Maybe the guy at your store just got up on the wrong side of the bed, or is just a jerk.

[carylee07]

I don't necessarily like them to be in my face, but an acknowledgment that I'm in the store is good. My biggest pet peeve is walking into the store, knowing employees see me but them not saying a word to me. But then they greet everyone else that comes in after me. It's awkward, I take offense to it, and I will honestly stop looking and leave.

[bethaboo]

I had one experience at Sephora that annoyed me. I don't even think I was greeted when I walked in the store. I'm pretty passive, but I wanted help deciding between two shades of TM. I stood there for a good amount of time, two tubes in my hand, while three sales people stood down the aisle from me, chatting. I finally asked one of them for help and they acted like I was imposing on them.

Usually though, I want to be greeted and then left alone. If I am actually spending money, I like a little bit of attention. Once, at a J.Crew, I asked the saleslady to help me choose a pencil skirt for an interview. She spent quite a bit of time with me and then gave me the teacher discount because, even though I didn't have a job yet, I was interviewing for a teaching position. Loved that!

[preppy]

I work in a retail shop. I always greet our customers and ask them if they need help finding anything. Some people prefer to browse and others like help picking items but it's generally easy to tell upon first greeting them. No matter what I will start a room for them if they are holding more than one item, unless they refuse of course.

The guy at the limited sounds like a jerk.

[sasky]

It depends on where and what I'm shopping for and what kind of mood I'm in. Certain stores I would expect a certain level of hands on service (Nordstrom, Sephora, MAC). And I usually need help in those stores anyway.

But in general I do like to be left alone. Shopping is my me time.

[xokell2]

Yes, I prefer a perfect mix Of helpful but not pushy.

[fashionx]

I prefer for the salesperson to be friendly, greeting me almost right away, and maybe offering up whatever their sale/special is going on. Then I like to be left alone to look, but at least if I am on a mission for something, that first contact gives me the chance to ask them, vs. them being no where to be found and I need help finding my size or a particular item. I like when they suggest complimentary items at the fitting room, as long as they do it in a non-pushy way, and the items are actually complimentary to what I brought in with me. I know they do it to hopefully increase the sale and # of items per transaction, but if they're throwing me random items, it is annoying, not helpful.

[Deleted]

I like my hand held unless I say I'm just browsing, b/c I tend to get overwhelmed and frustrated when looking for a specific item and then I leave empty handed and pissed.

[tarheels]

ALL I want from a clerk is for them to start a fitting room for me. Nothing makes me crankier than clerks standing around BSing while I have an armload of clothes. Just say hi or welcome and then leave me alone.

Most clerks are pretty fashion clueless, so that's one big reason I want to be left alone - they'll make suggestions and I'll be like, "Really?", so it works better for me just to not interact with them. I was pleasantly surprised at J.Crew a couple weeks ago when the clerk just came up to me while I was looking at a blazer and helped me put it on and discussed the various layers that could be worn under it. That was the first style-knowledgeable clerk I've run into...ever?

There are 2 ATs in town and I avoid one of them like the plague. The clerks there will follow you around the store and HOUND you for dear life. I'll drive 15 miles out of my way to go to another mall just to avoid this AT.

[kkloth]

Aug 18, 2012 11:02:41 GMT -5 sasky said:

It depends on where and what I'm shopping for and what kind of mood I'm in. Certain stores I would expect a certain level of hands on service (Nordstrom, Sephora, MAC). And I usually need help in those stores anyway.

But in general I do like to be left alone. Shopping is my me time.

This. I need my me time!!

[Deleted]

Having worked retail, there are 3 factors:

1) Your mood that day - sometimes, you're a total cranky b*tch and you're doing what you can to get through the day. That sounds like the guy at The Limited.
2) Reading the customer - you have to kind of read the customer somewhat, as some what a bunch of help and doting, have suggestions on other items to try on, etc. This is really challenging to do well.
3) Corporate policy - some stores want you to be really involved, others want you to hold back and wait to be asked.

WHBM is leaning on #3, they are very big on close and personal customer service, sometimes they can be pushy. But that's also why I rarely leave the place without a few hundred bucks on my discover card.

[adhdfashion]

I hate sales people hovering and trying to make a sale. Ruins shopping for me and I will leave the store. If I want something, I will find you and ask.

[bonquiqui]

I hate stalkers. It is so uncomfortable. If I want help, I will certainly ask.

[ILikeSloths]

I prefer to be left alone.

I had the opposite experience at The Limited a few days ago. The woman was overbearing. I told her I was just browsing and didn't need help but she kept asking what I was looking for, made small talk, pushed the store credit card, put random items in my dressing room, and checked on me at least 4 times while I was trying on clothes which made me want to hurry.

Shopping is frustrating for me and this just made it more irritating.

[pixy0stix]

I dislike when things are added to my pile. Especially jewelry, etc.

[Deleted]

Aug 19, 2012 15:15:52 GMT -5 @mavjen said:

I recently worked with a personal stylist at Nordstrom for the first time. It was off to a great start the first time we met, but she dropped the ball a lot with me and was very pushy with getting more sales. Her customer service was horrible and I spent a lot of money with her. She would not allow me to use my Rewards vouchers ($300 worth) towards my new purchases at the register.

WHAAAAAT??? Oh hell no. I hope you called and complained about her.

I felt like the majority of what my personal stylist picked was more expensive than I would normally buy, and I gave her a list of brands I liked and bought repeatedly to give her an idea of the styling and price point I was looking for but she ignored it. I didn't end up buying much that day.

[nsl]

I really prefer to be left alone when I'm shopping. The only time I really like to be approached by a salesperson is when I'm clearly searching for my size and can't find it.

[FormerCityGirl]

I like to do my own thing, but I hate not being acknowledged. I'd like them to at least notice me. If I want something specific, I want to be able to ask someone to find to keep from wasting time. If I don't find it in the store, I'll just make it if I can to keep from wasting time. I also can't stand when the fitting rooms are full of crap. I like how Anthro and Gap started putting whiteboards on the doors with the person's name. It seems to help keep things a little more orderly in the chaos of those stores.

[Deleted]

I have a terrible sense of style, so I usually appreciate the help I get from sales people at The Limited (the main store I shop at) but the downside is that I usually end up spending a lot more than anticipated. I really wish I just had a friend with good style to go shopping with and help me. That would make things so much easier.


Anyone in Pittsburgh want to go shopping?

[llamamama]

I usually like to look around on my own but it is nice to be acknowledged with a hello when you walk in.

[Dusky]

Aug 18, 2012 21:37:45 GMT -5 adhdfashion said:

I hate sales people hovering and trying to make a sale. Ruins shopping for me and I will leave the store. If I want something, I will find you and ask.

This is me. I really like to take my time and think about potential purchases. If a sales person is breathing down my neck it interrupts my thought process and I usually end up not buying anything.

[Deleted]

You know what else I hate? I went into NY&Co and the sales person completely ignored me - including when I requested a dressing room. She just kind of waved me towards the door and said, "Over there."

Then when I went to the register to purchase a pair of pants, she started being pushy. "These pants are buy one get one 50% off, are you sure you can't find anything else? Did you take a look at our jewelry, they are buy one get one free! Do you want to open a cc? You'll save 20%! Are you sure?" Those pushy pushy questions at the end bug the crap out of me.

Does anyone ever give in because you ask 100 times about the CC?

[FormerCityGirl]

Aug 19, 2012 21:09:58 GMT -5 @heyyall said:

You know what else I hate? I went into NY&Co and the sales person completely ignored me - including when I requested a dressing room. She just kind of waved me towards the door and said, "Over there."

Then when I went to the register to purchase a pair of pants, she started being pushy. "These pants are buy one get one 50% off, are you sure you can't find anything else? Did you take a look at our jewelry, they are buy one get one free! Do you want to open a cc? You'll save 20%! Are you sure?" Those pushy pushy questions at the end bug the crap out of me.

Does anyone ever give in because you ask 100 times about the CC?

This and NY&Co's crappy quality makes me avoid the place. I can't stand when they push the credit cards. I never cave into those requests and get very firm when they push the issue.

[fashionx]

Ugh I HATE all the stores that push their credit cards! I get that some of them have to ask, but when they keep asking, or keep pushing it, it makes me not want to shop in their stores at all.

[pooh8402]

Aug 18, 2012 21:37:45 GMT -5 adhdfashion said:

I hate sales people hovering and trying to make a sale. Ruins shopping for me and I will leave the store. If I want something, I will find you and ask.

this. I'm a very independent shopper and hate pushy/overbearing salespeople. I often wear my ipod with brightly colored earbuds in my ears, even if there is no music, just to cut down on the salespeople. rarely works though. I've actually said, "if I need something, I'll ask" but have been told that is rude. ^o) personally, I think it's rude to assume that I need my hand held at Forever 21 or something. I'm a big girl with a brain in my head. I'll find what I need and if I don't, I'll ask.

I would expect help from places like Nordstrom or Saks or whatever, but not from your average mall store. that's different--in that case, I'm paying extra for the service and usually need it (can't find shit in those stores).

[ralphlauren]

I prefer if people ignore me until I ask them something. I hate being pestered

[veruca5839]

I prefer to shop independently and will ask for help if needed. I don't like being pestered by SAs. A simple hello or do you need help finding anything is fine, but to continue coming up and asking questions or trying to push things on me makes me leave the store asap. I also can't stand the pushy cc sales.

[kris356]

I like to be acknowledged and to be available if I do need something, like a dressing room or size. But I hate being stalked. Oh, the credit card thing is so annoying. I usually say I already have one even if I don't or that my husband would shoot me if I got another card.

[mrsguz]

I really dislike pushy sales people. When they are pushing stuff on me and putting stuff in my fitting room, I always feel guilty for not buying anything and "wasting their time". But I also hate having to hunt someone down if I have a question.