So, I've been pondering this since I read a book on introverts and it claimed we're sadly misrepresented, saying actually more than half of the population falls more to the introvert side of the spectrum. That coupled with the fact that I've worked retail in some form for the last 8 years (I cannot quit the discount!) got me thinking about how corporations train sales people.
I hate being sold to. If I'm shopping I want to be left alone and allowed to wander on my own time. Yet, for obvious reasons, companies train to be all in your face. If we're really a world of mostly introverts don't you think they would want some techniques that speak to us too?
Anyway, if you read any of that, are you an introvert or an extrovert, and do you think that affects the way you shop? Do you think that is why online shopping is so popular?
I am an introvert and I hate sales people all up in my business. It sucks because I know it's their job and I don't want to be rude, but leave me the fuck alone.
I am an extrovert and I hate pushy sales people. I have a rule, if you say Hi to me within the first 10 seconds of me being in the store, you are definitely pushy and I am out the door. lol
"oh you didn't like anything in there?" "Pushy bitch said Hi, how are you today? so I am out"
Post by cheeseandcrackers on May 7, 2013 14:20:38 GMT -5
Why is it when you have no questions all of the sales people are in your face, but as soon as you have a question or need to try something on, you cannot find them ANYWHERE?
No. I hate it when I walk in, and they follow me around telling me about the sales, as if I can't read. And I also hate when they practically grab the stuff out of my hands and ask if I want a room started.
What really pisses me off is when more than one person in a short timespan asks me if I a) need help or b) want a room started.
I am extremely extroverted, and I absolutely hate any form of sales pitch or pushiness. I don't even like when I'm walking through a store and a salesperson asks if I need help. If I need help, I'll ask.
Not usually, but there was this super pushy chick at Benetton who basically became my best friend. She would just bring me piles and piles of clothes and I would buy them all, like a sucker. I loved her. She was like 10,000X cooler than I'll ever be.
This also seems like a good place to declare my love for Joy Mangano- the pushiest salesperson who ever pushed. I need everything she sells.
I work retail. Our stores philosophy is very much that you should be like a friend to shoppers. Suggest items, see if they need help, offer opinions. You get to be really good at determining what customers by their reaction when you first say hello. I'm really good at my job because I know when people like to browse and when they want a shopping buddy/need help.
Our assistant manager sucked and always got in everyone's face and tried to make us to the same. No.
I want friendly and available, but otherwise leave me alone if I'm shopping.
Oh yeah, I also have a BFF at Lucky Jeans who looked deep into my eyes and asked if she could be my "personal jeans coordinator" and told me that I had a beautiful energy. Lol. The credit card was a flyin' that day.
I have all the books I could need, and what more could I need than books? I shall only engage in commerce if books are the coin. -- Catherynne M. Valente
I once told a salesman at a furniture store to stop stalking me after he asked if I needed help, I told him I was just browsing, and he then proceeded to follow me around the store anyway. Leave me the eff alone. If I need help, I know how to go find someone.
I'm not a fan of being sold to... I start feeling pressured to buy, and suddenly, my peaceful shopping experience is ruined by stress. I won't frequent stores that do this.
That said - I just went to a store and the salesperson and I were totally yucking it up. She was very attentive, which I typically hate, but I liked her and she made me feel comfortable... so I didn't feel pressure to buy stuff. I wish more salespeople were like her.
I don't think extroverts like aggressive salespeople either
Anecdotal evidence is a heath
I wonder though if there is a slightly different reaction at all. My wife is super extroverted but hates shopping with a passion so she's no help. My mom on the other hand is an extrovert for sure and loves talking to the sales people and being sold to.
I'm a sales person. I hate aggressive sales people.
I'm a sales person too in my full time job and I try my best to not be that pushy person. I think there's a fine line between the hard sell and assisting a client/customer with a purchase.
The best sales people are the ones who can judge what a client wants. We where full service from the correct size/style to holding your items, starting a fitting room and getting other items and sizes while you are trying on.
But in the first 30 secs we could judge if you wanted to just look or wanted to run us ragged. Good, true suggestive selling is natural not throwing and hitting people in the head with it. I have left stores for pushy sales people, when I say "just looking" I mean it!!!!
I refuse to ever shop at Lush because of this. Bitch, let me walk around & smell stuff. Don't follow me around & tell me about every single item. They refuse to let me just browse there.
Wait, there are people that like aggressive sales?
That's why it boggles my mind that store still try this selling method. I've worked at 3 different higher end specialty stores, so people usually know what they're looking for, or have an idea at least. In every store training has focused on up selling, adding on, and asking what else they need. Seems like a sure way to piss off customers not make them buy more.
I don't like pushy. But depending on what I'm buying I don't mind a talkative salesperson. If I'm buying clothes, I want to be left alone to find things I like. If I'm buying a computer/cellphone/car, where the benefits and drawbacks of the products may not be so obvious, I don't mind if a salesperson comes over and describes things to me. Yes, they are "selling" things and making them sound better than they are, but I can usually tell which part is a sales pitch and just pay attention to the actual facts they're providing.
This is an important point. I want a well informed sales person when I need one!
No. I do prefer shopping at places where they greet customers as they walk by or approach me first to ask if I need help finding anything. But not when they are pushy or follow me around.
I don't like aggressive servers either. Asking me six times if I want to try the new extra fudge brownie supreme dessert when I'm already stuffed and said no...stop tempting me leave me alone!!! lol