Salespeople at the Mall

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I don't mind them asking because I know the company usually requires them to ask, but when I was working in a position where I had to do some customer service, I hated asking if they needed any help because when I'm shopping, if I need any help, I'll approach the sales person.

I also don't like sales pitches being given to me. If I feel like I'm being pressured to buy something in any way, I'll generally leave the store.

I get particularly annoyed with overtly wary sales individuals. They are usually those insecure NT's who can't stand anyone much different from themselves and they can "sniff me out" pretty quickly it seems. Then they'll approach me, invade my personal space, attempt to stare me down and in a way that's overt enough that anyone with AS could pick up on, quite rudely ask if they could "help" me, and try to get me out of their department as fast as possible as if I'm going to steal something (which of course I never would).

It's silly really because most of these companies have a no interference policy which prohibits employees from doing anything if they suspect a shoplifter, other than calling security who is to do nothing but call the cops.

A friend of mine once joked that I should be on a shoplifting team because store clerks are always so busy watching me that all the real shoplifters could "clean the place out".

It's really just another example of people with AS being harassed for being themselves.

lol i always have a nervous look about my face and along with my awkward body language i'm convinced that every shop i go in think's i'm a shoplifter. i always feel uncomfortable going into those smallish shops where a member of staff permanently stands at the counter looking over the whole shop and anybody in it. avoid them like the plague

Last edited by OneStepBeyond on 26 Jun 2010, 5:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I once entered a smallish store where there were 3 saleswomen (prob aged 25-40). As soon as I entered, one instantly tried to make eye contact. "Hi!" she said.

I said "Hi."and sort of ducked over to the other side of the store, away from them. She came towards me and said "Oh, you have a "x" bag, I shop there too." I said "Yes." and I walked over the other side of the store again. Another one came to me and said "Oh, you are looking at those jackets. they look very nice with long pants.' and I said "ok, thanks." and crossed the store to get away from her. I pretended to look at a suit and the third one came over to me and said "We are having a sale on these suits." I said "ok."

At this point I decided to leave the store. It seemed impossible to look at anything without someone trying to talk to me. I dont understand why they behave like this! I felt like a small animal being stalked. I know NTs hate being over-bothered in shops too.... its weird how salespeople can act.

See, I know that, and it irritates me because I think they bother me because I don't make eye contact (I fake it if I *have* to) and I am a little awkward and they misinterpret that as signs of "guilt". I have never stolen *anything*, not even a pack of gum when I was a little kid, that's how honest I am about it, and it offends me that something I can't help gets me targeted that way.

~Kate

I work as a salesperson at wal-mart in electronics. I ask people if they need any help or if they're finding everything alright.. because that's what we're supposed to do. But, i try not to keep bugging people if they say they don't need help(except that sometimes i'll forget that i already asked them that and end up asking them again, and they'll laugh or something, because i don't always pay much attention to what the person looks like),

Oh no, I'm not rude to the salespeople. I know they are just doing their job. I kind of wish there was a shop with no people in it though, where I could just go in and look at stuff to my heart's delight. I wouldn't steal! Hahaha

I work in retail, and our company's policy is that every guest is to be approached twice while they're in the store. We are supposed to greet, offer assistance, and mention a current sale or promotion.

I don't normally do those things by policy, I approach you if and when I feel it is necessary - UNLESS we're being watched. For certain periods throughout the year we are 'secret shopped', which means someone is hired by the company to come in our store and rate their experience. If they were not greeted (within 2 minutes), told about a promotion, and re-approached, WE get in trouble.

I'm sure most corporate-ran places are the same in that way. People are just doing what they're supposed to.

I just usually ignore them. Avoid eye contact (HEY, at least I'm good at it, right? ) and try to move away from them. And if they do get close enough to ask "may I help you find anything", I just say "No thanks" and walk away.

Hehe, that's pretty upfront about it. That's awesome.

When I am in a store in the mall, I really really don't want to talk to the staff, but I know that they will try to ask me if they can help me. I want to say "Yes, you can help me by not talking to me," but I wouldn't say that, and even if I did intend to say that, I would probably not remember in time to say it as a response.

I needed to buy something today, and it was a very specific thing. I couldn't find it in the first four stores I went in. I found related products, but not the one I wanted, so I had this problem a lot today. I noticed that in a larger store, one salesperson asked me if there was something they could help me find, and another salesperson walked by me repeatedly as I was looking. This is very very annoying because when they walk by me I pay attention to them and not to the shelf which I am trying to look at to determine if they have the product I want.

When I see that a salesperson is approaching me, I try to walk in such a way that there is a large obstacle between us at all times, like a shelf, or a rack, or preferably several shelves or racks. I usually notice them when they are far enough away that there are enough things between us to do this.

If they do get close enough to ask me if they can help me, I try to remember an appropriate response to the question that I expect them to ask and will often say something which doesn't make sense as a response to the way that they asked. For example, if they ask "Are you finding everything okay today?" I might say "No thank you," because I had expected them to ask "Can I help you find something today?" I did that today. Or if they ask "Do you need some help finding something today?" I might say "Yes I am," because I expected them to ask "Are you finding everything okay today?" And then I notice that I said the wrong thing again and think that I am an idiot.

It's okay. I've actually had customers say stuff like that to me a bunch of times... And it always confuses me. lol. "wait.. i asked if he needed help, and he said yes, but he's walking away..." But you're definitely not the only one who does it!

You know what REALLY sucks? When I actually am legitimately having an incredibly hard time finding something, so I sorta HAVE to ask someone for help. I've ended up asking people who don't even work at the store (who look like they do) where I can find something, only to have them look at me like I'm a complete idiot and laughing at me, or telling me they don't know because they don't work there.

I was getting glasses made at lens crafter so I was walking around the mall with my younger brother. I walked around a blind corner right when some girl working the perfume counter sprayed some perfume so so women could smell it I walked into stink cloud and caught the second blast right in the eyes. I was doubled over choking and blind. The girl's boss was screaming at her and the boss was patting me on the back like I had something lodged in my throat. I jerked away because I did not want to be touched so I accidently bumped my head against the counter my brother was laughing and saying stop touching him, leave him alone he does not like to be touched.

I have not read all the posts in this thread yet, but I have a suggestion. If you appear to be talking to someone on your phone, you will probably be left alone. I am not saying you should have to do that, but it is the most effective way to avoid even having to say "Just looking" or anything.

I think many people hesitate to ask for help unless "invited" to. I do work in retail and am required to "greet" each customer. I always keep it brief.

I can tell I have been suspected of being a shoplifter when shopping. I do not mind if they watch me closely. Then they can see that I am not doing anything wrong. I can imagine it would get annoying if it happened very often.

The other day my mom and i were shopping late at night, and a police officer was watching us while we checked out... pretending to read magazines and then kept looking up at us. What's funny is that it's the same store i work at! lol.

I've never done that but I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS shop with headphones on. It doesn't stop the salespeople from trying to talk to me! I don't know why they would do that when I clearly would have to remove my headphones...