Why do salespeople do this?

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I went to the art supply store, only needing a single item but I usually like to look around first. So, I'm going up and down the aisle just to see if anything catches my fancy - maybe there was something I forgot I needed, or would like to try out. A floor walker comes up to me and asks "Can I help you find something?"

First objection: I would rather scope out the entire store first, and find the item myself. If I were unable to, THEN I would ask where it was. As it is, interrupting me and my train of thought is a little unsettling.

Since I was looking for a particular item, I described it. She then had me follow her to a part of the store I had not been to yet, pulled the cheapest version of it off the rack, put it in my hand, and said "Is there anything else you need?"

Second objection: I would have been satisified if the person had just said, "It's in the next aisle", since it should have been obvious I was methodically traversing all the aisles anyway, or just showed me the shelf.

Third objection: With the several varieties of the item I needed, why pull the cheapest and give it to me? Why not just say, "Here they are" and maybe ask more specifics about what I needed? Perhaps I had a specific brand in mind (I actually did, and it was not the one she gave me.)

As it was, I looked at the price and the several other options on the shelf. It would have been rude to just put the one back and start looking at the others as she was still standing there. But my expression must have said something and she finally left me on my own.

At that point I was rather irritated at my unanswered internal questions and immediately went to the cashier, paid, and left.

I could maybe see if it was close to closing time and they were eager to finish with all the customers before the hour, but it wasn't even close.

I fretted and puzzled about this all the way home, and even into today.

This was after an incident on Saturday when I went to the hardware store. I looked around for an item that I had seen advertised online, preferring as long as I was in a local Home Depot to purchase it there. No luck finding it, so I asked an employee if they had it. He gave me "that look" that I dread, like I don't know what I'm talking about and said, "Never heard of it." Of course this kind of ticked me off, as I detest having to ask for help in one of those stores for exactly that reason. But instead of being too embarrassed I made him go get a bunch of other stuff I had on my list. I felt somewhat justified in that.

So, my suggestions for salespeople/floor walkers:

There is an obvious difference between someone who is just browsing or deciding among similar items, and someone who is having trouble finding even the section where the item is. Don't bother the former, help the latter. Even if just browsing, don't ask if they need help as they may find something ELSE they will purchase at the time, which they didn't intend to = additional sales.

Some people don't like asking for help unless they really need it - don't make them feel foolish just because you might know more about plumbing than they do.

Grrrr.

because their job is kinda awful it rubs off a little and makes them kinda awful too

It sounds like she was doing what she was trained to do and assumed you wanted the cheapest one based on a false reading of your appearance.

i think it's more on the level of who is supervising them.stockers have a job to do and need to do it in a timly manner, where salesmen get pushed by there superviser to be more pushee
it would help the worker to tell the right person your prob.
stockers need more time
and salesmen need to notice the intentions of the custamer(SP)

I like to be left ALONE when shopping for anything; whether hardware or groceries. Lately, at the Target store, they evidently have told workers to approach anyone and everyone and ask "Did you find everything?" (or similar question)... I feel like saying "If I had, I'd be at the cash register and not over here!", but to be polite, I just say "Yes, thanks", and keep walking. If I need advice or help to find something, or to find out if a store has whatever I need, I go find someone and ask them.

Charles

Floor staff have always made me jumpy. In the big stores when they recommend a certain item over the other one it's usually because there's an incentive for them in some way; cheaper one might be something they're trying to get rid of or their salary is based on commission and as long as you'll buy anything at all they'll be able to get their cut.

1 of the things that grates on me is auto parts stores that don't know what a part is by its shape or what applications it has other than cars listed in their computers. Some items fit on engines that don't go in cars. I cut some slack when it's a young counter person but when they're older, come on
On the other end of the scale are salespeople who don't seem to want you to buy anything at all, they've got that cool, hip, 'extreme' look but are too busy texting or grunting around the fire with the other staff

The lack of knowledge but the 'help' these days is maddening. Society is all set up to buy and sell things anymore but they aren't even that effective at getting things sold

As crowded as they are, I love the $1 stores, and I have a super awesome little hardware store nearby; they know me there and let me go into the back to find what I need

It's their job. She was doing what she is supposed to do. It's an easy enough situation to avoid, just practise the following responses:

"Can I help you find something?" Response: "No thank you."

"Is there anything else you need?" Response: "No thank you."

Yeah... no. We are trained to do pretty much what the sales person you had an issue with did. Now I wouldn't usually pull out an item, I would kind of ust wave to where they are once we get there. Additional sales thing, not really. We are providing customer services, so they feel welcome there. It is what we have to do and it makes people want to come back to that store. Not really surprised you don't want to ask for help unless you need to, I am the same way. You are also saying I should be able to differentiate every single time if someone is browsing or having trouble finding something? yes sometimes it is obvious, but there have been many times that I have asked someone just because I am supposed to and it helped them out. If it bothers you then all you have to do is say- No I am fine, or No I am okay, or no I can find it myself.

I've worked in retail, and I wouldn't deal with customers in that way. I know that retail maybe isn't the most fulfilling job in the world but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try your best with each and every customer.

The reason for the annoying 'Can I help you?' often asked when you've just stepped through the door is probably store/company policy. I presume there must have been some research done which found this increased sales (perhaps the fear is that a customer will not ask and will leave not realising that the store has what they are looking for) but I've never met anyone who finds it very helpful. The salesperson knows this, but if your manager sees you not 'meeting and greeting' then you will get into trouble. There might well be a rule about physically taking the customer to the item rather than directing them to the aisle - I know that is the case in some supermarkets. The problem with this approach is that it doesn't allow the salesperson to judge what the customer needs and means that everyone has to be treated exactly the same. For example, some people want to browse in peace, others want to ask questions, some people like chit-chat and others certainly do not.

As for shoving the cheapest item at you or saying 'I've never heard of it' there is no excuse for that, that is simply rude and an example of poor customer service. Because I've spent the best part of 10 years slogging away in jobs like this I have a pretty low tolerance to poor customer service when I am the customer.

To add to Impulse94: 4. Unknowledgeable salespeople. I like looking around electronics stores because I don't go out often and just like to see what's new. It's irritating when a sales person comes up suddenly behind be and asks if I need help finding something or if I have any questions. Then, when I do ask a question, it is so technical in nature they always run and ask someone else! I don't know why they like to embarrass themselves like that. Floor sales is a job I just can't do especially these days when they're always trying to get you to purchase some additional warranties for your product! Arrgghh!

I have done that before .

If I get near someone I am supposed to ask if I can help them, even if I don't know much about the department I am in.

warranties for products- do you want a warranty on that game guide? I have never heard of someone getting a warrenty on that, or any videogames for that matter. But it still pops up at the check out

Think it depends on the person and type of shop
.
Females tend to insist on helping, when and where ever they can because they're just generally more interested in what they're doing and customer focused.

Men however tend to just be happy they just have a job, It's only usually men high up on "the ladder" that inquire about the customers needs, ask if they can help.

Specialty store like art's and crafts etc tend to only employed people having at least some interest/ knowledge on the subject.

Where as home depots just employ any Tom,Dick or Harry who usually couldn't care less as long as they're being paid.

I myself find it annoying as hell when they ask "Can I help ??" And find myself holding back from saying "Can you not see the eyes in my ****ing head ! !" but at the end of the day they're doing their job.

Maybe next time you're at the art supply store avoid all female staff, and next time you're at the home depot ask a female ^_^

Sounds like she was just being rude. Why that was is up to conjecture. Could be many or no reason at all. You can't possibly know for sure, The only thing you can do is call up the manager and tell him you felt rushed and pushed in his store by the sales staff. That you would like to be directed to the item but not have one placed in your hand by a sales associate since you know what you need.

We've all done that - even Aspies can't know everything!

I worked in an electronics store a few years back, and the extended warranties were the bane of my life, nobody wanted them and if someone doesn't want something I won't try and force them. I was always in trouble for my sales figures and my margin figures because I would never sell someone an expensive item when a cheap one would do. I don't mind retail, but I hope I never have to work somewhere with sales targets again.

This. She was just doing her job & at least she was decent enough to point you to the cheapest item (some would try and rip you off)

Though sometimes they keep on asking every 5 mins which is annoying.



woah, over-react much? Sure, the OP might have felt uncomfortable, but the poor sales clerk wasn't to know that; if someone asks 'can i help you' and you answer in the affirmative, then don't be suprised when they try to help you (even if they aren't successful). Since they can't read your mind, how is the sales person supposed to know what one particular customer wants. Just try MKB's advice and the problem won't occur again.

(just to be clear; I hate being approached by sales staff too, some can be kind of pushy, but unless they're being deliberately rude, I really think people with AS should give others a break when they make social mistakes. People make a lot more accomodations for us than we often realise)

Last edited by Lene on 09 May 2012, 12:06 pm, edited 2 times in total.

I understand that people who come up to you in the store and ask if you need help are just doing their jobs, but it's my least favorite thing, ever!

It totally flusters and annoys me. I'm just like...go awaaayyyyyyy!

Delphiki: how do you even manage doing a job like that as an Aspie? I'm in a social-type job, as part of my job is hospitality/reception, but people have to come to me and ask questions, not the other way around. I turned down extra hours the other month when they needed someone to stand at a table and stop people coming in to talk to them about whatever thing it was they were advertising. NO WAY!