Rant - "Friendly" Store Staff

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I understand why shop employees are supposed to say "Hi" to everyone. It's to let you know they notice you, which decreases the chance you'll shoplift. That's fine, I'm good with that. I'm even okay if they want to tell me about a sale, even though I can read perfectly well and there are invariably signs that say the same thing they're telling me.

What I really have a problem with is when it goes beyond that. I don't want to tell them what I'm looking for, or who I'm shopping for, or discuss the weather. I don't care if they have the same sweater I'm looking at. I don't care if they think the shoes I'm looking at are cute. I do not want to share my plans for the weekend (someone really asked me that, and I told them it was none of their business).
I can shop, or I can chitchat. I cannot do both. If a cheerful teenager starts following me around the store yaking, I have to leave. Period. I literally cannot think about both things at the same time, so there's no point in staying. I had to leave 3 or 4 mall shops today because of this.

Yeah, I find this annoying as well. Chances are if I'm in a store I know exactly what I want and where to find it, I don't need people offering me help or giving me recommendations. I'd rather just get in, grab my stuff, pay at the register and be gone-- preferably an automated register.

Also, sometimes I think they're thinking, "Oh good, I ran that creepy lady off. She was probably a criminal."

The way it seems to work in stores round here is that if you actually need some assistance, there are never any staff to be seen, or they're all chatting to each other. When you just want to be left alone, a member of staff will inevitably 'descend on' you......

When they approach me, I've learned to just say, "thank you, I'll find you if I have any questions". So long as it is said with (what I hope) is some degree of politeness they tend to respect that I don't want their best, most attentive customer service. And if they are on commission they can go help someone else, knowing I will find them when I'm ready.

I work in retail so I have to be one of those 'friendly staff members'. I don't like approaching people because I feel like a hypocrite -- when I'm the customer in a store, I prefer to be left alone. But my boss is huge on customer service and watches what goes on in the store. I have to be attentive, but I know to leave a customer alone if they are 'just browsing'.

If I'm a customer, I still don't like to be ignored or dismissed. I appreciate just a brief smile that acknowledges my presence. That way, they're not intruding on my shopping experience but I feel that I could approach them if I needed assistance.

It depends on the type of store, too.

I get annoyed when they're in your face all the time when you don't want any help, but when you do want help there's no one around.

I used to work in retail and corporate was unbelievably pushy about the exact kind of customer service that causes me to leave a store ASAP. It's not just about deterring shoplifters (which absolutely does not work- these people will do it right in front of you) but selling more stuff and a concept of friendliness that I'm pretty sure even NT's think is overbearing. What's more they were asking the wrong person to put on this act. And it was an act, exact to what we had to say when a person entered the store, the questions we had to ask if a customer walked by, and a whole script of dialogue when they checked out (sales, suggestions, etc). It was nauseating and mentally exhausting and most people really didn't appreciate it.

I had a horrible experience a few months ago at a furniture store. My husband and I went to several different places just sort of comparing things and prices, not ready to buy anything but just doing research for the future. We had six different salespeople ambush us in different areas and get aggressive with telling us prices, sales, and even have the nerve to try to slyly get our info so they could run our credit to see what kind of a store credit card we were eligible for. (Which can ding your credit if it's done too much) Talk about things escalating quickly. I had a huge anxiety attack the whole time and I will never set a foot in one of those stores for as long as I live. Luckily my husband is a big, blunt loudmouth and often deflects people away from me when they get pushy and he can see that I'm struggling. These salespeople always try to corner me and I can't seem to think properly.

I just want to shop in peace

Also, Disney Store staff. What the actual f#&* is wrong with those people? They talk to everyone as if they're five years old - even adults who don't have any children with them. The other day, I was in there trying to look at the new Star Wars merchandise. There were two twenty-something guys next to me, being bothered by the chirpy sales clerk. Here's what transpired:

clerk "I just have one question for you - are you light side or dark side?!"
guy "Uh....I dunno. Depends on the day."
clerk "What are you today?"
guy "Dark side....I guess."
Then the clerk gave them both stickers to wear. Stickers. For two grown men who happen to like Star Wars. They looked completely humiliated.
Way to suggest that it's inappropriate for adults to like your merchandise, Disney!

And that's why I shop online. That and I keep buying clothes from Japan.