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You know what I hate? You’re in a store browsing, looking for something cool to buy then that annoying voice rings out, “Can I help you sir?” No you cannot help me if I want or need help I’ll ask for it, in the meantime why don’t you mind your own business and fuck off. —Chaos57
This article appears in Nov 3-9, 2011.
21 Comments
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They are doing their job, I bet you are one who would also piss and moan if someone didn’t wait on you or acknowledge you. Get Bent
And conversely, you would complain you can’t find anyone to help you.
You need to lighten up. You are wound too tight.
Plus, it’s their job to help you.
Asswipe.
You sir are a douche and they are doing their job. It’s probably because they think you’re trying to steal something and they’ve got their eye on you…btw its seem S&W and Wheelie have hit the nail on the head too.
They get paid to do that, you dumb knob. Shop on-line and do the retail workers of Nova Scotia a huge favour.
Long gone are the days when shoppers are left alone to browse and buy at their leisure… and Bluenoser is right… staff has to keep an eye on everyone… get over it, deal with it… life is too short to get your knickers in a knot.
We don’t actually want to help you, OP. Basically we want to hear you string 2 articulate words together in a sentence to determine the odds of you trying to pull the old Svend Robinson 5-Finger Discount to finance your next bag of rock.
“Mind your own business” THAT’S WHAT THEY’RE DOING. LITERALLY. When I worked in retail, we were FORCED to approach customers that came within ten feet of us. When I worked at a clothing store, they had this “policy” where you had to “approach and re-approach”. So fucking annoying for all involved. I would go up to someone and ask if they needed help and let them know about our promotions and half the time they’d just say “Okay – just browsing”. Then the managers would waddle over and force me to go talk to them again. The customers would get agitated and some would get offended because they thought I thought they were stealing. It’s no wonder that company went bankrupt!
It’s their job, asshole. I don’t really like it either, but it’s not their fault. Just say, “no thanks” and move on.
Oh Admiral… yet another day passes that I wish you weren’t already married…
rosie ♥ thanks for the picture of the beast
Hah hah – just wait until I open my own FLDS compound. “Rosie, put the coffee on” has a nice ring to it. >; ) People before Prophets!.
Painey, can you pass on the picture of Rosie’s wee beastie, please. Rooooooooooooo
data overload….it’s on my phone and i can’t put it on the computer. people before prophets, love it
Try finding someone/anyone to help you in the SS in Bayers Lake, they even make Canadian Tire look fucking good.
LOL OB. It’s best to browse in the store, find something you like, and then buy it online (usually cheaper). Fuck boosting the stores monthly sales.
Whenever I say ‘no thanks, I’d like to look around’ I have never met an employee that insisted on hanging around.
Chaos, you should go camping with Laerry, and work on your interpersonal skills. You’ve got some severe issues there kid.
One time time I was at the LC and was approached no less than three times by the same employee asking if I needed help. On the final try I gave in and asked some lame ass question that I didn’t even care about the answer to, just to give him something to do. If he just wanted to see if I was over 19 he should have asked for my ID. I empathize with employees who are compelled by store policy to keep pestering customers, but managers should take note that it’s fucking annoying and doesn’t make for a pleasant shopping experience. As for the OP – just say “no thanks” and move on.
Yes it is a fine line. A lot of shoplifting happens and store staff need to be vigilant. So much depends on the approach. Sometimes borders on the creepy if one staff member does it more than once, or if there are a string of them over short time.
Usually if you do ask them something they get a deer in the headlights look at end up having to drag ass around the store looking for someone who may know a simple answer. So few staff know the goods anymore. One day in a SS there were 5 people playing around looking for info on something I had asked about. A few years back the first person on the floor likely would have known the answer, or been able to do something about the situation.
Amazing that they have time, and staff, for this but soon as you hand them some thing and say I’ll take it they direct you to a cash area, instead of taking you up and running it through. Of course at the cash, there are often many registers with only one open, or a couple of staff chatting away to each other, before offering to take the item.
In those cases the item stays on the counter and they are welcome to it.
I know it’s part of their job.. so i don’t mind it so much when they initially make contact. Letting me know they’re there.. if i need anything.. blah blah.
If they keep coming back either they’re idiots, their store policy was dreamed up by idiots or i somehow have opened myself up to being profiled as some kind of thief. In any event.. it’s unnerving to be followed around by someone while i’m trying to decide how to spend my money.
Mole Rat, interesting what you say about the LC. I realize that they probably do have a high theft rate, but I wonder if they have been pushing employees to hound people more now.
I don’t shop there often but years back someone would ask if I needed help once in a blue moon. However, I was in a few locations, in the city and in rural areas, over the past summer and in each place almost got the feeling I was being tailed by staff.
Sometimes asking if I needed ‘help’ which gets lame after the 3rd time in a tiny store, with 4 floor staff and a security guard. Not to mention cameras I think. Other times they suddenly would have to ‘check a shelf for something’ that just happened to be in the area I was in at the time. And of course no other customer with them, or in the store. Yes they do have work to do – but only in the area you are in and for the time frame you are there? Doubtful! Ha! Or for what they are paid they are being told to mix and mingle and be seen more often. If that is the case they should be handing out samples.
Meanwhile, makes me wonder if my clothing has become bright orange, yellow, red or whatever is in fashion at Chez Lockup these days.
Yeah I wouldn’t be surprised if they were told to really push the “helping” aspect of their duties. Either that, or I just really looked super befuddled. I don’t think it was because I looked like a criminal or anything.