Why do sales assistants interrupt me while shopping?

Every time I walk in a shop nowadays I'm accosted by sales assistants almost as soon as I enter the shop asking if I have found what I'm looking for - to which my usual response is either 'no, I wanted to find a shop where I wasn't annoyed by sales assistants' or 'how do I know? I haven't had a chance to look yet' followed by me turning straight around and walking out of the shop, frustrated, the whole experience ruining my shopping experience.





Most of the time they are working on commission, but why make it so obvious! The rest of the time it is just to make up a score for their mystery shopper survey.





When will company management realise that the worst thing you can do is interrupt a shopper (or even worse, a diner who has a mouthful of food!)?

Why do sales assistants interrupt me while shopping?
I used to work in retail, and I hated that I always had to bug customers, but I felt a lot of pressure from my managers. If there were people in the store, and you were not talking to them then you were not doing your job and you were seen as lazy.





At the registers, they calculate things like average dollar which is the average price per item paid by customers. Stores generally want this number to be high so they pressure you to 'upsell' meaning they want every customer to leave with not just a pair of pants or a shirt but accessories and shoes to go along with it. Another issue was getting hours on the schedule. It's not always commission that's the motivating factor. The workers who consistently did better in sales got the most hours so there was a little competition there.





Trust me, most of the salespeople that bother you probably realize you don't want to be bothered, and they hate it just as much as you do.
Reply:I agree it is an absolute pain. Have you noticed that when you want them they have all disappeared?
Reply:Are they working on commission? Phew, I thought they followed me round because I looked suspicious!!
Reply:The company expects this from their sales staff.


It is required or they could lose their jobs. I use to work in retail and I would acknowledge a customer and then just stay visible for a few moments


before approaching the customer.
Reply:I don't mind being greeted when I walk into the store, or them mentioning specials when I walk in, but when I have to hear "can I help you find anything" everytime I move 3 feet I get really miffed and will often walk out. I worked for Victoria's Secret last summer and they decided it was a great policy to make us ask shoppers on the floor if they wanted our credit card. It was obnoxious. Needless to say I got tired of being forced to harass customers and got another job, but I went there a few weeks ago and an associate literally followed me around the store after I said no to the card to keep speeling about it. I told her "Look honey, I worked here last year and had the same annoying task as you do now, but no one likes a pushy snot who can't take no for an answer. Keep that up and you'll LOSE customers." If more associates were available, and less annoying, shopping would be a much more pleasant experience.
Reply:i know how you feel but as i work in retail and have for 30 yrs i can assure you us assistants would rather leave you alone to shop as you like and help you when its needed but alas those at the helm make us approach you and pester you cos they think it helps get sales ( they dont listen to us who actually put up with the moans and groans ) and i have never been on commision but its always been the same in every store ive worked in ...sorry
Reply:I agree. Worse than this is when I get them following me if not physically, then with their eyes, as though I'm suspicious somehow. Where I live, evey shop you walk into you get asked the second you walk through the door 'can I help you?', it's like 'it's a local shop' from that programme (I forgot what it's called). Then they watch all the time, in silence, until you either leave or buy. And if there was a conversation going on, it stops until you go.


Weird. (Why do I live round here?)
Reply:I hear you there, I don't know why they always come to you when you have a mouthful of food... it is like they wait until you stuff your mouth and then they come to you to ask you as if you were able to respond, that gets on my nerves !!! And the shopper experienc is totally nuts !!!!! It is management, they have nothing better to do but to come up with elaborated speeches and ways to attract customers instead, they are annoying them. Dude tell me about it I work in a call center and every 6 months they come up with cheesier quality scripts. Just listen to this. " my goal is to provide you with first call resolution, are you satisfied with the level of service and resolution you have received today? ok just to let you know you will be receiving a phone call within the following week, this will be a survey regarding our service" and as you're trying to solve the customer's issue you are supposed to throw 2 sells attempts. How do you think the customer is going to be satisfied???? I think this annoys customers.
Reply:Well..... EXCUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSE ME for LIVING, sir!!!!!! All I want is to be helpful to you. Besides, my boss tells me that if I don't ask the clients if I can help them, I won't have my job for long. No, I don't work on commission, I work for straight wages, but it's part of my job description to "Assist customers" and to be friendly towards them. If you don't need my help, a simple, "No thank you" is enough to send me away.... and still have a good day... for BOTH of us.





Thank you for shopping at our establishment, come again soon! Have a nice day!

tooth and nail