Ask Your Question today
Every shop I go to, every country I am in, shopkeepers or other staff members always come up to me and ask me "Can I help you"? or "Are you looking for something particular"?... What's up with that? I just want to look around for myself and NO I DON'T WANT OR NEED YOUR HELP! In these cases, I sometimes just leave the shop immediately. Am I the only one with this feeling?
I understand it might be annoying when it happens too often, but you shouldn't be mad about it. First of all, it's part of their job. Second of all, they are just being courteous and trying to help you. Also, you'd be surprised how many people want to ask for help with something but are too shy to ask, so by someone approaching them and asking if they need help, it helps break the ice and helps people find what they need. I find this to be a good thing.
I don't like it, either. I tend to say "I'm just browsing" almost instinctively.
It's also a flawed question. Until they know what you want, there's no guarantee they can help you. And until you tell them, you don't know whether they can help you, either. So saying "Can I help you?" is like asking someone to predict the future. What they should say is, "May I try to help you?" which doesn't imply that they can or cannot but merely asks your permission to let them try. Either way, my answer would still be the same. I'm just browsing.
lol WHY THANK YOU! You know what i mean though. You walk into the store maybe wanting to loook for clothes. Maybe not buy but LOOK. You know where your favorite sections are so you dont need help. When you say no and keep walking they always look at you as if to say " i knew you were going to be an asshole before i asked... this is why i am going to quit and get a new job somewhere else." lolol. I usually try to be mean because thats the only way to make them leave you the hell alone. straight face "no" is all they get. Sometimes if i am ACTUALLY in a bad mood i frown and say nothing in the most arrogant of ways which REALLY gets me my peace and quiet. Then i dont have to worry about them telling me that i can get.00000000000000010% off on my transaction if i am willing to open a charge card, bring in 77 friends who all have to spend $100.00 or more and if i subscribe to their live feed web cam and let them fill my email up with reminders about their special where you can get .0000000000000020% off LOL
Hehe, you're more than welcome. Nobody on IIN would know this (for obvious reasons) but I'm quite an eye rolley person myself.
If I get those really persistent assistants who won't leave me alone, I do sometimes give in to sarcasm. When they ask if they can help I'd say "Yes, I'm hoping to recommend your shop as somewhere where I don't get pestered much. Maybe you can help with that. Hint hint".
Dappled really seems to ponder life's unacknowledged mysteries, though I totally agree. Sometimes you get a shop where the staff know exactly when and how to volunteer their assistance so that you feel valued as a customer, yet not pressured to buy, if only it was the rule rather than the exception...
You've got me pegged. Having a bit of a ponder is probably my favourite activity. I'm now pondering why the word "favourite" is underlined in red in my web browser. I know it's not the way some people spell it, but it's the way I spell it. Why should I be bullied into spelling it a different way?
i feel the same way, in my job im pretty much ;payed to do it, even though i dislike it myself.
i was told by manager the other day i was hired because im not hard on the eye and to flirt with woman to get returning customers, i found this a lill disrespectful but not suprising no one wants to se a big hairy man making their coffe and waiting their tables.
is this harassment at all can i make money off this?
I really hate it, It makes me so uncomfortable. The ones that like asking every five minutes make me feel like they think I'm going to steal something. I could just be a paranoid, but that's the vibe I get. I'm sure for some, it's part of their job to ask but I've always preferred establishments that would wait for you to come to them for help. Like the library or Barnes and Noble. Not once have I ever had an employee to do that to me. They mind their own business and focus on their work and I appreciate it. I think it adds too much pressure on the customer when the workers ask them that question.
The only thing i hate about it is when you say no i feel as though they think im going to steal and they follow me around the store i just wanna scream out. " Bitch if you do not stop following i will take this hanger and shove it up your prissy little ass!" But i am classy and that is not an option so i leave.
I've never stollen anything in my life, but every shop I go to I get followed and watched. One time the girl even told me what the product I was looking at was for as if I couldn't read it myself. I will never shop there again. That is harrasment not customer service. Also in the stores I go they ask 'Are you alright there?' which is a ridiculous question and just winds me up.
the point of the people being there is so they can help you in case you need it, therefore if you need something, you can just ask them. when they just come and attack you with the "can i help you" question it's a violation of privacy. they need to let people shop in peace.
The UK is criticised for its awful customer service, so mystery shoppers and cameras show that a lot of young assistants chat to each other and ignore the customers.
So really, what would we really prefer?
Should we have to interrupt a private conversation while they roll their eyes and tut at us or welcome the offer of help?
I don't mind them asking if I need help.
Wow this is really stupid, you sound totally neurotic. They're usually REQUIRED to come up to you and ask if you need assistance, its a courtesy, and they usually only do it once in my experience. Anything more than that, I'd agree would be annoying. But you can't handle them asking you once? Shit, cool out.
Retail establishments approach you and ask if you need assistance for two major reasons:
1) Good customer service
2) It helps to prevent theft. If a would be thief knows that they are being watched they will be less likely to steal. Retailers often use aggressive customer service if they believe that a person is about to steal.
Yeah pc world world springs to mind, every 5 seconds you get some nob jockey sayin 'can i help you with anything', no i don't need your fuckin help and i know more about computers than you do. The one time i actually needed help concerning a graphics card no one in the shop could help me even the useless prick behind the help desk didn't know what i was on about.
I only ever got asked that if I was in the shop looking for a while. But I usually just go find someone who works there and ask myself for help.
I'm just happy the shopkeepers don't say: What are you buying stranger!? I've heard it too much from the Resident Evil 4 shop guy, I just ended up shooting him.