"Can I help you find something?", NO, jesus woman, leave me alone! Options

[*souperstition*]

When you're shopping, are you the type of person who totally blows off the salesperson who walks up to you and asks, "Is there anything I can help you with?" or "Are you finding everything alright?" Do you politely tell them you're fine/just looking? Do you actually, heaven forbid, ASK for help when they offer it (that is, assuming you actually are looking for something specific)? Do you find these salespeople who are only doing their jobs annoying?

What about when you're looking in a store and can't find a single person who wants to help you? You see an employee standing several feet away, make eye contact, and they look away and immediately keep walking? Are those nice, friendly, helpful employees so annoying NOW?

Anyway, I'm just curious, because I must tell you that after having just worked an 8 hour shift on my birthday, I'm a little tired of getting rude looks from people who are clearly annoyed that I'm invading their shopping experience by taking ten seconds to give them a polite greeting and ask them if there's anything I can do to help. I'm SICK of getting ignored completely, having people snap back at me, say rude things about me when I walk away (still smiling), JUST for doing my job.

Seriously, though. What would you rather deal with?

[SarahxJoy]

I always say, "Oh no, I'm just browsing. But thank you anyway. " I'm sorry to hear you had a bad day with customers on your birthday.

And yes, I hate it when I need some help but the employee doesn't seem interested at all to offer assistance. I always just go look for someone else so I don't have to deal with attitude.

[technicolour]

That's not fair. I work there! I HAVE to say that!


I'm wearing my Target shirt now. Hell. Think of it like this, it gets hella annoying having to ask EVERY SINGLE PERSON you see that question. And then, having to deal with every single persons answer. Usually it's, I'm fine, thanks..but then what if they really have a question, then you're obligated to go help them.


But what pisses me off is when people totally go off on you. Sure you're irritated. I am, having to talk to a person who feels as bad as I do. But come on. Go to a shrink. Get a blog, for gods sake.


The only way I can get through the day without going off on someone, is telling myself in my head that they're not the cause of my frustration.

[SarahxJoy]

Get a blog, for gods sake.

That is probably THE best advice I've ever heard. Or err, well..seen.

[*Programmer*]

GET THAT SHIT ALL THE TIME! CAUSE I'M A MUTT...f**king people thinking I'm going around trying to steal shit it's hilarious.....guess i have that bad aura bad boy thing going on HAHAHAHA...they actually follow me aroudn the store it's quite annoying.

[technicolour]

OMG DANI DO YOU WORK AT TARGET TOO?!?!!111

[michellerrific]

I know it's their job, and I'm not rude to anyone at all but on the inside, I'm honestly somewhat annoyed. But I can control my outburst.

[*karmakiller*]

Sometimes people will ask me. I get all confused and stuff if I just go down and aisle and someone randomly asks me if I'm finding things okay. I'm shy and awkward, so I'm usually like "um, no, i'm just looking" and then think... wow they think i'm an ass. I usually get followed because they think I'm going to steal something though.

[*Spencer*]

I hate people that can't make up their minds. I hate asking someone if I can get something for them (working in a deli) or if I can suggest something, but usually they just stare and walk away. They even sometimes stand their for 5 minutes making a decision and it looks bad on your part that you're not helping them. Like, they'll say they don't need help, but then someone higher up in the job comes by and wonders why you're not helping them. Maybe it's because they won't make up their damn mind.

[silver-rain]

I usually tell them that I'm just browsing, and smile nicely at them because I understand it's part of their job. But sometimes, I don't like it too much when they follow me with their eyes haha.

[*davinci*]

Working in retail or customer service would probably change that attitude. I'd hate to be unpleasant to someone who just wants to help and it just doing his/her job. At many stores I've been to, employees get commission for how helpful they are and if they boost sales. Can't blame them. Not having employees who don't want to help.. now that is annoying.

[TimeZonesAway]

yeah i usually just say "no thanks; just looking"
or if i'm already in a bad mood or something..i'll say "no im just looking"

i can't say i know how you feel cause i don't work..yet..
but i mean most of the time customers want their peace cause i know a lot of times i don't even intend to buy anything i just KNOW that all im doing there is checking out all the good stuff.
but, personally, i dont mind being asked, most of the time i figure the emlpoyees are either 1.bored 2.dont get a lot of customers so they want to make me feel "welcome" 3.having a really good day and want to be nice to everyone or 4. having a really bad day and just wants the day to get over with but they still have to do their job and be nice.

but there are those people that just dont get it and dont care.

[transcendentalis...]

i'm never impolite to employees at stores, even if they're grumpy. if they are grumpy, i'm just like ummm ok, i'm doing fine! thanks :)

as a restaurant worker, i get so much bullshit from people... haha. i don't think anyone needs more mean/rude people to deal with at their jobs.

[*alovesopure*]

I always try to be nice/polite. I usually just say "No, I'm just looking. Thank you".

[freeflow]

I have to talk to the people. I can't leave a guest unspoken too. So I have a lot of respect for people who work in the malls etc. At first I would be like "eh get away" now I'm cool with it because I have to do it too. I think I've gained courage for asking them questions as well because before I'd be like I can find it myself (if I'm looking for something)

I hate the ones that make eye contact and ignore you. Uh hello... mind doing your job.

[*stephinika*]

I FEEL YOUR PAIN.

I work in retail too and its a part of our job to ask that and I know I always try to help people when they look around for help, but yeah, people can be so rude when I'm just trying to be polite. I hate it. So any where I go now, if people ask me I just say "No thank you." nicely or actually accept their help because I know what a pain it is to have horrid customers.

[Naomitron]

Dani, I'm with you on this one. Especially when you're working with clothing. I've always been polite to the employees, and now that I am an employee, I always hope for the same courtesy. How absurd.

And just to join in the gripe fest, I hate when people grab an assload of clothes to try on and decide not to get anything. It's not that they're not buying anything (which is a bit annoying in and of itself), but the fact that they dump it back on you and expect you to play little Ms. Servant. Um, screw you.

[EmoEyelinerx]

I HATE it when people come up to me and ask if I need help more then once. It really gets me ticked off. If someone asks me if I need help im always say "no thanks, im just looking" becasue I know that its their job and all so I guess its best to be polite. But when someone comes up to me a second time [im thinking: damn i can find my own stuff] but I just go up to them and say "no".

[Detective]

Best Buy employees jump to the conclusion that you always need help when your walk threw there door. And i'm telling them the same thing over and over again, No I'm fine.

But when you actually need help there never around. I'll have to go around the stupid store looking for someone that could help me.

[Crash2]

I don't find them annoying. I try to politely say no thanks or I'm just browsing or something like that.

But they're never close by when you really need them :-/

[*Moderator*]

I don't mind the salespeople that ask if I need help because most of the time I do need help finding a size or figuring out where everything is. I hate it when there's nobody around or they say "I'll be there in a minute" and never come.

[*SayBloodyMary*]

It is actually astounding how much someone being polite can improve your shift..

Yeah, I try to be nice. I rarely decapitate them, even if I want to.

[Gigi]

It doesn't bother me, I'll just say "No, I'm just looking around, but thanks", nicely.

It only ticks me off when they continue to hound me. I hate it when I reach to get a better look at something, and just when I want to put it down, the salesperson goes into a whole lecture about the product. I'm thinking in my head...no, thanks. Please stop. But I have to keep smiling because they're just doing their job. I feel way too pressured to buy anything after that, and usually just walk out of the store.

[monxcheri]

well sometimes, i actually need their help to find something (either because i`m in a hurry or because i just don`t feel like looking) so i respond.

if i`m in a store just to browse around and they ask me, i just say that i`m browsing (politely). i don`t really let them get to me.

[Jeng]

if I need them I'll asy yes help, but not, no thanks, just looking

[angelrevelation]

I'm a bit annoyed when they do that, but I try to be polite and say "Just looking " or something. It gets really irritating though when they keep on at it.
I do sometimes need help though, but usually when I do I just go up and ask.

[*souperstition*]

GET THAT SHIT ALL THE TIME! CAUSE I'M A MUTT...f**king people thinking I'm going around trying to steal shit it's hilarious.....guess i have that bad aura bad boy thing going on HAHAHAHA...they actually follow me aroudn the store it's quite annoying.

LOL I was actually going the other way with this one.. I give every customer the same attention and respect simply because it's my job and I'll LOSE that job if the customer happens to be a mystery shopper and I'm not attentive and helpful. It's not meant to be insulting to anyone or to imply that I think anyone is going to be a shoplifter, by any means.

OMG DANI DO YOU WORK AT TARGET TOO?!?!!111

Haha, I work at Staples. xD You still work at Target, though? Cool!

I FEEL YOUR PAIN.

I work in retail too and its a part of our job to ask that and I know I always try to help people when they look around for help, but yeah, people can be so rude when I'm just trying to be polite. I hate it. So any where I go now, if people ask me I just say "No thank you." nicely or actually accept their help because I know what a pain it is to have horrid customers.

I do the same thing, I was always kind of shy before.. But now that
I've had so much time working in retail, I'm much more friendly to the employees. Even if I'm fairly sure I can find what I'm looking for, I'll ask for it anyway. If I'm just browsing, I'll say something like, "Nah, I just haven't been in here in a while and wanted to look, thanks. " I get so tired of hearing that fake polite "I'm just looking. *turns away*" bit that I try to switch it up so the employee knows I'm making an effort to be genuinely nice to them.

Best Buy employees jump to the conclusion that you always need help when your walk threw there door. And i'm telling them the same thing over and over again, No I'm fine.

But when you actually need help there never around. I'll have to go around the stupid store looking for someone that could help me.

Best Buy is tricky.. Their employees really are on a sort of script. They tell you what they HAVE to tell you because if they don't, their supervisor will cut their hours. The only thing is, like Staples sometimes, Best Buy can be fairly understaffed - AND their employees are bound to a section. In Staples, I work in technology but if someone asks for help in office supplies, I'll help them out. At Best Buy, the person basically refuses to leave their station to help you somewhere else because "that's not their area".

[cyb3r0ptik]

it's been my experience that if i go in to any store to just browse, i'm bombarded by employees. nothing too horrifying, i understand they're doing they're job....

but if i go into a store on a mission to get something, and don't have the time to search for it, or don't WANT to search for it, just want to get it and go, there's not an employee to be found to help me find it. and if i go up to somebody to request their help, they look at me like i'm intruding on their time at work.