November 9, 2009
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Shopping Mall Vultures
I like shopping and I like buying gifts but I really hate venturing to the mall to buy Christmas gifts. I’ve gotten a little bit of a late start because I’ve been quite busy between work and school. On Saturday, I was able to get a little bit done but not without some added frustration. I met with my wedding planner at a bookstore in a big mall over in VA. After we got finished talking and going over a few things, I ventured into the mall. I guess others had the same idea about shopping on a Saturday as I did. The mall was pretty crowded. One negative. I hate, hate, hate crowds
The second negative is that since the downturn in the economy, I’ve noticed that salespeople have seemingly turned into vultures. The people in the kiosks in the middle of the walkways practically jump you as you walk by. If you even more than glance at an item, you have salespeople that want to get all up on you to get you to buy stuff.
I wandered into Teavana, a store that sells tea and tea accoutrements like it sounds. I had this wonderful idea to get my grandma some items to make loose leaf tea because she liked it so much when we went to tea a few weeks ago while she was visiting. I was practically pounced on by this short cashier. She bombarded me with the usual questions (i.e. what are you looking for today? Have you seen <insert new item here>?). I sort of mumbled something incoherent at her. I never know what to say to salespeople and besides, I knew exactly what I wanted. I was carrying a big bag from other things that I had bought already. Pushy Cashier Lady as she in the midst of warbling at me about the 50 bazillion kinds of tea they had says “Oh, what did you get for lunch???” and then proceeds to take her fingers and PEEK INTO MY BAG. For serious? This stranger who is trying to sell me a bunch of stuff wants to see what else I’ve bought. I said “Excuse me!” and she left me alone. I gathered up the items I was going to buy and got out of there only to be bombarded by kiosk people… I can’t win.
I understand that these people are probably being paid on commission but I’ll tell you one thing, if someone is bothering me, I’m probably not having a good time shopping. If I’m not having a good time shopping, I’m going to be less likely to want to spend money wherever it is that I’m being bothered. Yeesh. I wish I could write that on a sign and wear it to the mall…grr!!!
Comments (20)
she looked into your bag? eww. that’s going way too far. i’d have left, too.
COMMENT CARD.
I can’t believe she actually looked into your bag. I would have flipped. After years of struggles, I have mastered the art of the “don’t f with me stare”. It usually works and if it doesn’t, I just let the kids behave in manners that I never allow them to behave. I absolutely hate shopping for the very reasons you described.
Oh, I hate pushy salespeople. I usually say I’m just looking if they ask if I need any help, even if I know what I want. If I need help, I’ll seek them out.
I can’t believe she peaked into your bag. I too hate pushy sales people. You handled it much better than I probably would have.
Next time I’d have something in the bag waiting to jump out at her and bite her in the face next time she tried that with me :-p
The mall you were talking about wouldn’t happen to be Potomac Mills, was it?
I can’t believe that she actually peeked into your bag. I would have just left and not bought anything. And with those kiosk people? I am rather direct. I say Leave Me Alone. They don’t expect it lol..
Were you at one of the Tysons malls? Those places are huge. I hate malls. I hate shopping. Which sucks because I have two gift cards from last Christmas for mall stores. I still haven’t used them because I just don’t really go to the mall and I don’t buy clothes online because I like to try them on first. What a conundrum.
Anyway, mall sales people suck. I heard someone in my boyfriend’s family got fired from Macy’s for not getting enough people to sign up for store credit cards. That’s crap. If she was doing the rest of her job right why fire her? It’s unfair that the employees pressure people, but it’s also unfair that their companies are giving them no choice. Pressure people into buying or lose your job in a recession. Awesome.
In all seriousness, maybe a t-shirt that says, “I’m here to have enjoy shopping; pester me at your peril.”
I hate dealing with pushy sales people. Especially those at a Dillards. I’m like “Back the fuck up man, I need some space to think. When I’m done I WILL find YOU instead. It’s not like they listen, but if they weren’t so pushy I think more people would buy from them, but Idk what I know anymore. I hope for both of our sakes it stays rather warm this winter. We both deserve it! Take care, Christina
“The people in the kiosks in the middle of the walkways practically jump you as you walk by.” – And you thought that could only happen at nightclubs…haha!
Unfortunately, it’s the sign of the times. There are less shoppers and money coming in, so they are being more aggressive in trying to get sales. You are seeing darwinism play out in the markets. The ones that do nothing will be beat by those who are more aggressive…but not too aggressive like the “purse peeker”.
I also notice that at restaurants, waiters are MUCH more attentive and the owners stops by and asks how things are. It’s clear times are tough and they are stepping it up to get our business. What most folks don’t realize is the failure of Circuit City, Mervyns, Linens and Things, etc.., was just the start- we are going to see a wave of business failures, the likes of which we haven’t seen in decades.
@TheBigShowAtUD - Yeah, I thought about looking up to see if the store had a comment line or something but I kind of forgot about it. In the scheme of things, it’s not too, too big of a deal.
@gwacemom@momaroo - I don’t have kids but maybe I need to borrow some from friends and take them shopping with me to ward off scary cashiers
@Rob_of_the_Sky - I usually say that too but unfortunately the lady looked in my bag before I could get to that point.
@AnamcharaConcepts - I think I would have been a little meaner but I was pretty much stunned that she did that!
@CPKviperphoenix - Maybe I need to invest in a rabid purse puppy or something
This was actually over at Tyson’s. It was a mad house on Saturday!
@butshebites - Now, I wish I could do that! The kiosk people always throw me off a little too much for me to think that quickly!
@FillTheSpace - Yeah, I was over at Tyson’s Corner Center. They really are huge. It took me like two hours to go around the mall and I really didn’t buy too much. I do feel bad for the salespeople because I’m sure that they are being pressured to sell, sell, sell with the sucky economy but I just wish that the employees would do it a little more politely!
@christao408 - I am very, very tempted to get a t-shirt printed like that.
@C_onlythelonely1 - I’m definitely the type of shopper that knows what they want when they go in the store. I’m not a browser and therefore I usually don’t need help picking out what I already know I want to buy.
@SoullFire - Yeah, I’ve definitely noticed that I’ve been getting better, more attentive service in places. That’s nice but I’m not sure that it’s really going to help a lot of businesses that are already in trouble!
@TheCheshireGrins - O.O my Tysons… yea I could only imagine X_X
I had to go to the mall FOUR times this weekend..YUCK….and I love shopping…but not that much~
The kiosk-jumping people reminds me of being in a market at the Dominican Republic. It’s 2nd nature for me to make eye contact with people I see, but boy, did I learn to overcome it.
These kinds of things are exactly why I shop early, make what I can, and avoid the Christmas shopping season. Plus, I get irritated by hearing Christmas music before Thanksgiving.
I was also really struck last time I went to the mall how it’s like big game hunting…..with everyone vying for each other to bag a treasure before someone else does. I am not a mall person.
Yikes! That was really messed up for that lady to look in your bag! I would not know how to react to that. Personally, I think having a kiosk jumping person is useful only if you’re really looking for something. I’d listen to them if they sound friendly, but if they’re going to be persistent like that, I’d get annoyed.
A late start? I consider this early! I can’t believe that cashier looked into your bags. As a former cashier I can say I’ve never done that unless asked….
I thought I was the only one who avoided salespeople like the plague…I even was a salesperson at one point and still can’t take it…
@CPKviperphoenix - Those salespeople down there can be a little stuck up too so the woman probably saw no problem with what she did!
@epiginoskete - The markets in Mexico are like that too. I got very good at not looking anywhere but the ground as I made my way through.
@i_was_there_and_back_again - I think some people choose to leave their manners at home when they go shopping.
@redmakesmeblue - Eh, I get annoyed a little too easily because most of the time, the kiosk people are selling stuff that I would never buy in a million years.
@buckeyegirl31 - I always have a lot of people to shop for so I’ve got to get an early start.
@youandwhosearmy - I think there are a lot of like-minded people in the world
I’ve yet to be pestered lately… kind conversation with sales people, but that’s about it. Then again, in the south we usually are happy just to talk. :D