STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

NCshopper · Hermes

RE: Customer Service

kenzie · Chanel

Kitty wrote:

The only time I get annoyed at pushy/overly-aggressive sales ladies is when they try to get me to try stuff on while I'm in the dressing room. LOOK, if I WANTED to try that on I would have picked it up.

OMG! When I used to work in retail, the store that I worked in required us to harrass people. Our District Manager was in the store constantly to check up on us and make sure that we were chasing people around (sometimes she would lurk outside the store and spy on us). We actually had a rule when someone was in the fitting room that we had to take note of what they had and for each item they had we were suppose to bring two similar items and one that was compelely different. It was so awful and degrading and embarassing.

I actually got in trouble (as the Store Manager) if every single customer didn't buy at least 4 things (top, bottom, layer, accessory). I'm not kidding. My DM tried to write me up for it. She was the Devil and I worked in the 9th Circle of Hell. And she wondered why I told her she was insane and handed her my two week notice.

That said, I would much rather be left alone in a store. Say hi to me when I come in, but don't chase me around and tell me what's on sale (hello, I can read your damn signage), don't tell me what you think I'd like (hello, I write about fashion and *know* what I like). Honestly, when I'm shopping, I kind of go into a zone and really don't want to be bothered. And sometimes, I get quite cranky b/c I'm infinitely picky and can never find anything that I really like. So yeah, customer service can be bad in different ways--- not enough attention or too much attention. Either way, it ruins my mood and makes me leave a store.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

I like to be left alone as long as the SA acknowledges me with at least a smile. What pisses me off is when it's obvious I've been at a certain area for like 10 minutes and not coming up to ask if I need help or if I'm doing alright.

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

I normally like to be left alone but I also like to be acknowledged. I find sephora has gotten bad lately with poor CS. I find that if I don't have a bit of makeup on they won't acknowledge my presence at all (even while walking right by me) and to ask for help doesn't work well either. It makes me sad since I love that store but has me double thinking what I buy from them now.

kmd · Kate Spade

Allie, you and I are basically on the same page. Being a business owner/self representing designer I really feel like customer service is just as important as the quality of what you're buying. It makes me sick when sales people are rude.

However, I am the kind of person that mostly likes to be left alone. But, I do like to acknowledged when I walk in. If clothes are piling up in my arms, someone asking if I needed help would be appreciated.

tina242 · Kate Spade

I honestly don't expect awesome customer service from a teenager who's making minimum wage. I like to be greeted, and attended to in the fitting rooms. If I need a fitting room I will certainly ask for one, b/c they don't always know if you're ready or still browsing.

I worked in retail a lot throughout my life so I know both sides - both the employee side where you're urged to "pester" them more or less, and the customer side when you want your space.

AllieGurl · Marc Jacobs

kmd wrote:

Allie, you and I are basically on the same page. Being a business owner/self representing designer I really feel like customer service is just as important as the quality of what you're buying. It makes me sick when sales people are rude.

However, I am the kind of person that mostly likes to be left alone. But, I do like to acknowledged when I walk in. If clothes are piling up in my arms, someone asking if I needed help would be appreciated.

This thread is so awesome, I shared this with my sales staff today. My moto : Every customer deserves respect. - say hello, respect there space, be helpful and polite when needed and NEVER prejude anyone.

Glad to know I am not alone ....

cahabo · Kate Spade

I like it when sales people acknowledge me and ask if I need help, but today for instance I was shopping for perfume at Macy's and the lady kept hovering over me the whole time I was there shoving perfume in my face. Smell sensory overload! And to top it off another sales lady tries to get me to smell perfume. I could totally tell they were competing for a sale. But I think that is better than being ignored.

exsupahero · Kate Spade

I prefer to shop alone. If they acknowledge me, hey, hello to you back, but if they don't, eh, I don't care. I expect good customer service when I go pay for my items but I don't care if they don't come up to me because I know what I'm looking for and I don't need anybody else to try and persuade me into buying something else just to make a sale. When it comes to fitting rooms, I'd rather just call someone to get it started; I don't like having to wait around and *hope* someone would finally come around and ask me.

That's not to say that SA think they can be rude to me. I'd totally call them out on it if they were. I expect good service just like everyone else.

I guess I'm an efficient shopper. I take my time and do my own thing. I'm more than willing to let the SA help me if I need it but I just like to do things on my own. Independent shopper I am...