How do you deal with phone shop sales people?

BunnyKillBot

BunnyKillBot

BunnyKillBot

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I hate, and i mean HATE going in to high street phone shops, because of the overly aggressive sales people and high pressure sales environment. Some times though, i like to check out phone shops to see whats hot, where the good deals are and planning my next upgrade.

But **** me these parasite employees are like little ticks that leech on to you from the moment you walk in the door with a 'can i help you with anything'. Sometimes, even when i disarm them with a 'no, i am just browsing thank you' I may get a 'are you looking for anything in particular?'.... No... I am just browsing thank you. I have even tried browsing with sunglasses and headphones, the persistent ******* still get in your face to 'help you'. When you check out all the phone shops, close together in a high street environment, its irritating having to repeat the same verbatim in every single one.

What i am really thinking is 'No, **** off' but i don't want to be That Guy:

edit: bah video is blocked, its from Black Books, when Manny bets Bernard he can sell a book and the guy he approaches rips in to him because he is just browsing.

So people of OcUK, how do you deal with these cesspit of retail workers?

edit edit: There may be some decent employees out there, there may be some on this forum, but it does seem to me your industry hires an abnormally large volume of total *****
 
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Jay794 said:
Simple, I say "Just looking" and they leave me alone
Click to expand...

Ah, but lets imaging i am looking for the best phone for the cheapest contract, so i check out all 10 phone shops on my high street. I have to repeat 'just looking' 10 times, and respond to 'are you looking for anything in particular' at least 3 or 4 times.

Perhaps its in the way of the saying. Does one need to do Crazy Eyes - The glint of a madman - Or perhaps should i don a bright orange boiler suit / horror mask before entry?

edit: Is there anywhere i can buy a 'I do not need your assistance' t-shirt?

edit: I am quite liking this :



With a dead pan stare.
 
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tell them your just keeping upto date with phones designs and prices for when you next go out robbin dem bloods init bra
 
Ask them the difference in two pretty similar phones, that will stump them and they will leave you alone.
I once asked "whats the difference in this htc mozart and another htc phone" "oh they are both andriod phones" was the reply.. when i said they were both windows 7 she ****ed off and left me to browse.

these people are only doing the job they have been employed to do, if you don't like them don't go in!
 
Well funnily enough I used work at CPW and was instructed to approach people and ask open questions to find out what they wanted.

Needless to say it annoyed the hell out of me doing it, but what you have to understand is on the flip side of the coin, if these people do not do as instructed by the company and they fail to approach a mystery shopper they get a right going over as to why they did not approach them.

But yes it is highly frustrating, but they are doing the job they are paid by their employer to do.

If you don't like it just simply buy your phone online/over the phone.
 
It all depends on the store that you're going into - places like Phones4u are high pressure sales environments where if you are unable to meet your targets they will find somebody that can. The network stores are still targetted but staff have to be a respresentetive of the brand also.

Speaking from my experience working for Vodafone, you were given set objectives, greet a customer within 30 seconds of them walking through the door. Ask an engaging question, etc etc. You were mystery shopped up to 4 times a month and assessed and such, a failure from one person could cost each individual in a store up to £300 a month, and cost the store manager close to £1,000. You may not like it, I did not like doing it, but for £300 a month I dont particular care and I'm just going to do it.

It does all depend on the advisor of course, some people became robots parotting whatever the phrase of the month is at that time, others like myself would greet you far more informally, and then back off and give you two minutes to browse before approaching again.

Another benefit to engaging you early is that if you're a time waster, it will encourage you to leave. No offense but unless you were buying, or speaking to us about a customer service issue, I do not want you in my shop. Just browsing... really? So you were walking past a shop, mid contract, and thought you'd pop in and look at new phones to kill time? Get out. Seriously.
 
Im one of those so called "parasite, leeches" :rolleyes: and i have to say what youve said has annoyed me somewhat, I work in O2 so that may be the difference as they have a completely different ethos in the way they practice from other companys however...

All I ever do in my job is try to help people but a lot of the time I get people who like you rub it back in my face and you just think why the hell should I bother. Im not just another drone and know the ins and outs of all the phones that we stock and spend many and hour reading up and testing out all the new stuff.

Yes I do the whole "can I help you?" shabang but im not trying to con the life out of you. I am just genuinally asking whether you need any help and if not its no problem. Ill leave you to it and thats that. There is no need to imediatly take the attitude that im a **** and just trying to make money off people. Im honestly just there to help whatever the situation.

As mentioned I work in an O2 shop so that may be the difference as I know the likes of carphone warehouse and P4U are not the best but please dont paint us all with the same brush.
 
Rids said:
Another benefit to engaging you early is that if you're a time waster, it will encourage you to leave. No offense but unless you were buying, or speaking to us about a customer service issue, I do not want you in my shop. Just browsing... really? So you were walking past a shop, mid contract, and thought you'd pop in and look at new phones to kill time? Get out. Seriously.
Click to expand...

Haha, i'd love to see this in action :)
 
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