How do you deal with phone shop sales people?

Curio · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:04

You think it's bad in the UK? Try shopping here in the US! The thing is though, it's a different mindset over here (particularly in the Midwest, where I am) as shoppers generally want to be approached, and will even complain if they're not approached within a time they deem acceptable. As a shopper, that means VERY overbearing staff. As a retail employee (which I have been...) it's hard to adjust out of the Brit mindset that people just want to be left the heck alone

RomanNose · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:06

I look into their eyes for 30 seconds, twist my head and whisper into their ear " I am just browsing thank you". Then I proceed to do the moonwalk and do a cartwheel. Usually works.

DJMK4 · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:09

If you see them stand next to you just shout "Don't touch my penis!!!" that will make them leave.

oldbag · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:10

not another one of these threads.

robmol · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:11

Force persuade them that you do not need their help and will leave you alone.

arknor · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:16

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.

LOLWUT? i always say just browsing even if im plannong on buying something..
because i want peace and quiet to make up my own ******* mind not some ******** trying to tell me what i need

"andy" · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:17

"is there anything you are looking for sir"

"no"

I don't see why this is a problem :/

DJMK4 · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:20

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.

I thought we were allowed to peruse at free will?

If I found out a shop had a policy on no time-wasting, I would simply not shop there.

What about the millions on high-street who clog up clothes shops changing rooms and decide they don't want it.

Duke · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:20

Shock as shop you walked into wants to know if you wish to buy anything.

Rids · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:28

arknor said:
LOLWUT? i always say just browsing even if im plannong on buying something..
because i want peace and quiet to make up my own ******* mind not some ******** trying to tell me what i need

I think you miss the point of approaching you, I would not have approached you to tell you what to buy (although I conceed some people would always try and push crap on people). My favourite sales were always the ones that involved an informed customer telling me what they want, and getting it all done and dusted in 10 minutes flat. It was the same commission for me, for much less work.

DJMK4 said:
I thought we were allowed to peruse at free will?

If I found out a shop had a policy on no time-wasting, I would simply not shop there.

What about the millions on high-street who clog up clothes shops changing rooms and decide they don't want it.

Ah sorry, I think you misunderstood my last quote paragraph for official policy, its not. Its simply how I (and a number of people I have worked with over the years) felt about people who would come into stores with no intention of purchasing.

BunnyKillBot · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:35

Rids said:
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?

Is that with reference to Vodaphone? If it is, i will make sure never to go in one of those shops every again.

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.

Actually, i was looking for the best contract deal i could get for my misses who dropped her PaYG phone in the bath the other day. She was in work at the time, and i had 'some time to kill'. I had no intention to immediately buy there and then, but if i found the right thing i would direct my misses in that direction.

Again for clarification, is that with reference to Vodaphone? Great customer service.... one to definitely avoid.

The assumption that if your not immediately ready to buy, if your checking the shops out for the best deal, then you are waste of space, what a business model. Want me to bend over now while you shaft me?

BunnyKillBot · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:43

aaron said:
Im one of those so called "parasite, leeches" and i have to say what youve said has annoyed me somewhat
...

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....

Thing is, i am not retarded, and i can read. All the information i want is written on your marketing. No offence, i am sure you are a great employee, but i don't need you. At all. If i want your help, i will ask for it. The problem seems to be the inability of many of these employees to discern who is 'approachable' and who is 'browsing'. If i have got my full cup head phones on, do you think i want your help? There is a difference between me giving you the cold shoulder from the word Go, and a middle aged women looking all confused and befuddled. Use some common sense man.

SexyGreyFox · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:45

If anybody approaches me in any shop I just say "I'm browsing and I will walk out of the shop if you approach me again".
Works every time.

i5aces · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:53

I usually like to look around in my own time, then when I want help. Will ask for it.

semi-pro waster · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:54

I don't tend to go into phone shops all that often but for them or any other shop I find that simply saying "no thanks, I'm just browsing right now" tends to work fine. Maybe I manage to come across as completely anti-social and they will therefore leave me alone or maybe I've just been lucky but generally shop assistants seem to respect that when I say I'm browsing then that's what I mean.

aaron · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:57

BunnyKillBot said:
Thing is, i am not retarded, and i can read. All the information i want is written on your marketing. No offence, i am sure you are a great employee, but i don't need you. At all. If i want your help, i will ask for it. The problem seems to be the inability of many of these employees to discern who is 'approachable' and who is 'browsing'. If i have got my full cup head phones on, do you think i want your help? There is a difference between me giving you the cold shoulder from the word Go, and a middle aged women looking all confused and befuddled. Use some common sense man.

none taken, i may have over reacted as i had just dealt with a customer who was extremely rude despite me trying my very best to help him so was a bit irate if im honest so sorry.

In terms of the phone prices/tarriffs etc you would actually be extremely surprised at the ammount of people that need a helping hand with understanding and choosing. Of course ther are a few people like you who are fine to investigate themselves whats what exactly. But there are many more who just need a bit of help especially in regards to our opinion on phones etc. Someone like you i would happily leave alone and if i can detect that you genuinally are just browsing ill just say a simple friendly hi if you look at me when you go past and so on. However as mentioned a lot of people do actually need help so unfortunately at risk of annoying people like you we have to treat everyone pretty much the same.

For example if you were wearing your headphones though id just leave you well enough alone as you obviously dont want to chat

.

4Play · 23 Mar 2012 at 18:05

BunnyKillBot said:
Is that with reference to Vodaphone? If it is, i will make sure never to go in one of those shops every again.

Actually, i was looking for the best contract deal i could get for my misses who dropped her PaYG phone in the bath the other day. She was in work at the time, and i had 'some time to kill'. I had no intention to immediately buy there and then, but if i found the right thing i would direct my misses in that direction.

Again for clarification, is that with reference to Vodaphone? Great customer service.... one to definitely avoid.

The assumption that if your not immediately ready to buy, if your checking the shops out for the best deal, then you are waste of space, what a business model. Want me to bend over now while you shaft me?

Is it only me who thinks the op is contradicting themselves ? You Just talked about customer service been lacking but what you fail to understand is that these companies/employees are scored on this kind of customer interaction.

If you dont like it then why not just not go into any of the branches and just browse online ?

Seems a typical thread from someone who has never ( thankfully ) had to work in that enviroment and is complaning about a 10 second phrase which requires no effort to utter.

BunnyKillBot · 23 Mar 2012 at 18:17

4Play said:
Is it only me who thinks the op is contradicting themselves ? You Just talked about customer service been lacking but what you fail to understand is that these companies/employees are scored on this kind of customer interaction.

If you dont like it then why not just not go into any of the branches and just browse online ?

Seems a typical thread from someone who has never ( thankfully ) had to work in that enviroment and is complaning about a 10 second phrase which requires no effort to utter.

And you sound so ingratiated with this shady industry practice that you are unable to separate customer service from human interaction. For example, a self service machine at a super market gives great customer service without any human interaction at all*

Is there a poster on the wall explaining the data plans? Thats good customer service. Are the functional handsets around the store switched on and operational? Thats good customer service (very often, they are not). Is the pricing clear and readable? Thats good customer service.

In this case, being able to browse your data plans/phones without being hounded - thats good customer service.

Do you deny that high street phone shops are structured to minimise consumer freedom, using a pressure selling environment to generate a quick sale that is not necessarily the best deal for the customer?

*subject to scales which never seem to be properly balanced, and purchase of age restricted goods

King Damager · 23 Mar 2012 at 18:19

Dimple said:
If anybody approaches me in any shop I just say "I'm browsing and I will walk out of the shop if you approach me again".
Works every time.

Sounds good...

Personally in phone shops when they ask me if I want some help I tend to ask a question I know they won't know the answer to. Same for Pc shops. Outgeek them and let them know who the alpha geek is.

kd

Begbie · 23 Mar 2012 at 18:32

Last time I upgraded I popped into T-Mobile. I knew I wanted the Desire, but wasn't sure as some Sony was out at the same time.

The guy could not have been more helpful, got both phones out and let me have a play with both of them. He was very helpful and in no way pushy. His manager came out, and she had a chat too. Was the most pleasant mobile phone upgrade ever.

Due an upgrade soon and will be going back to the same shop, without a doubt.