Overheard while in line

[JennyFromTheRock]

Okay... let me give you the transcript and the situation:

In line at Ricki's to pay for something. Two cashiers with customers at the counter. Other staff wandering the store. Four other customers in line, two of us with babies in strollers. One cashier busy doing what seemed like a return and an explanation of the pants loyalty card program. A middle-aged woman wearing baggy pants and running shoes at the other cashier. The tone of the cashier like a person trying to sell the excitement of broccoli to a three year old, and at a volume level appropriate to staff at a nursing home.

Cashier: "Oh, these are the perfect pants! Weren't they just the perfect pants! Didn't they fit incredibly? Aren't they slimming? They're our best pants ever! Did you try them on?"

Woman: Oh, yes, I think they'll work.

Cashier: Oh, I know you'll be back to get more... they're just perfect! Oh, and look at these two gorgeous t-shirts! Red and brown! Such incredible colours on you!

Woman: Mmmm... they're very nice.

Cashier: And all the jewellery is now 50% off today, just for YOU!" Do you want to buy some jewellery? Look -- that whole rack over there! It's all 50% off!

Woman: What's my total?

Cashier: It's $93.00 right now... such a great price for these three great items! I know! I'll go and pick out some jewellery that I think you'll like! Just a minute!

****

Cashier: Look, we have these earrings with the black stones, and these dangly ones with the red -- I KNOW you like red! Am I right? Am I right? And we have these purple ones...

Woman: Umm... I don't think so...

Cashier: Oh, just a second! I'll get some others! Look! Bracelets! Look at these beautiful bracelets with all of the stones around them! These would go so well with the earrings as well!

Woman: Umm... maybe this one.

Cashier: Oh, the purple one? You like purple? Good choice! It's such a beautiful colour! It goes with everything!

Woman: I guess so...

Cashier: Okay, your total is now $103.xx. Is there anything else you need? A jacket or sweater, maybe?

Woman: Maybe...

Cashier: Oh, you're just so cute... just adorable. I'll pick something out from you. I think I know your taste and what you would like. Just a minute... come with me...

And we were all still in line.

lol... hillarious!! You should be a writer!! You set it up and described it so well I felt like I was there!!!

[Lyssia510]

I would have just left my stuff on the counter and left the store. I hate pushy sales people.

[krysta lynne]

i laughed :D

sooo funny!


though as someone waiting in line? ugh. thats annoying

[lghend]

I haven't shopped in the Body Shop for years because of the pressure sales, mobbed as soon as you walk in and multiple employees following you asking if you're looking for something in particular. I was saddened to see Bath and Body Works do the same thing last time I was in. I try to avoid eye contact and turn my back but some saleswomen are ruthless!

[salady]

Geez if that were me, I would've dropped everything and walked right out of the store. Hate hate hate pushy sales associates!!!! Please let me buy what *I* want...I stick to a budget and allow myself a certain amount of money I'm willing to spend. Upselling just pisses me off.

[salady]

I haven't shopped in the Body Shop for years because of the pressure sales, mobbed as soon as you walk in and multiple employees following you asking if you're looking for something in particular. I was saddened to see Bath and Body Works do the same thing last time I was in. I try to avoid eye contact and turn my back but some saleswomen are ruthless!

Same thing happened to me at a B&BW once. Everywhere I went, the same sales associate was there right behind me practically breathing down my neck. I finally told her I'd like to be left alone to shop and if I need assistance, I'll come and get her...she got the message and walked away. Some people...

[rehender]

I worked at Northern Reflections for one summer.... our hours were based on sales... you sell more you get more hours. I hated it. Managment wants you to sell expensive clothing to people who are only there to buy one thing that they can afford... and having to sell the stupid friends cards... they wanted you to have a particular percent of customers to have it... it tanks your numbers when you have 3 customers that only shop in the store maybe once a year...

[cally]

Gotta love some people who sell retail. I was in retail for over 10 years and there's some people who have the knack for upselling without it appearing like you're upselling and some that obviously don't. Lol. Sounds like that sales person was trying to reach a quota. You would think that someone would have helped this lady BEFORE she reached the counter to pay? Hope the rest of your shopping trip went smoother....

[Mich649]

I worked at Northern Reflections for one summer.... our hours were based on sales... you sell more you get more hours. I hated it. Managment wants you to sell expensive clothing to people who are only there to buy one thing that they can afford... and having to sell the stupid friends cards... they wanted you to have a particular percent of customers to have it... it tanks your numbers when you have 3 customers that only shop in the store maybe once a year...

I worked at NR also, though I was the manager in training. I hated having to pressure people into buying. If I am looking for a top to go with something, I am not going to buy a belt, socks, sweater, pants, etc. Usually I only have a set amount of money to spend, and trying to upsell me is going to have the opposite effect. I will walk out. Pretty much every place you shop now, the staff are expected to upsell. They even hire mystery shoppers to check up on staff, to make sure they are following the "sales rules". To the business, it all boils down to the profit.
Even though this story is pretty funny (you really did a great job relaying it, lol!), I feel sorry for this lady who seemed to not be able to say no.

[GracieAnne]

Same thing happened to me at a B&BW once. Everywhere I went, the same sales associate was there right behind me practically breathing down my neck. I finally told her I'd like to be left alone to shop and if I need assistance, I'll come and get her...she got the message and walked away. Some people...

Same thing happened to me in Bath and Body Works, I was there with a friend and we let a sales associate do a little speal and she walked away. It was literally 30 seconds later and a different sales associate came over and started in on the same speal we just heard.
We rolled our eyes and listened and let her finish.
After she finished and walked away, within another 30 seconds a DIFFERENT sales associate comes again and starts in on the same thing we've heard twice already.

We told her we are already looked after, so she walked away. We looked at each other and just walked out, because we couldn't even shop.

(Sad thing is, as we were walking out, we were hounded once again by the first sales associate. We just kept walking.)

[Midnightly]

They're probably being pushed hard to upsell now. It's not yet Christmas, and with the season change I'm assuming most women who might shop there are out buying for their kids for back to school, not for themselves. It's too early to REALLY start hawking the fall clothes at people either, since it's still so warm.

i'm pretty sure it's a case of being pushed to upsell (heck it's the whole reason they have the highly overpriced jewelry.. so they can put it onsale at 50% to make people think it's a good deal lol) i'm not sure if Ricki's is this way but i've worked in clothing stores where they set selling "goals" (items per transaction, and $$ value) and if you beat your goal you get a bonus

[Evil.Kitten]

they probably have daily sales quotes.. i had that working at penningtons..told to do the same thing..but they call it "wardrobing".

I never followed the rules.. I told people about sales that were really good deals and that the jewellry was garbage which it is. Or told customers the truth.. "No those pants don't slim you down.. they make you look boxy.. Try the new york cope.. they are more fitted and would look nicer". or "Try this colour.. it brings out your eyes" etc etc. Lots of women were getting bad advice when i worked there years ago..

But i went back recently [all new women minus 1 very sweet old doll who still works there] and got some similar advice about pants, lol.

I hated pressuring people because I noticed people felt like me.. like i was trying to be forced into items i didn't want.

Meh.. I just tell them off the bat when I'm greeted that I'm here for this or that and nothing else.. but if I happen to see something at a very good price and i like it I'll grab it, thanks. lol

[Poirot]

Years and years ago my Mum and Dad,their friend and I were at a furniture store.My Mum and Dad's friend just drove them there she wasn't looking to buy.My Mum and Dad's friend and I were just browsing around.This sales lady approached my Mum and Dad's friend trying to sell her furniture.She told the sales lady she was just drove friends and they were the ones buying my Mum and Dad were with a salesman and she was just browsing around while they decided on their furniture.The sales lady was arguing with her that she had just came in the door.

[coupongirl99]

That would have made me drop everything and walk away.

[ashokia]

Ugh, that poor lady has been me but not at Ricki's, at Laura Plus. OMG. I walked into that store intending to buy one shirt on clearance for $10 and ended up spending almost two hundred dollars!

And there is this stall that sold these nail care packages Dead Sea or something. I totally got sucked into buying not one but TWO packages (I was with my mom and was expecting her to say No which she is good at but she didn't for some reason). I still have to walk by that stall every day but now when they ask if I want to try something I'm very snappy with them. If I didn't want it yesterday, or the day before, or the day before that, then LEAVE ME ALONE! Argh. So frustrating. I hate not being able to say no!