Overheard while in line

[autopsy_survivor]

I have worked in retail for the past 7 years. At the moment, I'm working for three different companies, all retail.

The drug store we don't really have to upsell and aren't pushed to do so... except in one of my departments (electronics). They want us to have such high sales and they just aren't there. I mean, it's a drug store, the majority of people aren't going to go there to buy a printer or camera (with the exception of redeeming a promotional thing). We ask if they need a memory card/case/batteries, etc but don't push it. The worst part of it is that we are supposed to upsell to reach a goal in our department, but half of the stuff in that department isn't considered electronics!

My demonstrating job is pretty good because I'm not there to sell actual product. We are supposed to keep track of how many coupons we give out and how many people purchase our products while we're there (it's a pet food company, the stores are usually pretty small so keeping track is easy). If we're not hitting our targets there, they just ask us to focus more of our hours to stores that sell more of our products but we rarely abandon stores. I have one that I don't demo at any more because the management always wanted us to set up in the worst locations and we had a really hard time booking there. They obviously didn't want us (which would have been fine) but wouldn't come out and say it.

My third job (pet store) is a great job, but we're really pushed to upsell. At the end of the night we have to calculate the dollars per transaction (DPT) and let the owner know. If we are lower than $30, we get a big speech about upselling the next time we're in. It's really hard to upsell the customers that stop in everyday while they're walking their dog to get them a treat (Usually 50 cents or less).

I never really put much effort into upselling, sometimes I ask them if they need something related to the item they're buying (buying litter, ask if they need liners) because I usually forget those types of things when I'm buying things and get distracted. I'm never pushy though.

[Candini]

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.)

lol so funny this happened to me to. by the second person i cut them off and say i already heard.
can always tell when the management is working....

[MomOfOne79]

having worked in a clothing store for 10 years, I can tell you that up-selling is king!!! I hated it with a passion and would never 'corner' someone into buying something. That was TERRIBLE up-selling none the less!!! Not to mention that poor people waiting in line to make a purchase!! There is a time and place, and that was not it!!

[Stifler]

Now that's a cashier that i want working for me!!!! AWESOME!!!!

I love how people are fake in business!!!

Prey on the self esteem of customers!!!

[hollyquaiscer]

LOL, talk about customer service! It's great for the store to have someone so driven to sell, but I would feel sorry for all the other customers waiting in line to be served. I think it is very presumtuous of the clerk to say she thought she knew the ladies taste as well. Usually, by the time we reach the till to check out, we have cruised through the store and picked up everything we want. Some people are on the shy side, so instead of hurting the clerks feelings, it's easier to select something they show you.

I hope that lady learns to say know before she shops there again, and the clerk realizes that there are others with small children who can't wait to get out of the store.

BTW, great olay by play, lol!

[RebeccaRYoung]

I have mixed emotions about this type of 'upselling'. Sometimes I wish the salesperson would be more helpful and possibly make some suggestions, especially if I'm purchasing a couple of items at a clothing store. I've found that more often than not, my purchases are stuffed into a plastic bag and handed over without even a thank you or have a nice day. This salesperson seems a little dim-witted since there are other people in the line that she could also talk to.

[Minou]

I think it would be nice to have salespeople who are friendly and "real", and who have their customers' best interests in mind. A comment like, "Oh, did you see the sweater that goes with this line?" might be better... then the person could ask to see it if they had missed the fact that there was a coordinating item they might be interested in. I honestly think I'd buy more from someone like that. The phoniness of this particular salesclerk was unbelievable... it was like she was mocking the customer by seeing how far she could push it.

On another note, I bought a new vehicle today.... and I really dislike the whole process... Why can't a person just order a new car online? I wish salespeople were just on salary... they just seem like seagulls after bread.