Let corporates everywhere understand that we are sick of this constant identity mining. And also the totally unnecessary push for “Extented Warranty”.
Read up in Consumers Digest about this ! Regards…. J.H.T.
People get mad at the retail worker as if they like asking all those questions. Trust me there were times in my job if you didn’t speak the required script your job was on the line.
They even have mystery shoppers trying to catch us out with the ‘mystery question of the month’ – so if you wonder why buying a serial killer’s biography means we ask if you’re interested in a random trashy romance novel… <_<
I remember years ago working the jewelry counter at a former employer, my customer was buying a diamond bracelet for his wife, one for his girlfriend, and one for his lady on the side. The store manager walked up, and kept pressuring him to open a credit account, “You’ll save 10%!” Eventually he looked at me, apologized for wasting my time, and said he was leaving as paying with actual money, was apparently not the interest of my employers.
TJ Maxx and Marshalls now sell actual diamond jewelry? During my two-year stint at Marshalls (which admittedly ended 9 years ago) all I can ever remember seeing was CZ or maybe Swarovski crystal jewelry. Then again, the store I worked at didn’t have a jewelry counter per se, so we may well have just gotten the cheap stuff… but I’m still surprised.
A few years back when I worked at a now defunct big box electronics retailer, we were required to ask every customer at least half a dozen things every time they made a purchase (including — Do you want to buy the extended warranty, do you need any gift cards, do you need any batteries, do you want to sign up for AOL, do you want to sign up for Comcast.) A customer would be buying a CD and if the manager was nearby you had to ask all that nonsense.
I find that annoying too, and when salespeople follow you around a store asking if you need help when all you want to do is browse. But they’re only doing what they’ve been told to do, and they hate it worse than you do because they have to do it with each customer. Hopefully customers will be understanding of that.
Just another reason why I think EVERYBODY should be REQUIRED to work at least a year in a Big-Box Retail job.
Yeah, when I ask these “Would you like to apply for our Credit or Debit card” and then list the benefits or ask for an extended warranty, I generally get two responses when the answer is “No”. The irritated “NO!” and the “No, but thanks for asking” which is generally followed by a “I used to work retail and had to ask those things, so I know how you feel.” by the customer.
After all, whenever I shop at another retail store, I don’t get irritated at them!
According to our management, it’s our fault we can’t sell the stupid company credit card on every transaction. After all, all we need to do is smile and explain the benefits of being a cardholder!
Sometimes I try to explain to management why my numbers were so low. I can’t force the person to do it, but I do get the “you have to ask them THREE times until you stop! REALLY push it!!” Hey I can’t help it if they can’t afford the in store card! I don’t work in the best place in town. I also can’t help it if management happens to get lucky by them staying by the till and having customers come up to them, volunteering to sign up, while I was the one putting away returns at the time…
But of course the one time someone refuses to give a phone number–or tries to be sneaky with a generic office exchange–you are unable to call to let them know their order has a problem or is delayed…
…or has been waiting to be picked up for six months.
So my question is, how do I politely get out of giving my postal code/phone number? I usually just ask why they want to know, which usually gives them the hint, but I feel really awkward doing it, or saying “I prefer not to give that information out.” When I’m buying something with a warranty or from a store I shop with often I don’t care as much, but it’s when the craft store I visit once every 3 years asks for my postal code that I’d rather just not give that kind of thing out. Even if it is only accurate to a 12-block area.
Yes, it’s annoying to ask and get asked, but you idiots do know you can ask those questions AS you’re ringing something up, right? It doesn’t take extra time…good lord
That sucks, getting pressured to ask for info.
Yes, it does. Believe me, we wouldn’t be asking all those questions if corporate didn’t make us.
Let corporates everywhere understand that we are sick of this constant identity mining. And also the totally unnecessary push for “Extented Warranty”.
Read up in Consumers Digest about this ! Regards…. J.H.T.
They don’t care. They need the money and info from the identity mining and extended warranty.
Regards…. J.J.M.
People get mad at the retail worker as if they like asking all those questions. Trust me there were times in my job if you didn’t speak the required script your job was on the line.
They even have mystery shoppers trying to catch us out with the ‘mystery question of the month’ – so if you wonder why buying a serial killer’s biography means we ask if you’re interested in a random trashy romance novel… <_<
Better question: “Do you know about my policy to ask for the phone number of anyone who asks me for mine?”
Hey, it could get him a date.
-I worked for and Retail Automotive chain and in order to do Warranties for parts we had to fill out name, phone number, address.
It sucked… specially in the neighborhood I worked in.
I remember years ago working the jewelry counter at a former employer, my customer was buying a diamond bracelet for his wife, one for his girlfriend, and one for his lady on the side. The store manager walked up, and kept pressuring him to open a credit account, “You’ll save 10%!” Eventually he looked at me, apologized for wasting my time, and said he was leaving as paying with actual money, was apparently not the interest of my employers.
Just come out and say it…TJ Maxx or Marshall’s, right?
TJ Maxx and Marshalls now sell actual diamond jewelry? During my two-year stint at Marshalls (which admittedly ended 9 years ago) all I can ever remember seeing was CZ or maybe Swarovski crystal jewelry. Then again, the store I worked at didn’t have a jewelry counter per se, so we may well have just gotten the cheap stuff… but I’m still surprised.
A few years back when I worked at a now defunct big box electronics retailer, we were required to ask every customer at least half a dozen things every time they made a purchase (including — Do you want to buy the extended warranty, do you need any gift cards, do you need any batteries, do you want to sign up for AOL, do you want to sign up for Comcast.) A customer would be buying a CD and if the manager was nearby you had to ask all that nonsense.
I find that annoying too, and when salespeople follow you around a store asking if you need help when all you want to do is browse. But they’re only doing what they’ve been told to do, and they hate it worse than you do because they have to do it with each customer. Hopefully customers will be understanding of that.
And then the “upsell!” pressure, which runs off more customers who’ve already made the buying decision than it generates in extra $$$ on the sale….
Just another reason why I think EVERYBODY should be REQUIRED to work at least a year in a Big-Box Retail job.
Yeah, when I ask these “Would you like to apply for our Credit or Debit card” and then list the benefits or ask for an extended warranty, I generally get two responses when the answer is “No”. The irritated “NO!” and the “No, but thanks for asking” which is generally followed by a “I used to work retail and had to ask those things, so I know how you feel.” by the customer.
After all, whenever I shop at another retail store, I don’t get irritated at them!
Last job I had to do that at, If I had an irate customer, I’d just call the manager up and let them get the earfull instead.
According to our management, it’s our fault we can’t sell the stupid company credit card on every transaction. After all, all we need to do is smile and explain the benefits of being a cardholder!
Sometimes I try to explain to management why my numbers were so low. I can’t force the person to do it, but I do get the “you have to ask them THREE times until you stop! REALLY push it!!” Hey I can’t help it if they can’t afford the in store card! I don’t work in the best place in town. I also can’t help it if management happens to get lucky by them staying by the till and having customers come up to them, volunteering to sign up, while I was the one putting away returns at the time…
Stuart Bobblehead got his point across
But of course the one time someone refuses to give a phone number–or tries to be sneaky with a generic office exchange–you are unable to call to let them know their order has a problem or is delayed…
…or has been waiting to be picked up for six months.
So my question is, how do I politely get out of giving my postal code/phone number? I usually just ask why they want to know, which usually gives them the hint, but I feel really awkward doing it, or saying “I prefer not to give that information out.” When I’m buying something with a warranty or from a store I shop with often I don’t care as much, but it’s when the craft store I visit once every 3 years asks for my postal code that I’d rather just not give that kind of thing out. Even if it is only accurate to a 12-block area.
Yes, it’s annoying to ask and get asked, but you idiots do know you can ask those questions AS you’re ringing something up, right? It doesn’t take extra time…good lord