2009.09.25
Want better rapport with sales people?
Has a retail sales person ever annoyed you? Then again, have you ever frustrated a sales person?
I found interesting some of the following tips about how to improve your experience with store sales people. These are tips from author Freeman Hall who wrote the book, "Retail Hell: How I sold my soul to the store. Confessions of a tortured sales associate."
Tell me what you think of some of this advice.
1) Use pushy sales people to your advantage. If you run from them, you may be missing out on great customer service. Let them to show you what's hot if you're trying to find a particular item. But don't let them talk you into buying something that you don't want.
2) Make friends with sales people. If you connect with a particular associate, they'll often give you the heads up on special sales and new merchandise arrivals.
3) Shop early in the day, not five minutes before the store closes. Walking in for an intense shopping session right before closing irriates store associates, and they'll be less likely to give good customer service.
4) Don't talk on your cell phone while a sales person is helping you. They'll likely move on to the next customer because you're not paying attention.
5) Know when and where it's appropriate to haggle for a better deal. This may work at a privately-owned shop but not likely at a chain or larger store.
6) Don't fall for a lying sales person. If a store associate says you look great in an outfit, but you don't like it or don't feel it's right for you, trust your own instincts. Not all sales associates lie to make the sale, but some do.
As someone who did some floor sales at a big box home improvement store, I will wholeheartedly agree with 2-5. Point 1 was something I never involved in, I hate pushy people. Point 6 didn;t apply for what we did.
My biggest pet peeve is the 5 minutes before closing thing. When the stores close, our work continues, usually for at least an hour or longer before we can go home. The longer customers stay in the store past the posted closing time, the later it is before we can move freight, clean, and close down the registers. It was sadly common to have one or two customers lingering well more than 30 minutes past closing, and not only does that impact the sale associate they're talking to, but it holds up the entire store from a lot of their closing activities. It makes it much harder to run power lift equipment, the floor sweepers, and other things. When we don't finish our nightly stocking and cleaning work, that makes it even harder on the folks who open the next morning, and usually results in upper management not being happy. Since they also don't usually allow overtime, we can't simply stay later to make sure we finish either...not that many people want to work until midnight if they don't have to anyway.
Comment by Other John — September 25, 2009 @ 12:48 pm
Pushy sales people should should use their energy to tell people to quit blocking the ailse.
Comment by Jim Stevens — September 25, 2009 @ 1:56 pm
What's the deal with Peppers in Salem? It simply closed up with no notice. There's now a sign saying COMING SOON....CHIANTI INTERNATIONAL CUISINE. What am I to do with the gift card with almost $20 still on it? Guess I'm just SOL.
Comment by Debi — September 25, 2009 @ 3:52 pm
7) Do not force your way into the store before it is scheduled to open. You will infuriate the sales associates and you will not get good service.
Yes- people really do this.
Comment by Business Model — September 27, 2009 @ 12:22 pm