Are Average Men Scared by the Salespeople?

Do you think it's possible that, if hassled too much or 'tricked' into regrettable purchases, men will generalize and, say, go to Target instead of shops with roving salespeople? By the way, do you think that certain types of shops (for example, department stores vs. boutiques) have a different quality of salesperson?

Yes, they are intimidated, yes there are different levels of salesmen ( I like the Bergdorf guys, I gain an annoying shadow when I walk into other stores). High end stores are usually high end across the board, and they attract a knowledgable customer on average. Mid to low dept stores attract another level of shopper, and you are as likely to see women buying the clothes for their husbands as you are to see the husbands shopping. Generalizations with exceptions I'm sure but this has been my experience.

I used to avoid stores that had unoccupied salesmen.

Now I aim for them.

Customer service people who work in stores where people expect knowledge of them will invariably go get that knowledge to avoid being constantly embarrassed.

even though i've been on the SF for over 2 years and have gained a lot of knowledge regarding men's fashions, i will say that i do find it somewhat intimidating to walk into the suit section of say a Neiman Marcus or Saks. i guess part of it is knowing that i won't be buying any goods at full retail and maybe that comes off on the salesperson? i also very rarely purchase at brick and mortar establishment and do enjoy the relative anonymity of online shopping.

on the other hand, the absolute best shopping experience was at Wilkes-Bashford in SF. the salespeople knew that i wasn't going to purchase a thing but they were so nice and helpful.

and slightly OT, but same goes for Tiffany's. my first time walking in i was intimidated but the 5' 10" amazingly hot blond that helped me was just the nicest person.

anyway, just a couple of my experiences.

-Jeff

Are we being used as a free focus group? How is this a discussion about clothes?

Off the top of my head, I can think of five different kinds of salespeople in the stores I shop at:

• Old guys who dress weird and give bad advice but don't bother trying to push a sale if you're wearing Street clothes.
• Younger girls and guys who are nice and give good advice when they can but do things like complement exactly one item you're wearing every time you walk in.
• Youngish store owners who can be helpful or can be a little too helpful.
• Old store owners who are on another planet.
• Department store staff who you only see from a distance or out of the corner of your eye but are reasonably helpful if you catch one in a trap.

Originally Posted by Newton

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I used to avoid stores that had unoccupied salesmen.

Now I aim for them.

Customer service people who work in stores where people expect knowledge of them will invariably go get that knowledge to avoid being constantly embarrassed.
Unless you go into Bloomingdales and the guy is wearing a suit jacket that extends well below his fingers almost to his knees and who tries to hard sell you on illfitting clothes.

I find that boutique salesstaff are best at letting you know they're there to help, they keep a distance while you browse & try on, and are there when you finally need assistance.

Commonly accessible dept stores have the most annoying salesmen, esp Nordstroms men's shoes

Higher end Dept stores usually have good SA, where they leave you alone until you need him

the typical male shopper doesnt go into boutiques or high end dept stores so yea, they'll prolly be turned off by the salesstaff at the accessible dept stores

I have different shopping techniques depending on where I am.

For department store, if I'm at a Bloomingdales, I don't have as high an expectation of service as compared to a Bergdorf Goodman. This is especially during any kind of sale, when I'm convinced they hire people from McDonald's reject line. I usually like to be left alone at these places as most sales people I've encountered there tend to be a drain, unhelpful, and inconvenient. I seem to have the same experience as edmorel in that I also have a tendency to pick up annoying shadows.

At boutiques I expect highly knowledgeable people and personal service. I'm probably there for a reason given the specific nature of a boutique. The first time going into a boutique store, however, can be very intimidating given the typically smaller and more personal atmosphere. Also, I personally feel that boutiques place more of a knowledge burden on the consumer. For example, why are you in John Lobb instead of JM Weston two blocks down? Maybe its me, but if I don't know a lot about a particular company, I'm less likely to check out their boutiques than I am to get an idea of their quality elsewhere first.

Arg

Barneys salesmen are wack.

I used to get intimidated by salesmen at nice stores and, as a result, I would spend too much. I got over that.

There's a TV sketch comedy show in the UK called That Mitchell and Webb Look. One of the recurring sketches is entitled "The Honeymoon's Over" in which one of the characters invariably plays a bad tempered, condescending and agrressive person (e.g., waiter, vicar, clothing salesman etc.) Here's the one with the waiter: Here's the one with the vicar: There's one version where he plays a proper old-fashioned clothes salesman. Some of the lines he came up with were pant-soilingly funny, but I can't for the life of me remember a single one. If anyone could find the script or a video-clip that would make for a good discussion.

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Then you have your snob salesperson who wouldn't give you the time of day because you're wearing something found in the streetwear forum. It's not a good idea to underestimate the customer, especially somewhere like LA where the stars often dress like bums. But on the other hand I can see where they get the idea in a tourist trap area like beverly hills, more looky-loos than shoppers.

Pff don't give me attitude when I ask to try a Bond 9 cologne sales lady! Its not like $40 above a mainstream price point makes it unaccesable to the plebians. So much for one of the only distributors in the city, time for pressure free ebay

Yea, and I hate getting stalked while I'm just browsing. It would be one thing if they were helpful, tell me something I don't know. Hmm yes perhaps Armani does make the finest garmets available at a wonderful value as well!

Today I was in Neiman Marcus checking out the Ferragamo/Lobbs and the guy who was on guard (or it seemed like it at least) just kind of nodded at me as I started inspecting the shoes. I was wearing jeans.

30 seconds later an older guy in a blazer and slacks with a few shopping bags walks in from the same direction as me and the guy goes nuts on him. "Oh, how are you, is there anything I can help you with? Would you like to try on any shoes? Just let me know."

I really don't like the salespeople, and I am a bit intimidated by them. Not at normal stores or streetwear stores, but definitely in Men's sections at Neiman Marcus and the like. I think it is mainly because I know I'm not going to buy anything.