Salespeople dialogue

Quick question: When a salesperson wants to know if you "need any help" - and you don't - what is your general response?

I usually just say, "No thanks, I'm just looking."

Is this a proper response?

Am I overanalyzing this?

Yes, Yes. If you want to mix it up a bit, keep it exciting, you might try "I'll let you know if I need some help, thank you." This is a more assertive statement that shows you are the top gorilla. This can be combined with display of staring with open mouth to further establish the pecking order.

Originally Posted by chuckseabreeze

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Quick question: When a salesperson wants to know if you "need any help" - and you don't - what is your general response?

I usually just say, "No thanks, I'm just looking."

Is this a proper response?

Am I overanalyzing this?

I tell them to get out of my face, then I throw a few things and tell them that they should be more concerned about the appearance of the store rather than harassing a customer.

"No thanks, I'm just looking." = Leave me alone.

"Thank you, I've already been helped." = Go away, this potential sale is going to someone else.

"I'll let you know if I need some help, thank you." = Go away but not too far as I'm going to buy something.

FWIW, when I worked a retail floor I would always ask, "Have you been helped?" This limits the confusion for all parties involved when a customer asks two sales associates for help. Commission environments can get 'stressful' this time of year.

Je ne parle pas Anglais,Non parlia Inglese or No hablo Ingles but the last one is less efficient nowadays in America....

Haha, I just feel like its a very played out drill that happens each and every time I walk into a retail store. The problem is that after lurking here at SF for a while, I feel like I know more about clothes than most of the people working retail anyways. Furthermore, sometimes I really am just looking.

But I guess its a karma thing. God forbid that I actually have to ask for help with something like shoes, which I no doubt need to do in order to purchase several pairs .... from the internet! (and hopefully from members on this board at that!

And I do understand that they have mouths to feed, but obviously it can still be quite annoying!

Originally Posted by Hard2Fit

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. . . FWIW, when I worked a retail floor I would always ask, "Have you been helped?" This limits the confusion for all parties involved when a customer asks two sales associates for help. Commission environments can get 'stressful' this time of year.
I really don't like the commission system or the idea that I belong to a particular salesman. I recall one instance where a newish salesman spent a lot of time helping me, even going so far as to pull something I wanted off a store display because it was the only item left in my size, only to have my "usual salesman" snatch the commission at the register. It was an internal matter and not my concern, but I didn't like it. I have also had a salesman pass me to my "usual salesman" when I walked in though I, seeing the usual guy was busy, had asked him for help. I know why it happened -- the salesman I asked didn't want to get tied up with me and work for someone else's commission and then miss the chance on the next walk-in -- but that meant I had to wait. Not for long, but almost long enough for me to walk out.

The rule should be that stores can have whatever compensation structures they want, but it should all be managed from behind the curtain and invisible to the customer. I come to a store to shop, not to distribute commissions. If I know what is going on, then I am not getting the best experience possible.

Originally Posted by chuckseabreeze

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Haha, I just feel like its a very played out drill that happens each and every time I walk into a retail store. The problem is that after lurking here at SF for a while, I feel like I know more about clothes than most of the people working retail anyways. Furthermore, sometimes I really am just looking.

But I guess its a karma thing. God forbid that I actually have to ask for help with something like shoes, which I no doubt need to do in order to purchase several pairs .... from the internet! (and hopefully from members on this board at that!

And I do understand that they have mouths to feed, but obviously it can still be quite annoying!

It was 100x worse when I went to S. Korea. At one high end department store, I had an associate follow me 5 paces behind at Zegna. I felt like a black guy in a Korean owned LA convenience store. At a discount department store, I had a fool actually grab my sleeve as I was walking past.

Usually, "I Think I'm alright so far" is my standard response. I've also found that complimenting the salesman on something he is wearing will establish the idea (in their mind), that you have good taste and will ask them for their help when you are ready.

I usually say "just looking thanks".

I too hate the individual commission system, and it's so obvious at Brooks and Paul Stuart. I wish they'd go to a team-based commission system where at least I don't feel like I'm being pulled between two salesmen, because at that point I stop going to the store.

i usually say i am just looking around... unless i am actually looking for something - then i will say something

Completely unrelated, but last night after I work, I stopped in Jos A Bank to pick up a velvet dinner jacket ($395 down to $69) for NYE, and the sales manager was my baseball coach in 3rd grade...14 years ago. Freaky that he still recognized me and knew me by name.

Originally Posted by TCN

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I usually say "just looking thanks".

I too hate the individual commission system, and it's so obvious at Brooks and Paul Stuart. I wish they'd go to a team-based commission system where at least I don't feel like I'm being pulled between two salesmen, because at that point I stop going to the store.

It has been mentioned before but Paul Stuart is quite possibly the worst when it comes to browsing. I feel like I am on the verge of being kicked out if I don't buy something within the first five minutes of entering the store.

I tried on a shirt at Sak's and the younger sales man who I initially was talking to pointed to the dressing room and told me the other sales guy would help me when I asked for a fitting room. The other guy was the one who asked if I needed anything else, looked for other sizes, and put away the shirts that didn't work out. I wanted 2nd guy to get the commission so I wanted him to ring me up, but by the time I got to the head of the line, 1st guy comes over suggesting he "helped me out," so they put in 1st guy's employee code. Then he tries to smooth things quickly with 2nd guy by saying, "Wow, and you've been really busy today huh and made a lot of sales?" First guy didn't do **** except answer some questions. But, it wasn't my problem. I agree, they should deal with commissions behind the scences.

Originally Posted by teddieriley

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I tried on a shirt at Sak's and the younger sales man who I initially was talking to pointed to the dressing room and told me the other sales guy would help me when I asked for a fitting room. The other guy was the one who asked if I needed anything else, looked for other sizes, and put away the shirts that didn't work out. I wanted 2nd guy to get the commission so I wanted him to ring me up, but by the time I got to the head of the line, 1st guy comes over suggesting he "helped me out," so they put in 1st guy's employee code. Then he tries to smooth things quickly with 2nd guy by saying, "Wow, and you've been really busy today huh and made a lot of sales?" First guy didn't do **** except answer some questions. But, it wasn't my problem. I agree, they should deal with commissions behind the scences.

Same thing happened to me at Saks in SF yesterday, I said to the first SA, the one that was talking to an older couple the entire time, that no, you did not help me and yes, she (the other SA) did help me and I want her to be the one that works with me, not you. She did all the work, he just opened a door.

The good looked at me like I was nuts. The sale came to 2k. I guess he thought I was a looky-loo. **** him.

I told him I just moved here and wanted some good SA's to call me and work with me. He kept apologizing and saying he wanted the relationship with the store to get off on a good foot. Idiot. Didn't even take my number down for a follow up.