Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

I know they have to do it- I have worked in retail and I do remember we had this thing were we had to approach and acknowledge the cusotmer within a certain time frame of them entering the sales floor.
I get all that.

But sometimes I feel like when I am at Ulta I spend the entire time dodging salespeople! It's like every single time I go!
I really like to walk around, browse, take my time, touch things, try testers when shopping for make up, etc.
I don't like to be asked at least 3-4 times, "Do you need help?" "Can I help you find something?" etc
If I need help or have a question I will certainly ask someone.
I'm a big girl. I'm pretty good at asking for help if needed.
Every time I go there I feel like I am avoiding eye contact with anyone who works there and trying to slip down aisles unnoticed.

I was just wondering if anyone else was like me or if you actually appreciated being asked if you need help at every turn?

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

I actually hate it. I avoid certain stores because of this at times. I feel like I'm being stalked.

I am like you... I like to take my time, touch things, look around. If I need help, I will ask. BACK OFF!

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

I don't mind it if only one person asks, I say no and then continue shopping. But then when 500 other people come up to me, bugs the crap out of me.

What bothers me even more is when I need someone's help, nobody's around.

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

I hate hate hate hate hate it. Usually if they are pushy and ask more than once, I'm leaving the store. I know a lot of places give a commission but I really just want to be left alone to shop. I'm a big window shopper, too, so a lot of times I'm there to browse and not buy and then I feel pressured.

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

It doesn't bother me as much as people coming up to me and saying can you help me find this or do you work here.

I will leave the store if the sales person is pushy or I'm just in one of those moods to be left alone!

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

I like to be acknowledged when I enter a store and I can appreciate being asked if I need help, because sometimes I know exactly what I want and want to know where to locate it.

I don't like to be asked multiple times- especially if I've already said I'm just browsing the first time. I was at a store once and I told the girl I was just browsing. She saw me pick up a skirt a few minutes later and proceeded to come back over to me and tell me all the multiple colors the skirt came in and more styles like it. I wanted to tell her to back the eff off- but I ended up leaving the store before seeing all they had to offer. There's a very fine line between being nice and being annoying.

Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

I don't mind being greeted once, but I hate when they go into attack mode and I will walk right out. The other day I was in Express waiting for my husband and was just kind of aimlessly looking around. At least 5 salespeople asked I needed help, and one young man kept coming up asking me if I needed anything, informing me about sales, etc... I don't know, maybe I looked suspicious wandering and looking at clothing without a mission? It made me feel incredibly uncomfortable, so as soon as hubby arrived at the store, I told him they didn't have anything I wanted and left.

Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

When I don't need help, I'm always asked. When I do need help, there's never anyone around to help me!

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

I prefer to not be asked ... but what I can't stand the most is if I actually DO need help and can't track someone down! I also don't like is when I ask a question about a product (this happens all the time at Sephora and Ulta) and the person just goes around reading labels. I know how to read.. If I ask someone for advice on a product, I'm asking really if they have any personal experience or if something has a particularly awesome reputation... but to go around reading labels? I could do that on my own!!

eta: just a quick example.. I once was at Sephora asking about eyeliner that would have great all day lasting power. The person went around with me reading the boxes to see how the product was advertised! Umm of course all the products will be marketed as lasting all day Thanks for nothing!

Message edited 10/12/2012 4:53:03 PM.

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

NO, OMG it is one of my HUGE pet peeves, because it's always followed by "oh we are having xyz special and jkl is on sale and if you by xoxo you get asfdg for free"

Please just SHUT UP and let me shop. I can read signs and I promise I'll ask for a size if I need it

Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

i don't mind it, because i know the employees of some stores are forced to ask (and never know who is a secret shopper)

but what I can't stand is when I walk into a store and NO ONE ACKNOWLEDGES MY EXISTENCE. I expect at LEAST a hello!

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

I HATE when people ask if I need help when I am at the store. Greeting me with a hello is fine, but I hate when they ask if I need help finding something. If I need help, I will ask. The worst is when 5-6 people ask you if you need anything.

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

I hate it! I actually avoid going into one of the Bath & Body Works stores I'd otherwise go in because the people who work there are so aggressive like that.

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

Depends on the store and it depends on my mood that day.

There have been times where I work closely with a sales person, via email and text and then go into to the store to see the item in person.

There are times i really can't find something and need help locating...that is usually when I can't find anyone to help lol

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

I HATE being asked! After the first 3 people ask me, I get angry and turn my ***** mode on

VS is notorious for this

Message edited 10/12/2012 11:33:29 PM.

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

I do not mind but then I like to mull over my choices by myself, not with them sticking by me. For me it was such overkill at White House Black Market that I don't go there now. I do not know if they changed that policy but they seemed to be required to be annoying.

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

I'll NEVER go into another Lush store again after my 2 experiences there. They do NOT leave you alone!!!!!

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

Loathe it. I was in macys about a month ago buying a MK bag. I had 5 women come up to me within 3 mins all asking if I needed help. I told them i was buying a bag and to leave me alone until I asked for help. I can NOT stand that, and I worked in retail a good part of my life.

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

As opposed to NOT being asked because there is NO one around when I need help??? Yes!! I like to know there a salesperson who is friendly and willing to help if/when I need it. No, I don't like them hovering.

If I don't need their help after they ask, I politely say "no, I'll just look around, thank you".

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

No, I actually cannot stand it. I never let on that I find it annoying though bc I know it is their job, so I just say no thank you. If I need help, I will come to you.

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

I do not mind asking once..but twice and then I leave..

I hate being stalked....

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

They should acknowledge you.... If they don't I 9/10 leave or do not buy anything

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

I agree with others. Once is ok but being stalked or having multiple people on your case is uncomfortable. I can't stand it.

Even worse...the kiosk people in the malls...UGH!!! "can i just ask you a question miss". "NOPE NO TIME NO MONEY" Lol. that has been my answer lately, lol

Re: Do you like being asked if you need help in stores?

I HATE being asked if I need help. I am not the type that wants to be led around having my hand held. I try to make it clear by my initial not-interested-but-polite response that I don't want or need help, and if they continue to ask I get less friendly each time. I will ask for help if I need it!!!