Author Topic: Thoughts from working retail (Read 1771 times)

FatalT · « **on:** June 20, 2009, 01:26:14 AM »

Drew and I had a pretty long discussion on irc about Best Buy's employees greeting customers and it made me wonder what you all think. Basically, Drew has a problem when he goes into a Best Buy and someone working there asks him how he's doing or if he's looking for anything. In pretty much every internet discussion I've seen on this subject, people usually have a problem with being spoken to in public situations like this.

Let me give you an example. I'm working in my department and I see you walk into my area. What I usually do is say "Doin alright today?" just to acknowledge their existence. That's all I say. I don't go up to them a few minutes later and bother them again or nag them, I just say hey and leave. Usually if the person actually needs help they'll come get you later or immediately tell you what they're in the store for anyways. If the customer was Drew, he would purposely ignore me and walk away, thinking to himself that I'm a fucking asshole for annoying him.

Is this really how everyone here feels? Managers and corporate at Best Buy basically demand that you "contact" every customer in your department. I feel like I "contact" people without being a douche about it and it's been working for me ever since I started working at a mom and pop retail store about 5 years ago. It just comes to me as common courtesy to say "Hi" to someone and acknowledge that they've taken the time out of their busy days to drive to the store.

If I asked you how you were doing while in a Best Buy, would you ignore me and believe that I'm being an annoying asshole or would you just respond with a "I'm good" and walk away?

FatalT · « **Reply #1 on:** June 20, 2009, 01:33:44 AM »

Quote from: Kosma on June 20, 2009, 01:31:26 AM

I hate when people attack me as soon as I enter a store.

I never attacked people like that when working in a store myself, maybe a nod to let them know Im there when they need me. And if they keep looking for a few minutes coming up to them and asking if they have some questions.

Asking how someone is doing out of the blue is lame btw. I would get really annoyed by that.

Okay, so it's all in the approach. If you see a guy who looks like a 12 year old kid and he asks you how you're doing in a friendly manner, then you're fine with it. If you see a guy who makes a beeline straight towards you with a shit-eating used car salesman grin on his face, of course you're going to feel like you're being attacked.

Asking someone how they're doing actually generates a conversation. Nodding at someone doesn't work like that.

FatalT · « **Reply #2 on:** June 20, 2009, 01:39:24 AM »

Quote from: Kosma on June 20, 2009, 01:36:22 AM

I just think the question how someone is doing is meaningless because youre obviously not interested in how Im doing as a salesman. I'd rather you just struck up a normal conversation asking me what my needs are, what am I going to do with this product etc.

I see. Best Buy employees don't work on commission (except for the cunts who work in Best Buy Mobile) so being a salesman isn't what I consider myself as. Generally I actually am interested in how you're doing because my job is so meaningless in how the store operates that I enjoy talking to someone to waste time. If you buy something, cool, good for you. If you don't buy something, that's cool, good for you.

DJ_Tet · « **Reply #3 on:** June 20, 2009, 01:41:33 AM »

I respond with a quick, polite retort and then walk away cursing you for doing your job.

demi · « **Reply #4 on:** June 20, 2009, 01:43:40 AM »

It's just part of the job, I just say I'm looking around (even twirl my finger for effect if they are fucking deaf) and continue to not buy anything

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #5 on:** June 20, 2009, 01:45:38 AM »

It's a bit bothersome to have employees constantly approach me and ask if I need any help, which is what the ones at my local BB always ask. It's not a big deal of anything, but I'm just the kind of person that doesn't really like having random people come up to me and offer help when I don't need it. If I want help, I'll ask. If I don't ask, then that means I don't need help. I'm not rude or anything to the employees, though, I just give them my canned response of "No, I'm just looking".

Again, just a small, personal pet peeve on my part.

FatalT · « **Reply #6 on:** June 20, 2009, 01:51:11 AM »

Argh, this is all just further proof that working retail makes you an empty, useless shell of what was once a human being. All your faith and hope in humanity is lost when you put on the uniform of "The Retail" (if you even had any in the first place). Willco is probably crying himself to sleep right now.

Kara · « **Reply #7 on:** June 20, 2009, 01:59:18 AM »

Quote from: FatalT on June 20, 2009, 01:51:11 AM

Argh, this is all just further proof that working retail makes you an empty, useless shell of what was once a human being. All your faith and hope in humanity is lost when you put on the uniform of "The Retail" (if you even had any in the first place). Willco is probably crying himself to sleep right now.

Retail made me the man I am today.

Akala · « **Reply #8 on:** June 20, 2009, 02:07:43 AM »

We are not who 'make contact' is aimed at. Most internet savvy people make surgical strikes into places like best buy. We don't want help until we need you to unlock the fucking cage and check us out (at which point you are invariably not there).

There is no point in being an asshole about it, except when people are aggressively trying to sell you something.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #9 on:** June 20, 2009, 02:11:33 AM »

Dude, I quit retail and my store fell apart and I've never felt better!

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #10 on:** June 20, 2009, 02:19:13 AM »

Quote from: Willco on June 20, 2009, 02:11:33 AM

Dude, I quit retail and my store fell apart and I've never felt better!

What's your plan now?

drew · « **Reply #11 on:** June 20, 2009, 02:38:48 AM »

Quote from: Willco on June 20, 2009, 02:11:33 AM

Dude, I quit retail and my store fell apart and I've never felt better!

by "fell apart" what willco actually means is that it's now a much more relaxed and fun place to work, and get this, coworkers can actually stand to see eachother on their off hours! anarchy!

Cyanista · « **Reply #12 on:** June 20, 2009, 11:12:01 AM »

Ok, don't listen to these shut ins. It is considered nice and polite to say "Hey, how you doing?" when you make eye contact with someone ANYWHERE, and anyone who would get mad about you unobtrusively doing your job is a fucking hermit who needs to go back home and order online so the rest of us don't have to look at his or her quasimodo ass.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #13 on:** June 20, 2009, 11:22:11 AM »

a quasimodo ass only has one large cheek with like a whale blowhole in the middle

TakingBackSunday · « **Reply #14 on:** June 20, 2009, 11:29:00 AM »

I work at Borders. The endless amount of questions and suggestions retail workers make is hardly ever by their choice. A lot of the times, if the employees are being really disgustingly open and questioning, it's because their store or regional manager is there and is really cracking down for hour-to-hour progress updates. You NEED to keep on your toes to just keep up with the shitty reality of retail "goals." It's awful, but we have to do it.

Usually when its a chill day and we aren't really pressured, we're all nice and genuine. If you walk near us while we're doing something else, we'll all politely ask "Need any help for something?" or "Hi, how are you?" and leave it at that. That's what I do.

Retail really does destroy your soul, though.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #15 on:** June 20, 2009, 01:42:57 PM »

Quote from: distantmantra on June 20, 2009, 02:19:13 AM

Quote from: Willco on June 20, 2009, 02:11:33 AM
Dude, I quit retail and my store fell apart and I've never felt better!

What's your plan now?

Same as it was before - freelancin', schoolin' and internin'.

I was just offered to write for an upstart magazine. That's pretty neat.

... and no, Drewsy, while I was gone one person quit and another person was suspended. They didn't take me off security call list 'till this week and there were like ten messages - most of them due to the store not opening until 5 PM!

Reb · « **Reply #16 on:** June 20, 2009, 03:08:45 PM »

Quote from: Cyanista on June 20, 2009, 11:12:01 AM

Ok, don't listen to these shut ins. It is considered nice and polite to say "Hey, how you doing?" when you make eye contact with someone ANYWHERE, and anyone who would get mad about you unobtrusively doing your job is a fucking hermit who needs to go back home and order online so the rest of us don't have to look at his or her quasimodo ass.

Maybe not anywhere? Here in Holland it's not polite to ask somebody a question when you both know you don't give a fuck about the answer. I like my shopping personnel to just nod and say hi. Or to ask if they can help, at least say something that's constructive to the fact that I'm there to buy and he's there to sell.

Flannel Boy · « **Reply #17 on:** June 20, 2009, 04:24:33 PM »

Quote from: Rebiak on June 20, 2009, 03:08:45 PM

Maybe not anywhere? Here in Holland it's not polite to ask somebody a question when you both know you don't give a fuck about the answer.

Holland

Akala · « **Reply #18 on:** June 20, 2009, 06:06:56 PM »

Quote from: Rebiak on June 20, 2009, 03:08:45 PM

Maybe not anywhere? Here in Holland it's not polite to ask somebody a question when you both know you don't give a fuck about the answer. I like my shopping personnel to just nod and say hi. Or to ask if they can help, at least say something that's constructive to the fact that I'm there to buy and he's there to sell.

Truth.

MyNameIsMethodis · « **Reply #19 on:** June 20, 2009, 06:11:10 PM »

Everybody likes attention, the only ones thaþ don't have nintendo fans and pedophiles.

FatalT · « **Reply #20 on:** June 20, 2009, 06:36:40 PM »

Keeping my problems to PM's and IRC.

FatalT · « **Reply #21 on:** June 20, 2009, 06:39:56 PM »

Keeping my problems to PM's and IRC.

FatalT · « **Reply #22 on:** June 20, 2009, 06:46:35 PM »

Keeping my problems to PM's and IRC.

Vizzys · « **Reply #23 on:** June 20, 2009, 07:09:51 PM »

lay off the drugs fatalt

brawndolicious · « **Reply #24 on:** June 20, 2009, 09:22:50 PM »

I really don't get how you people actually get angry when an employee asks you how you're doing. It's understood that the employee is probably being forced to "socialize" with a complete stranger but who really cares?

Barry Egan · « **Reply #25 on:** June 20, 2009, 09:43:26 PM »

Quote from: am nintenho on June 20, 2009, 09:22:50 PM

I really don't get how you people actually get angry when an employee asks you how you're doing. It's understood that the employee is probably being forced to "socialize" with a complete stranger but who really cares?

people with serious social anxiety view most interactions as a burden.

MyNameIsMethodis · « **Reply #26 on:** June 20, 2009, 09:58:15 PM »

Usually I just say "no thanks bro I'm jusT lookin around. Thanks anyways though"

The social anxiety losers neee to shut up and stop being self conceived

FatalT · « **Reply #27 on:** June 20, 2009, 10:00:25 PM »

Quote from: MyNameIsMud on June 20, 2009, 09:58:15 PM

Usually I just say "no thanks bro I'm jusT lookin around. Thanks anyways though"

The social anxiety losers neee to shut up and stop being self conceived

lol I hate you <3

GoofyGoober · « **Reply #28 on:** June 20, 2009, 10:01:17 PM »

If that is your style and it sounds more personal, it would be okay with me.

I would rather have a quick, "are you finding everything okay?", Or a "My name is Chuck, if you need anything just ask".

I worked retail. Never did care for the pushy sales people parts. "Fries with that" always bothered me, but I never had an issue with just a greet. "hi", "welcome" or even something from above.

My Best Buy people circle like sharks. at least they only greet the first time. Then a "still doing okay". I used to be the type that was "leave me the fuck alone and let me shop in peace" person. Now I understand it's the job, so I don't hold it against you.

News:

Author Topic: Thoughts from working retail (Read 1771 times)