I'm not looking for new friends...just decent service!

"This is so pretty... is it for a special occasion? Big plans tonight?"

“How’s it going in there, are you right for sizes?” The sales assistant, who just showed me to the fitting room ten seconds ago, is yelling enthusiastically at me while tapping her hand on the cubicle door. Only a superhero could have undressed and tried something on in this time interval. And, if I venture out of the cubicle, her response would be something equally enthusiastic and possibly untrue, like “That’s really cute, it would look so good paired with this top, hang on while I go and get it!!” And, ironically this is one of those stores where there are no mirrors in the cubicles so you must make the grand entrance so the whole shop can see. Quite possibly this scenario would also include being greeted by all three sales assistants within a minute of entering the store. Sometimes it’s all just a little too overwhelming.

In these tough economic times, retailers are doing everything they can to make sales. But many don't realise that their overzealous sales tactics are driving quite a few of us away. A simple smile is enough. But how often do you get asked “What are you up to today?” (when clearly you’re out shopping), or something completely random like “Your nail polish is awesome! Where’s it from?” Is this a tactic to make you buy? Shopping shouldn’t have to be a forced social situation. Most days you want to remain completely anonymous.


But on the other end of the scale, when you desperately need help, there’s often nobody to be found. Or you have to consider interrupting two sales people discussing their weekend. That's when we admit defeat and flee, without anyone even noticing we’ve left.

If sales staff, and the bosses who train them, could understand the balance between being attentive and annoying, then maybe the threat from online sales wouldn’t be so great.