Just Me I'm Afraid.

[teacake44]

Walked into a shoe shop today for a browse, and I mean just shoes. I thought this opening by assistants had long had its day. No sooner I had entered I could see out the corner of my eye someone making a b line for me. HI, are you looking for anything in particular, I just couldn't help myself, YES a flat screen TV. :0) and before someone tells me they are just trying to be helpful, I don't want or need any help to find a pair of shoes, they are all on display.. priced with full stock of sizes below the display. What could they possibly help with?

[bhg481]

I don't mind being approached by shop assistants, so long as they are prepared to accept "I'm just browsing, thanks". What really annoys and will cause me to leave the shop, is when they start to produce things they "know" I will like.

[teacake44]

I don't believe that staff are trained today to approach customers, its old hat and annoying. Go into any big store such as M&S and they don't bother you even were the shoes are, they don't hassle you. But I did give some hassle myself to M&S yesterday, asked why the fitting rooms are still closed, the answer I got was, I don't know, it could be a staffing problem. Well fine I won't be buying anything until they open them again. Why should I have the cost of returning items that don't fit, petrol / parking / bus fare / taxi. Buying on line has just as much hassle, especially if you end up trying to get your money back. The stupidity of the M&S in my town center at the moment and many more in other towns is they are deserted during the week so staffing is just an excuse, they've already reported bad sales for the third year running so they are shooting themselves in the foot. The fitting rooms are not poky little areas, with just as much air flow as the store its self. If they want to end up like Debenhams so be it.

[bednobs]

i saw this thing whereby you chose either a red basket or black basket when you enter. Red means you don't mind being heped/approached black means "stay away"

[Chinajan]

Good psychology. Now everyone has a basket. :0)

[Bobbisox1]

Maybe wearing a small bell round your neck will ward them off?

[rowanwitch]

If someone tries on a garment it has to be taken from the sales area and stored for at least 72 hours in a no touch environment. Part of the guidelines for retail to reduce covid transmission

[teacake44]

^^ so how does that work when people in the store are picking up and putting down items/ trying on coats and jackets, holding trousers on them to see if there are long enough, its a load of tosh. There's more danger ( if there is any at all) in allowing people to take items home and bringing them back after they have been dragged round someones house/ car / bus/ taxi, its all an excuse to reduce any sort of service that was there before. Items that are sent by mail are dragged from pillow to post before it gets to you, and again if you send the item back.

[sherrardk]

‘It’s all an excuse to reduce any sort of service that was there before’ - make your mind up - do you want service or don’t you? The sales assistants aren’t psychic, just politely decline assistance when offered it.

[Cloverjo]

Teacake, are you my husband in disguise?

I remember Husband in a clothes shop looking at jackets. The sales guy approached him and said ‘Are you looking for a jacket today, sir?’ Husband replied ‘No, I’m actually looking for shoes.’ The poor sales guy didn’t know what to do or say. I left him in there. He’s so embarrassing.

[Mamyalynne]

Have you considered a mountain top retreat TC?

[teacake44]

serr 20.57 I don't want the staff to do anything in M&S, they don't have to, all the goods are there on show, and all the sizes are on the shop floor. I just want the powers that be at M&S to reopen the fitting rooms so I can try on the items I want, to see that they fit before I buy them, its as simple as that.

I don't want to take them home find they don't fit as I would like, and have to take them back, wasting another half day, wasting petrol, and parking fees just because that's how M&S want to run their business. And who's saying when I take the second lot of items home that they also need to go back?

[teacake44]

^^^ 20.57 Sherr

[teacake44]

Mam, I already have one, a mobile one. :0)