question for Germans

[Section_31]

Hey guys,

Ive heard (and have absolutely no idea if this is true, if im being a silly foreigner please be honest :: ) that in retail shopping enviroments there, people working in sales leave you alone untill you ask them for assistance with somthing, instead of someone basically greeting (annoying?) you when you first come in.

I just find it super annoying over here, when i know what im looking for in a place, i just want to get it and get out, i dont want to be asked 5 times if i need help finding somthing...and somewhere i heard in germany its the opposite.

Is this true? or is someone pullign my leg?. If its true that sounds like it would be really nice!

 

[kilojoule]

It used to be like that here too in Ireland, in fact in about half of places it still is. Unfortunately this approach the customer thing is spreading like wild fire and more and more places are catching on. It really depends if it's an independent store or a chain store. Pretty much all of the chain stores are doing this now.

 

[Agent_Violet]

oh i WISH the places here were like that...ignore me til i need you. that's my idea of blissful shopping.

And of course, the more upscale the shop is, the more they bother you. I've taken to ordering my favorite shoe brand online bc i HATE going into the store to try on a pair only to have the shoe person insist on sitting with me and "helping" me try the shoes on...then do the "ooooh....ahhhh" thing once i get them on my feet.

 

[coyote]

we're very low key in my store

we greet people as they come in - that's just friendly

we try to check with each customer to see if they need any assistance or at least let them know that we are there to help if they need it

otherwise, we let everyone alone to shop and enjoy their vacation

we try to provide really good service but not be obnoxious at the same time

and definitely no pushy or aggressive selling

we "sell" by establishing a rapport with customers and talking about the product - but we take the cues from the customers as far as how chatty we should be

some people need more assistance than others

just this morning, a woman scolded us for not taking her by the hand and leading her around the store showing her everything - i guess she was really expecting the "boutique" approach where each customer gets a personal butt-kisser assigned to them for the duration of their visit

she wanted to know why "everyone" was standing behind the counter - meaning the one person i had working the floor who was at the counter ringing other customers

apparently we didn't think she was important enough

 

[lilmutegirl]

I work in retail too (in the US, so it doesn't answer the initial question). We are supposed to talk to every customer, which is obviously difficult for me. From my view (as a customer), I don't want to be completely ignored--please acknowlege me, but also don't harass and try to upsell me. I try to treat my customers with the same courtesy, and by all means, if they are in need of assistance, I will help them out, but if they look like they don't want to be bothered (unless I suspect them of shoplifting), I try to let them be. My boss and her superior are trying to get me to come out of my shell more and be like them, but I feel as though they sound fake sometimes when talking to people, and I just don't want to be like that.

 

[Lonelykitsune]

Dunno about germans now (They are quite reserved I think) but most places in Ireland I've been too the sales people won't approach me unless I want to talk to them

 

[Road to recovery]

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