Shopping Rants… How to Say No Thank-You

Have you noticed just how often stores try to sell you more than you intended to buy? It’s been happening for years. Actually when I worked for a department store years ago, the store even offered a class to teach us  how to “trade up”. The customer would come in to buy a handbag and we were instructed to suggest one that was more expensive. I won’t say what department store it was, but I’m sure that they all do it.

And then there is the famous line… would you like fries with that? The staff obviously have been told to ask… just in case you forgot that you wanted them with your burger. And chances are, a lot of people say yes. Still haven’t figured that one out??

And then there are the tiny shops in malls. The staff seems to stand around just waiting for you to enter so that they can pounce. It really doesn’t bother me because I have no problem telling them that I’m just looking, or that if I need help, I will shout, but my daughter hates these stores with a passion. She will do all of her shopping in a department store just to avoid it. But just last week I went to look at something, leaving her to brouse alone. When I returned, a woman was trying to interest her in a store credit card. According to my daughter, she tried numerous times to interrupt, but the woman was determined to sign her up.  I have a feeling that my daughter will avoid that store in the future too.

So, what do you do when something like this happens?? Simply smile and say no thanks. That usually works for me, but if the salesperson is persistant, you just might have to resort to other methods.  

So, what experiences have you had when it comes to aggressive salespeople??