Anyone who has worked in retail or in the restaurant business would agree that service-oriented jobs provide a veritable case-study in human behavior. Even the most seemingly polite individual can become demanding and ungrateful the moment she encounters someone employed to serve her.
It is not until we are on the other side of the consumer world - the side where we are the service providers rather than the ones served - that we can truly begin to identify the ugly and often unintentional ways in which we mistreat our salespeople, waiters, etc.
But since not everyone has had (or is going to have) the eye-opening work experience I speak of, take advice from someone who has. Based on my first job working in a clothing store, here are some keys to in-store etiquette that will make your spending spree a more pleasant experience for everyone involved.
First, don't be afraid to ask for help. If you are on a mission to buy (and not just browse), allow the salesperson to help you, even if you think you know what you want. While there are the occasional salespeople who offer to help but don't mean it or simply don't offer to help at all, the majority really do want to assist you. (Even if they don't, too bad. That is what they are there for.)
They are knowledgeable about sizes and styles and will save you a lot of time and frustration sorting through piles and racks that don't have what you need.
Second, while it is completely
reasonable to expect assistance, don't forget your manners. "Please," "Thank you" and some good old fashioned patience will keep you on the sales staff's good side and greatly increase your chances of getting what you want. Remember, you do not have the key to the stock room - they do!
Of course every now and then, we will find ourselves in a clothing store with no intention to buy whatsoever. In these cases, we are usually either browsing or killing time. Allow me to distinguish for a moment between The Browser and The Time Killer. These two shoppers actually differ considerably in behavior. The Browser tends to be a gentle creature who is actively observing the clothing, while The Time Killer (although also "only looking," as it were) is apathetic toward the clothing itself and simply seeks entertainment in the store.
Because she is not on a schedule, The Time Killer will try on any item that looks appealing (often regardless of size) and leave the clothes on the floor of the dressing room when she is finished.
She assumes that because she has plenty of time to kill, so must the salesperson who will have to clean up after her. Needless to say, this kind of behavior is generally not well-received by the sales staff.
The Browser, on the other hand, shops with her eyes, not with her hands (and obviously, not with her wallet). But because she is kind and often passive, her behavior is welcomed by salespeople. She doesn't tend to try anything on and if she unfolds a garment for inspection, she makes an honest effort to neatly replace it.
This brings me to my next point. There is a popular assumption among shoppers that all sales associates work on commission. That is to say, they only make money if you spend money. Although that is the policy in some stores, many employees, like me, get paid either on salary or by the hour.
Whether you make a purchase or not, their pay check is the same - they are strictly there to help you. So don't feel guilty if you don't find something you like. The employee's financial arrangement should not affect your decisions.
The most important thing to remember when shopping is just to be considerate. Good service is a source of pride for most employees. Just remember that "service" is not synonymous with "slavery." Salespeople are people too and the clothes don't hang themselves.
