YOMAG - Fashion - THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT

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Author: Anna Kloudová, MG Příbor, Czech Republic

THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT - OR NOT?

Příbor 5. 05. 2008

About 85% of women and girls consider shopping as their hobby. I am one of them. When I decide to go shopping, I don't mind the rain, the cold or my mum's look of annoyance ( "You don't need new clothes, do you?" ) - I don't include the case, when my piggy bank is empty. But one thing can put me off indispose shopping to me - unpleasant salespersons/shop assistants.

Maybe it sounds queerly strange, maybe I am highly-strung. To show you my point of view, I am going to describe one or two examples from my personal experience.

Some weeks ago I was looking for some trousers for a long time. Then I saw them in one boutique. I went there and tried them on. I was happy, not only that they fitted me well but also I liked them. Then a problem appeared. I was hesitating couldn't decide between two colours - light and dark. While I was hesitating at the stand, I felt somebody's look on my back. I turned around and saw a saleswoman who was walking towards me. It was the universal type of saleswoman, who works in shops with goods of average quality - about 50 years old, short hair slicked with care, red lipstick and glasses. She looked at the trousers which I was holding, scowled and said, "Hang them back up, please." She said the 'please' very ironically.

"But I want to buy them!"

"Like hell you will!"

It winded me. So, I gave them back obediently and went away. I didn't buy the trousers and the behaviour of the saleswoman made me sad.

Another time, I was looking for something (I don't know, what it was). However, the selection was too large. I tried on lots of pieces of clothes, but nothing fitted me. When my friend brought approximately the fifth thing to my changing room, UTS (universal type of saleswoman) appeared.

"You should go."

"Excuse me?"

"Go away, you won't buy anything anyway."

"Look, I have money here in my wallet and I wanted to spend them it in this shop. If you don't want it, I will go away. By the way, are you always so friendly or has anybody stung you with a pin today?"

Well, I didn't say that but I wanted to do it after having seen her grimace. At that time I felt horribly. Maybe I am really too highly-strung. I'd like to say that I had never gone there again. But, the boutique is the best one in our town--- because of the goods in the shop, not the assistants who work there.

To sum up my experiences there could be some circumstances which could avocate the unpleasant situation. Perhaps, the ladies had had a bad day that day. Secondly there could be a really unfriendly girl before, who had scattered clothes all over the shop and to make the situation worse she was eating ice-cream. Thirdly, they could have some problems in their personal life. Finally, I can understand that. I can imagine some situations, when I behave equally. Or maybe I have an aura of something, what saleswomen hate.

Neverthless, the customers are consumers and the shop staff can´t behave according to the situations which appeared before or according to their mood. In addition to that the shopsalers know what their approach to the customers should be. And we, consumers, should defend our rights.

In my final paragraph I would like to introduce possibilities how to solve the situation : imply decently that you are well-bred and really want to buy the clothes. If UTS continues her complaining, choose strategic retreat, or use the time seeing somebody else who sells in that shop, for example a serviceable and kind young man. However, you can be very unpleasant, either. But I don't recommend it.

I personally, have tried only the strategic retreat. And what do I recommend indeed? Don't take it big like me.