LEAVE ME ALONE!
April 24th, 2006, 7:46 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Sam Mittelsteadt
I like to time how long it takes before sales clerks come up and ask if they can be of assistance; it’s a good gauge of customer service. Chances are if someone greets you when you walk in, it’s a good sign you won’t be wandering around later, trying to find an employee who can tell you if they’ve got more of this shirt in your size in the back.Some department stores have a hands-off policy, especially if they’ve got central registers. And the people at Saks only come up and ask if I need help if I’m in the totally "wrong" department, like when I’m scouting for a shoot in the women’s sportswear section.On the other end of the spectrum: I’ve never wanted to be ignored so much as this weekend, when I went to Melt, the body-products store at Arrowhead Towne Center.It started with the initial "Are you familiar with our store?" greeting, and the "personal care" didn’t let up for a good 15 minutes. Had I tried this product? Did the gift recipient like to take baths? (Uh, could you not make me think of my mom taking a bath?) Could he put some of this scrub on my hands?Then there was the squeezing of the lotions: Each bottle was opened and wafted, with a detailed explanation as to … OK, I stopped paying attention after a while. There was talk of sulfates and surfectants and everything was said so quickly that it made me very suspicious, like I was being sold aromatherapeutic snake oil.Sure, it was slow in the store, and they were eager to try out their spiel on a customer, but by the time the talk was done, I just wanted to get out of the store. Not linger, not browse, not make chat with the employees.There can be too much of a good thing. Next time I’m ignored at Saks, I might just say a little thank-you. (My credit card company will, that’s for sure.)That said, Melt did have some cool products. Three of them will be in my Great Stuff column this Sunday, April 30, so check it out.
