Working as a salesperson has to be a hard job. I know I would not be good at it. Fortunately, not all sales jobs are the same. In department stores and stores that do not work on commission, I imagine there is less stress. Some other types of sales are a lot harder.
I remember back when Sun TV was fairly new in our area (they are no longer around now). I almost hated going there, even when I needed something. It seemed like there were always six or seven sales people just waiting at the door to bombard me with buying opportunities.
More recently, I went into another local electronics store and was met by one guy (not six or seven), but he was just as pushy. He actually followed me around the store. Whenever I would stop to look at something, he would come over and try to get me to buy it. I did end up buying something there, but it was something I was looking for. I bet the salesman thought his tactics paid off. Needless to say, I never returned to that store.
I can only imagine sales at most furniture stores. It has to be hard, yet I have to admit, I have always dreaded walking into a furniture store.
Most furniture stores are the same, someone greets you at the door, asks if they can help and give their name. They may check on you now and then, but basically leave you alone. Unfortunately, I remember one particular salesperson who went above and beyond, and not in a good way. I do not want to mention the company name because I do not know if it is company policy or just the particular salesman who acted this way. My wife and I walked in the door and were immediately met by a salesman who asked if he could show us anything particular or if we were looking for something special.
After telling him we had never been to this store before and just wanted to look around and see what the store was like, he specifically told us he would not stalk us, but would be around if we needed anything.
I think we walked seventy-five feet along the front aisle when he met up with us again and gave us a pencil and paper and told us to write down the stock number on anything we were interested in. We thanked him and walked on.
About another one hundred feet heading toward the back, this same guy stopped us and wanted to show us a cut-away model of a couch. He was explaining the mechanisms and how well-made their couches were. At this point, my wife and I were thinking to ourselves that this guy had just told us he would not stalk us and obviously did not pay attention to us telling him we were just browsing.
This time, after he walked on toward the back, we cut through some displays and headed for the door. We noticed a couple other salespeople watching us, but fortunately they did not try to stop us and the original guy was too far away. This is another store to which we have never returned.
I understand that people need to make a living, but if they only understood that putting pressure on people only drives them away.
Another thing I find aggravating in regard to sales is when you walk into a store, a salesperson greets you and tells you to let them know if you need any help, then they disappear. It is not only upsetting when someone follows you around the store, it is just as frustrating when you actually do need some help and no one can be found.
Now, you might be thinking I do not like salespeople, but that is not the case. I know people are trying to earn a living and need to make sales. Yet, some salespeople need to stop and think about how they come across to customers. They may get closer to making a sale if they were actually calm and helpful, rather than using high pressure tactics.