Vent - teenage mall employees should learn some respect

NJBrit · September 2010

I went to the mall earlier this afternoon to do a little shopping for my stepson. He's turning 14 in a month, yet still insists on wearing the same grungy shirts over and over again. I decided to stop in Abercrombie and American Eagle to try and give him a bit of age-appropriate style.

I'm checking out at the cash register and have this conversation with the maybe 18 year old cashier:

Her: So... you doing some shopping for him today?

Me: If by him you mean my stepson, then yes.

She carefully examines me... I know this look, it's the, "How old are you verses how old is he" look. I feel like saying, "Yep, I got pregnant when I was ten" every time anyone does this.

Her: So, you didn't want to buy anything else for yourself today?

Me: No, not today. Just this, thanks.

Her: Oh, cause we've got some really great stuff that you should treat yourself too.

Me: No, thanks. I'm pregnant.

She then stands on her tiptoes, putting her hands on the counter to push herself up, and then stares down at my stomach.

Her: Well, you could fit into something in here!

Me: No, really. I can't

Her: Well, why don't you go over to Aerie. They have bras and stuff.

Me: Seriously?

I look down at my now 34DD+ chest.

Me: I didn't even fit into the bras over there before I got pregnant, so no, no thank you.

Her: Well, maybe you could find a nice accessory or some loungewear.

Me: Uh, are you done? Can I have my bag. Thanks.

I know this is the type of thing that should drive me absolutely nuts, but I really just chalk it up to her being an annoying teenager and really trying to make a sale. Seriously though? I told you I was pregnant! I'm not buying anything!

Mrs.CFH2 · September 2010

That's seriously annoying. Sales have gotten to the point where they are rude lately- imo.

mbh10220 · September 2010

UGH! I have to give the girl some credit for being such a persistent salesperson, but seriously- this would have driven me nuts, too. I hate pushy salespeople. LOL =]

Boriolebridet2B · September 2010

props to you! I would have wanted to rip her voice box out and force feed it to her till she shuts up!

companion cube · September 2010

Ugh, being a persistant sales person does not equal shoving crap people don't want down their throat. There is an art to it, and if the person is annoyed and can tell you are trying to push a sale, you are doing it wrong.

UnexpectedlyMom11 · September 2010

wow, i might have slapped her!! ugh!

On a different note, how do you stand going in there with the smell of cologne smacking you in the face even before you walk in!!

NJBrit · September 2010

companion cube:
Ugh, being a persistant sales person does not equal shoving crap people don't want down their throat. There is an art to it, and if the person is annoyed and can tell you are trying to push a sale, you are doing it wrong.

Exactly! If I were her I would have maybe said something about how I was getting such a great deal on the t-shirts, and perhaps I should take a second look and pick out a few more for my stepson. Clearly, I'm not fitting into anything there!

NJBrit · September 2010

UnexpectedlyMom11:
wow, i might have slapped her!! ugh!
On a different note, how do you stand going in there with the smell of cologne smacking you in the face even before you walk in!!

Honestly, it's one of the biggest aversions I have right now! I went to the Freehold Mall, have you been there? AE, AF, and Hollister are all right next to each other, and you can smell the cologne all the way to the food court! I had to tell my stepson he needs to start going easy on the cologne because it's turning my stomach every time I go into our basement. Yuck!

UnexpectedlyMom11 · September 2010

NJBrit:
UnexpectedlyMom11:
wow, i might have slapped her!! ugh!
On a different note, how do you stand going in there with the smell of cologne smacking you in the face even before you walk in!!
Honestly, it's one of the biggest aversions I have right now! I went to the Freehold Mall, have you been there? AE, AF, and Hollister are all right next to each other, and you can smell the cologne all the way to the food court! I had to tell my stepson he needs to start going easy on the cologne because it's turning my stomach every time I go into our basement. Yuck!

I know!! My hubby and I went there last weekend b/c he needed some new boots for work and I was shocked by how much it has changed! I worked at that mall when I was a teenager and still newish. Now it is like a wannabe menlo park. But the three in a row is just too much and it sent me flying down the hallway. I actually asked him if we could avoid the food court b/c of it.

lovemytannerman · September 2010

I find malls incredibly annoying lately. Sorry your sales girl woudln't shut up. You would think she would have pushed for more items for your son, not for you!

Why must stores play such loud and obnoxious music?

lovemytannerman · September 2010

I find malls incredibly annoying lately. Sorry your sales girl woudln't shut up. You would think she would have pushed for more items for your son, not for you!

Why must stores play such loud and obnoxious music?

NJBrit · September 2010

UnexpectedlyMom11:
NJBrit:
UnexpectedlyMom11:
wow, i might have slapped her!! ugh!
On a different note, how do you stand going in there with the smell of cologne smacking you in the face even before you walk in!!
Honestly, it's one of the biggest aversions I have right now! I went to the Freehold Mall, have you been there? AE, AF, and Hollister are all right next to each other, and you can smell the cologne all the way to the food court! I had to tell my stepson he needs to start going easy on the cologne because it's turning my stomach every time I go into our basement. Yuck!

I know!! My hubby and I went there last weekend b/c he needed some new boots for work and I was shocked by how much it has changed! I worked at that mall when I was a teenager and still newish. Now it is like a wannabe menlo park. But the three in a row is just too much and it sent me flying down the hallway. I actually asked him if we could avoid the food court b/c of it.

I prefer the Menlo mall, but it's kinda a hike for us to get out there. We're only out that way when we go to Jose Tejas! I miss the margaritas!

BrittRMere · September 2010

I totally understand your annoyance with her, but...

If you've ever worked in retail, you know that they MAKE you meet a certain quota.

I used to work at Victoria Secret in a mall, and I swear 90% of the training process was watching videos about how to get people to buy extra stuff or sign up for credit cards at the register. (Side note: I quickly quit that job because of how manipulative I would have to be with customers... Not really my thing.)

While there is a certain amount of finesse involved in being a good salesperson, maybe this girl was new and doesn't quite have it figured out yet.

She's young... I don't think she was disrespectful at all. At least not intentionally... Even if she was a tad bit pushy.

NJBrit · September 2010

BrittRMere:
I totally understand your annoyance with her, but...
If you've ever worked in retail, you know that they MAKE you meet a certain quota.
I used to work at Victoria Secret in a mall, and I swear 90% of the training process was watching videos about how to get people to buy extra stuff or sign up for credit cards at the register. (Side note: I quickly quit that job because of how manipulative I would have to be with customers... Not really my thing.)
While there is a certain amount of finesse involved in being a good salesperson, maybe this girl was new and doesn't quite have it figured out yet.
She's young... I don't think she was disrespectful at all. At least not intentionally... Even if she was a tad bit pushy.

I actually worked at an American Eagle in Manhattan for three years, and the head offices were right above us. We were never, ever told to get that pushy. We were told to ask the customer what they were looking for and to suggest other items to complete an outfit (American Eagle Outfitters). We didn't have personal quotas to meet, we had store goals. For malls, it's really next to nothing and it's looked at over a month's worth of time. There big thing was credit cards as well, and we actually used to do contests to see how many everyone could get, etc. It was never a harassing environment though if you didn't "sell enough".

She's not new, she's worked there for about a year and I remember her being obnoxious the last time I was there as well. She was certainly a bit immature to not understand that A) most parents don't want to buy items for themselves in a store that their kids shop and that pregnant women are not magically going to fit into an item that a teenage form would.

Like I said, she's young and was trying to make a sale. I understand that, but how many times can a person say no before they start to get upset? I'll be sure to avoid her when I go in the next time

BrittRMere · September 2010

NJBrit:
BrittRMere:
I totally understand your annoyance with her, but...
If you've ever worked in retail, you know that they MAKE you meet a certain quota.
I used to work at Victoria Secret in a mall, and I swear 90% of the training process was watching videos about how to get people to buy extra stuff or sign up for credit cards at the register. (Side note: I quickly quit that job because of how manipulative I would have to be with customers... Not really my thing.)
While there is a certain amount of finesse involved in being a good salesperson, maybe this girl was new and doesn't quite have it figured out yet.
She's young... I don't think she was disrespectful at all. At least not intentionally... Even if she was a tad bit pushy.
I actually worked at an American Eagle in Manhattan for three years, and the head offices were right above us. We were never, ever told to get that pushy. We were told to ask the customer what they were looking for and to suggest other items to complete an outfit (American Eagle Outfitters). We didn't have personal quotas to meet, we had store goals. For malls, it's really next to nothing and it's looked at over a month's worth of time. There big thing was credit cards as well, and we actually used to do contests to see how many everyone could get, etc. It was never a harassing environment though if you didn't "sell enough".
She's not new, she's worked there for about a year and I remember her being obnoxious the last time I was there as well. She was certainly a bit immature to not understand that A) most parents don't want to buy items for themselves in a store that their kids shop and that pregnant women are not magically going to fit into an item that a teenage form would.
Like I said, she's young and was trying to make a sale. I understand that, but how many times can a person say no before they start to get upset? I'll be sure to avoid her when I go in the next time

Oh, I totally get that it was obnoxious... I wouldn't be happy about that experience either... I just felt this little tug to take up for her a bit...

Don't worry, though, I got it out of my system.

If she's not new, she must just be completely oblivious to how she's affecting customers. They don't hire people at the mall because they're geniuses...haha

Hope you have a better experience next time!

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