DD (10) received a gift card for a famous Tween store for Christmas. I usually try to avoid the store when I can because the salespeople can be very pushy. It was bad enough DD was very excited to go there, as they were advertising a 75% off sale. But once we got inside the store, the fine print said "up to 75% off when combining our 40% off sale with already discounted prices". This store does stuff like this all the time, which is another reason I don't like going there - shady advertising.
Today was a good example. DD had a $40.00 gift certificate. The sales associate grabbed us on the floor and led DD over to some shirts that were selling for regular price. So, one shirt would have cost her $36.00. DD liked the shirt, but was hesitant because it would cost almost the entire amount of her certificate. I mentioned to DD that she might do better to look in the clearance area, because they were having a 40% off sale, and she could get more clothes for her money that way. The salesperson turned to both of us and said "She can get whatever she wants". This irritated me, but I let it slide as DD isn't the one with the wallet - all she has is a $40 certificate and if she goes over, the Bank of Mom and Dad are the ones who have to finance it, so no, she can't get "whatever she wants" if it exceeds the limit of the gift card.
She leaves us, and we finish looking around in the store. DD was happy because she browsed clearance and found a pair of jeans she really wanted and a gorgeous sweater, both for 40% off.
We go to the register and the same sales associate is ringing up purchases. Here is how the conversation goes at check out... me, DH and DD were all at the register.
SA: What's your phone number?
Me: It's unlisted, we don't give it out.
SA: What's your e-mail address?
Me: I don't give that out, either.
SA: It's just for coupons, so that you can save money. Give me your e-mail address.
Me: No, thanks, I don't want to receive coupons.
SA: (rolls her eyes at me and rings up transaction). It comes to $46.00. If you spend another $4, you earn $25.00 in StoreBucks and get a coupon for X% off your next purchase.
Me: No, thanks. Let's just pay for what we have here.
SA: It's only another $4. We have underwear and necklaces and candy that would help you meet that price.
At this point, DH steps in and says, "No thank you".
SA: Oh come on! It's only $4! And you get all these StoreBucks and a coupon!
Me: No, thank you.
SA: No necklaces, or underwear? It's only $4!
DH: We just would like to pay for what we have. We don't use StoreBucks.
SA: $4 isn't much and I know your DD was looking at the mustache necklaces earlier.
At this point, SA turns to DD and asks her if she doesn't want a necklace.
All three of us just stood there and looked at her - trying complete silence to get her to finally understand "no".
SA: You're killing me! It's only another $4! And you can get a COUPON. (Tone implying we are stupid for not wanting the coupon and buying more stuff to get it).
Me: Actually, YOU are killing ME. Please finish the transaction.
She finally gave up, finished the transaction, shoved the receipt into the bag, and tossed the purchase at us. Didn't thank us and I could tell she was angry.
Now, I know she has quotas and I'm sure her management is pushing her to make sales at the checkout since they all do this every time we visit the store, but she was worse than most of them because she just would not let it go, and actually tried to go around us to get DD to ask us for a necklace, figuring we'd just give in.
At what point is "No" and "No thank you" enough? At what point do you get the store manager involved? I think I should have asked for the manager today, to be honest. I'm sure they want to make sales, but I'm also sure they don't want customers feeling badgered by their salespeople. How can you make people understand that no means no without crossing the line over into rudeness or without repeating yourself over and over again?
