Last week, I had to stop by GNC to use a coupon I’d had forever. Normally, I don’t shop at GNC but a discount is a discount. There’s only one GNC by my house so I didn’t have a choice, had to go there. I was dreading it because the sales guy is not my cup of tea. Allow me to explain.
My first job was in retail and every job since has had customer service at the core of it. I strongly believe you can’t be the same type of salesperson with every customer. You have to tailor your service to their needs. Some customers love the immediate onslaught of attention received when they walk into a store (think Bath & Body Works). While others, like me, prefer a quick hello & to shop in peace. I knew this would not be the case at this GNC.
As soon as I walked in, he made his way over to me:
- “Hi there, welcome to GNC! What can I help you find today?”
- “Hi, I’m looking for a specific fish oil supplement. Oh, I see it, right over there.”
He walked over to the display with me, proceeded to grab the biggest (most expensive) bottle and handed it to me:
- “Oh. Okay. Here ya go”.
I smiled, accepted the bottle, placed it back on the shelf & proceeded to grab the smaller (least expensive) bottle. That was the reason for my visit:
- “Thanks for your help.”
So I turned the bottle over and pretended to read it, hoping he’d get the hint and walk away. But he just stood there & I could literally feel a sales pitch coming. Then he turned around to what just happened to be a big display of GNC brand Fish Oil capsules and started up again as he pointed to my bottle:
- “Yea, that brand is okay, but I gotta tell ya, we sell a ton of these“, (holding the GNC Fish Oil bottle in his over-pitching hands).
- “It’s the preferred brand for my customers because they help burn the metabolism faster and.. “
I had to interrupt his pitch after he failed to notice my slightly annoyed furrowed brow. He also failed to catch me glance down at my watch. I don’t wear one. Bad salesmen. Bad, bad salesmen. So I said:
- “Thanks for letting me know, but I’m going to go with this brand because I’ve read great reviews and been wanting to try ’em for awhile now.”
He nodded in agreement right before he realllly over stepped:
- “Well, what are you taking them for?”
Wow. Now, I’m really annoyed. Is he serious? How bout nunya! That’s what I’m taking them for, nunya’ damn bizness! Such nerve! But instead, I take a beat, hoping to make him a little uncomfortable with the pause:
- “I’m taking them for my skin.”
I had a few visible hormonal breakouts and I wasn’t wearing any makeup. He had a look on his face that said ‘defeat’ but he finnnally got my message and summed it up:
- “Okay, well, you should keep these in my mind because like I said, we sell tons of these.”
I found his standing in front of a fully stocked display, a little strange. Maybe they have to keep restocking because they sell so many. Hmph, maybe. It’s possible. I. Guess.
So I closed the conversation by simply saying:
- “Okay, will do”,
…..and we [finally] headed toward the register. He made small talk as he rang me up but I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
As we left the store, my boyfriend said the guy was just doing his job. But my boyfriend is also an extroverted talker. HE’S the guy who happily chats up the Direct TV guy that hangs out at your local Costco. The one anxious to ask “for a quick second of your time.” Yea, the same second that turns into a thirty minute sales pitch. My boyfriend is the one person that always seems to stop and gives the guy his time, mine too.
I explained to jimmy-chatty-jaws that I get the guy was “doing his job”, but part of his job is being alert to his customer’s body language and cues. He could’ve easily and quickly made his suggestion and went back to the register. But he didn’t. He remained in my personal space the entire time I was there and I wasn’t in the mood for company.
Next time, I’ll probably just check the website first. Ugh.
Till Next Time
Sweet Pea
beautyschooldropn 