Furniture Store Salesperson

[BarbadosSlim93]

So my wife and I were going to the local furniture shop to buy a dresser for our twins' room. We were taking a look but planning to buy something from the local shop. We were approached by a sales person, fair enough. But then the discussion started.

"Can I help you folks out with anything?"

"No thank you. We are just looking around for the time being. If we need something we will make sure to find you."

The sales person responded "Well I can take you where you need to go"

"No thanks. If we need your help we will let you know. We are just looking"

To which he responded "Then WHAT are you doing here then?"

My wife and I turned around and walked out of the store. The salesman stammered and tried to get us to stay, but it was too late. I refused to spend my money there. Instead my wife and I went to the other local store and spent $300 on a dresser and gave the sale to the nice lady who offered to help us but was not pushy.

Were my wife and I overreacting by walking out? Anybody in sales give me your opinion. I am a sales manager myself and would never speak to a customer this way.

[Lulubelle]

Originally Posted by BarbadosSlim93

So my wife and I were going to the local furniture shop to buy a dresser for our twins' room. We were taking a look but planning to buy something from the local shop. We were approached by a sales person, fair enough. But then the discussion started.

"Can I help you folks out with anything?"

"No thank you. We are just looking around for the time being. If we need something we will make sure to find you."

The sales person responded "Well I can take you where you need to go"

"No thanks. If we need your help we will let you know. We are just looking"

To which he responded "Then WHAT are you doing here then?"

My wife and I turned around and walked out of the store. The salesman stammered and tried to get us to stay, but it was too late. I refused to spend my money there. Instead my wife and I went to the other local store and spent $300 on a dresser and gave the sale to the nice lady who offered to help us but was not pushy.

Were my wife and I overreacting by walking out? Anybody in sales give me your opinion. I am a sales manager myself and would never speak to a customer this way.

I would have done the same. Nothing irritates me more. This person had a job pushing furniture, but clearly they know nothing about selling anything.

[SkuaSeptember]

I don't think you were overreacting, if anything you were quietly polite.

[Zenagirl]

Seems to me like the salesperson got what he deserved. I would have done exactly the same thing.

[Drewskey]

A true salesperson (no offense to anyone) never hears NO. They only hear try again differently.

[Splitlip]

I'm gonna give the benefit of the doubt to the sales person. We are in very difficult times.

I was looking at new cars yesterday. I want to get rid of the Mercedes and purchase something more reasonable. (Trying times)

One of the dealerships I visited yesterday had a former construction exec on the floor. New. (There but for the grace of God). I told him I was just looking. He said no prob. The guy's manager came out and ripped this man a new ass hole for just "letting me look around".

I will surmise, that your sales person is under similar stress.

[chicken]

You should have seen the circus surounding me yesterday when I went to a Chevy dealership and was discovered looking at full sized SUV's. I was only looking and had no intention of buying one. They would not take NO for an answer. I walked out with two sales people saying "what is it going to take?" even as I was driving away...geez

[kjvander]

i've noticed this fact too. I had a guy go off on me the other day on the phone for some used equipment. I would have walked out of the store as well however. I know that most everyone that works on commision right now is feeling the pinch with the economy being down...but that is all the more reason in my book to work more towards the customer instead of pressuring them or making them feel uncomfortable.

[Splitlip]

Originally Posted by kjvander

i've noticed this fact too. I had a guy go off on me the other day on the phone for some used equipment. I would have walked out of the store as well however. I know that most everyone that works on commision right now is feeling the pinch with the economy being down...but that is all the more reason in my book to work more towards the customer instead of pressuring them or making them feel uncomfortable.

Agree. Unfortunately so many of the people on the floor today, don't know how to sell. They have spent decades in other careers. Just my take looking at a local snapshot of the world today.

[navyhmc]

The hardest thing to do as a salesman is read your potential customer. Some customers expect to have a saelsman right there waiting on them hand and foot, others only want to see your face when they are ready to buy and then the rest of us fit somewhere between the two.

I have had good and bad sales reps. When I was looking for a new truck, I was of course steered towards the 4x4's. When I advised didn't want a 4x4, I was begrudgingly steered towards the 2wd trucks all the while hearing praises and benefits of a 4x4. I advised the sales rep that I had no desire to get a 4x4 as that the extra up front, insurance and property tax expenses was not worth the very few times I would use it. Now, many could give me good reasons to havea 4x4, but since my stance and desire was not to buy a 4x4, that should have been the end of it-the fact is that I felt I had made my intentions to buy a 2wd not 4x4 clear.

When I didn't see what I wanted on the lot, he said I could make a custom orderthat would probably take 2 weeks to get. No problem, I knew what I wanted and gave my requirements to the guy and when it was all set for me to sign a letter of intent, there as the first requirement was...you guessed it, 4x4. I just walked loudly out of the office with nothing good to say. That dealership went bust a year later.