Irritating SAs & Other bad shopping experiences

[17arci]

Experience ng boyfriend ko sa Ace Hardware sa SM North:

Nagtanong sya dun sa SA kung magkano yung mop. P2500 daw, pero sale price yun at last day na ng promo. Kinabukasan daw balik sa dating presyo na P5k. Knowing my boyfriend, nag-thank you na sya siguro at paalis na pero makulit daw yung SA at paulit-ulit na sinasabi na last day na ng sale. Na kunin na daw yung mop. E nagtatanong lang naman yung boyfriend ko, hindi naman yun yung pakay nya sa Ace. Sa inis nya, sinabihan nya ng pagalit yung SA na tinatanong nya lang yung presyo. Huminto naman daw yung SA. Kung di daw huminto yun baka nasapok nya na.

[theshopaholicprincess]

@trishevil - I had to agree with you yung TBS sa SM Megamall ok yung SA nila. Sa Greenbelt ok din ewan ko ba dito sa TBS Festival most of their SAs are mahadera and snobbish. Tipong akala nila wala ka pambili.

[trishevil]

@theshopaholicprincess - meron lang talaga na mga SAs na hindi maganda ang ugali. Sana lang naiisip nila na being nicer will reap them more rewards. Though I feel na strategy ng ibang SAs na i-snob or matahain yung customer para matrick yung customer into buying their products to prove they can aford those stuff, sana naisip na lang nila na being nice will earn you more. Being snobbish or matapobre earns you instant sales (sometimes, unless the customer walks out) but being nicer earns you more customers kasi magiging patrons mo sila.

[kwinchesters]

Sa Landmark Trinoma,sa baby section. Namimili ako ng baby clothes, then yung SA sunud-sunod sakin kahit saang aisle ako magpunta, pinagsabihan ko nga na miss,tatawagin na lang kita pag may kelangan ako,nahihilo kasi ako sa kasusunod mmo.' i don't want to be mean with that,pero nakakainsulto sakin pag susunud-sunod para bang binabantayan lahat ng kilos ko. Eh pag may kailangan ang customer,stand-by lang sila sa tabi,sila pa din naman ang tatawagin.

[happypill]

I'm not in the Phil. now pero nakakaexperience pa rin ng irriating SAs here abroad.
Madaming Pinoys working sa retail sector, and for the most part they accommodating, helpful, and work well. For the most part they give their kababayans the same service as non-pinoys pero mayroon ka pa ring ma eencounter na kasi kapwa pinoy ka feeling wala kang pambili. Pinoys here are usually praised for their good customer service skills but it's upsetting na minsan umiiba pagtrato nila pag kababayan nila.

Happened a few times to my mom in Debenhams. Ang sama ng tingin ng SA sa kanya and medyo mataray pa pagtreat. Naka abaya & hijab mom ko (sa middle east kami) so feeling ng SA siguro walang pambili. Napatahimik na lang tuloy siya nung nagbayad na kami. Kakasira ng araw mga ganun. 

[happie]

After reading this specific page, I can say Hindi lahat Ng complaints here acceptable. There are clients who are just very sensitive. SAs need to follow protocol, so we can't be mad if they insist that we bring a card when it's a must to get a particular discount. In the same way that I no longer insisted when the manager of a clothing store did not accept my request for exchange of goods, more than 1 month na nga naman. Hindi Rin kailangan tawagin agad Ang manager konting problem Lang. The SAs are just working, we have to respect them too.

[bpa]

^ sis do you know a lot of SAs? i don't think some here are just too sensitive. common sense naman na one has to follow certain rules when asking for discounts and for return/exchange of item. there's no argue with that. it's not always "the customer is always right". but, i think ang point ng iba na sis dito is they can say it in a nice way naman, not yung being rude sa customers. they can's say kase na they're tired kaya masungit na sila, ciempre kasama na den sa every day job nila yun may makulit/mataray na customer, dapat sila mas tolerant since parang customer service na den yun. they have no reason to be rude to us, customers.

you can't deny den naman that SAs are really looking at their customers' "looks". i respect people, in general, so i expect the same respect from people. but, i can't seem to tolerate the idea of them watching me closely just coz i don't fit into their "preferred look". for me kase, i'm not ma-porma. flip-flops and leggings/pants lang pag mag-mall/shopping and easy-to-carry bag and i don't usually wear make-up, more of comfy looks, so mukha talaga ko nag-wiwindowshoping lang. so, ang meaning na ba nun kasalanan ko na di ako nag-ayos na mukhang may pera if mag-shopping ako para matrato lang nila na mukha akong may pera para bumili (?). i think it's not right for them to look at customer's that way. luma na yun paniniwala na nasa itsura yun may money, na naka-designer lang mayaman na. nakaka-inis lang kase na kelangan mo pa mag ayos if may bibilin ka lang para lang matrato ka ng tama, as a buying customer. no offense sa mga SAs ha, pero why are they working den sa ganun industry (?), di ba kase they can'f find a better job since kulang sila ng education or wala sila experience sa ibang better industry. so, i think di dapat sila mang-mata ng customer just by "looks" since sila naman den mismo wala den naman, so why are they treating customers that way. SORRY, but i think it's the truth. but, it's also possible then na in a way kasama sa training na i-treat nila yun customer nang ganun para nga naman bumili, kase i think  "insecure" customer will at one point buy para pakita na may money talaga sila pambili. (for me, depende, if i need to buy it na and wala den iba store na meron or hassle pa pumunta sa iba store i buy nalang den. but, if asar talaga ko kahit malayo yun store and kung stock lang naman bilin ko di ko na binibili umaalis nalang ako) wala den kase ko kilala na SA or nag-SA, so wala ko matanungan personally.

pero, pinaka-funny na experience ko. one time dumaan kame sa maliit lang na grocery ni hubby after work para bumili lang ng chicha. eh, friday na yun so uwi na namen yun jacket namen, since malamig pa naman nun (december or january) and aircon naman sa office medyo malamig pa den yun loob nun jacket di namen tinangal yun jacket namen. same jet-black jacket kame. pag pasok namen grocery, narinig daw ni hubby yun parang guard na may radyo pinabantayan kame, or parang ganun. hehe. di ko narining, sinabi lang nya saken paglabas namen ng grocery. natawa ko. sabi ko sa kanya dapat sinabi nya agad saken pagpasok tapos magbulungan kame na parang may binabalak. hehe. funny talaga yun pag naaalala ko.

sorry, napahaba.

[seven82]

so far wala pa naman akong experience with irritating SA's but sa mga mall guards na babae meron! recently lang, papasok ako ng mall. yung mga nauna sa akin hindi chineck nung guard yung mga dala nila. mag ina tapos yung isa medyo old guy na may dalang 2 na malaking plastic. so ako hindi ko talaga binuksan bag ko. kasi yung nauna sa akin hindi nga niya chineck. come my turn hinarang niya talaga yung stick niya so i opened my bag. nasa left side ko siya and my bag nakasukbit sa right arm ko. hindi ko tinanggal sa pagkakasabit sa arm ko and just slightly tilted it her way. pinasok niya yung stick niya and using her stick hinila niya papunta sa kanya yung bag ko so i snatched it back. and reacted. paakyat ng escalator yun and nung ilang steps na ako sa escalator nagcomment pa ang bruhang guard "kung ayaw mong magpacheck ng bag wag kang magdala ng bag!" i was so angry. pinuntahan ko yung admin and nagfile talaga ako ng complain. ang nasabon ko yung OIC guard nila, siyempre hindi naman papayag yun so pinatawag niya yung guard na nirereklamo ko. nung nakita niya ako namutla yung mukha niya. wala akong anything against sa mga guards na nagchecheck ng bag. alam ko it's their duty. pero yung makita ko na hindi niya chineck yung dala at bags nung nauna sa akin tapos sa akin aasta siya ng ganyan hindi yun acceptable. tapos may comment pa  sinabihan siya nung OIC na kapag may naulit pang ganyan incident e tatanggalin na siya which sa palagay ko e scripted. eto pa ang palusot ng bruhang guard nung tinanong siya na bakit hindi niya chineck yung 2 na nauna sa akin. tenant daw yun ng mall. may maisagot lang! nagsorry siya sa akin. sabi ko hindi ko kailangan ng sorry niya. ang kailangan ko ayusin niya trabaho niya. ngayon kapag nakikita niya ako umaatras na siya ng 2 steps tapos with matching greet pa! 

may mga ilan kasi kung umasta akala mo sila ang may-ari ng mall. baka nakakalimutan nila na nagtratrabaho lang sila sa establishment na yun. i look young for my age and i wear comfy clothes kadalasan. kaya nga lagi sinasabi ng husband ko magtaray ako para hindi nila iisipin na kaya kaya lang nila ako kasi mukha akong nene. sad to say gaya nga ng sinabi ni sis bpa. hindi nasusukat sa get up yan kung may pambili o wala! and what right do they have to treat people that way. tapos kapag pinatulan mo sasabihin minamaliit sila kesyo guard o ganito lang work nila! and in the first place sila nga yung gumagawa ng ganoon.

[FOURever]

^agree. May mga guards na ganyan. One time ganyan ginawa sakin yung mga nauna di chineck tapos ako ang dami kong dala, pumasok lang ako kasi umuulan. Yung dala ko madami talaga iuuwi ko sa bahay e commute lang ako. Sabi ko help me open the bag na lang since ang dami ko ngang bitbit at hawak. Aba eh, ako daw magbukas. I know may policy silang di sila pwede magbukas ng bag pero nakiusap lang ako na buksan na nya yung ichecheck since ang hirap mag ayos na naman, ayaw pa. Nagtagal kami ng few min. I know it's irrational but sometimes they don't have any considerations. Samantalang nauna sakin di chineck yung bags

[momai]

nangyari ito last month. bibili ako ng basket, ang bill ko ay almost php200, tapos ang binabayad ko ay 1000. tinanong ako ng cashier kung wala daw barya, sabi ko wala. sagutin ba naman ako ng " ay wala akong ipapalit diyan, nagpapalit na nga ako eh"...sabi ko "so hindi ako pwede bumili?" sabi niya, "pwede po, balikan niyo na lang". eh na i-punch na niya, sabi ko " di bale na lang, di na ako babalik"..

kakainis lang yung ganun. di ba dapat may barya silang panukli?

minsan din naganyan ako sa ace hardaware, wala daw siyang isusukli, nung tinanong ko din kung di ako pwede bumili, ayun nasuklian ako.

[trishevil]

ako naman, recently sa 999 namimili kami ng sister ko. Nagpapalipas oras lang kami kasi hinihintay ko yung hubby ko. Tapos nag-browse ako sa isang stall na may mga dresses. Nakabili na kasi ako doon before and I really liked their dresses kasi tama ang length sa akin.

Una kong tiningnan yung mga nasa racks kasi yung naka-display sa loob marami pa ang tumitingin tapos mejo crowded na sa loob. Yung ibang mga SAs nagku-kwentuhan lang at di inaasikaso yung mga tumitingin. Then yung isa, nakasandal pa sa rack ng dresses na tinitingnan ko while chatting with the other one. Nung napalapit na ako sa portion na malapit sa kanya, di man lang umalis para mag give-way. Nag-excuse ako, she made a face at me then sumandal siya sa dulong part ng rack and still blocking my way. I was looking for the dress on their mannequin which I really liked when my hubby texted me. So I left the stall to meet him, having in mind na balikan yung stall when it's less crowded at baka pwede na ako masikaso ng SAs. And then when I left, I heard one of their SA saying, "guguluhin yung mga damit, di naman bibili." and when I turned to look at my back, I saw her looking at us. Natawa na lang ako sa sinabi niya and decided not to return to that stall and to never ever buy from that stall again.

[mariacadie]

ako naman not so bad experiences from sa's pero na wi weirduhan lang ako kasi pag pumasok ako sa isang dept store, sasabihin ng sa, "yes mam?" laging ganun gustong gusto ko nabihin na bakit may tinatanong ba ako na answerable ng yes or no? bwisit

tapos yung mga sa dito sa isetann recto may policy ata sila na quota pag may bibilhin ka nila lalagyan nila ng tag sa cashier na sila nag assist  sa yo and all. nung minsan nagbayad ako sabi nung sa mam wait po tapos nilalagay nya yung tag nya sa items ko sabi ko bakit in assist mo ko? back off sya bigla bwisit

[happie]

^  That guy is way out of line.

^ sis do you know a lot of SAs? i don't think some here are just too sensitive. common sense naman na one has to follow certain rules when asking for discounts and for return/exchange of item.

No, I don’t know any SA personally, although I have interviewed a few who happen to have a college education.  I’m just stating a general opinion, not trying to single out any particular post.  Have you actually read every single post to say that not one can be considered just a tad too sensitive? 

Rudeness is definitely something that should be addressed properly.  Some of my staff, although properly trained to handle such clients with professionalism, still unfortunately encounter demanding and incorrigible clients, even after thorough explanation of company policies.   

Speaking of common knowledge, it pays to dress nice.   This is the same reason why we are required to wear decent clothes and makeup to work.  Otherwise, why don’t we just go to work with our pajamas?  Peace

[ohcmon]

^ We dress nicely for work because we get paid to do so. I could shop in my birthday suit and still would expect SAs to treat me well because I'm a paying customer. Why should I exert an effort to dress up just so they could treat me nicely, eh trabaho naman talaga nila 'yon?

[trishevil]

Rudeness is definitely something that should be addressed properly.

Yep. Some people are just plain rude. Either through their actions or words, di talaga maiwasan na may rude SAs and even customers too. Like I've said, it always pay to be nice. Kaya whenever I shop, I make sure that I am nice and not too demanding. Also, saying "thank you" (with a nice/kind smile) to SAs means a lot to them (read this somewhere in a Yahoo article and some SAs told me this too..).

For example, I once asked a SA to grab several pairs of shoes in size 40. Unfortunately, that design was too small and that was the biggest size available so I can't wear them. I thanked the SA and told her the shoes were too small for me. Nag-sorry pa ako kasi pinagod ko siya. But she said, "Okay lang po yun Ma'am. " Tapos nag-smile pa siya.

Basta eto ang rules ko when shopping:

1. If the SA looks at me discriminately, I don't buy from that store just to prove I can afford it. (Unless, I really need that item. Pero kung shopping leisurely lang, I'll look somewhere else.) Dagdag commission pa nila yun! Nicer SAs deserve that sales commission.

2. I always go back to stores with nice and attentive SAs. I patronize stores like these. I have several store that I regularly shop at kasi very nice lahat ng tao doon. I even recommend it to my friends and relatives.

3. When the SA is rude, don't retaliate with harsh words, tone or facial expression. (Though when I'm having a bad day, I frown at them. This actually happened only about three times, I think. Hey, I'm not perfect. But I felt bad acting that way.)  Keep calm, smile and walk away. It's their loss, not yours.

4. Always be nice to SAs. They give better services especially if your friendly. Remember, if you're approachable, they'd give you better and often times, honest insights on the products they are selling. Some SAs actually told me which stuff is better based on actual experience and several "store secrets" about their products. They don't necessarily "bad-mouth" their product they just don't sugarcoat too much on their sales talk.

5. Don't be too demanding. SAs are human, like you as well. They have feelings and they get tired too. I often tell my friend this whenever she's being a tad bit demanding.  Be reasonable. Just imagine that if you were in their shoes, would you rather be asked demanding and unreasonable requests? Surely not.

6. Always say thank you. Whether they are nice or rude, thank them. Even if they are rude, that doesn't mean that you have to be rude as well. Besides, you'd feel better knowing you did the right thing.

Hahaha sorry long post. I don't know if this post is related. If not, MOD kindly delete this post. Thank you.

[theshopaholicprincess]

^ We dress nicely for work because we get paid to do so. I could shop in my birthday suit and still would expect SAs to treat me well because I'm a paying customer. Why should I exert an effort to dress up just so they could treat me nicely, eh trabaho naman talaga nila 'yon?

Naalala ko tuloy yung issue ni Oprah regarding dun sa bibilhin nya na bag at di sya pinagbentahan sa Switzerland and yung scene ni Julia Roberts sa Pretty Woman sa high end boutique...

My take naman is, I believe people, especially those who are facing customers should not discriminate people based on their appearance and porma. Ito nakwento lang din ng husband ko when he was still a working student and works at dept. store, he noticed daw na mostly those who were casually dressed or simple lang eh yun daw yung madalas magbayad ng cash at yung mga mapoporma at demanding minsan sa store eh madalas daw yun yung hindi bumibili or kung bibili eh madalas credit card ang pambayad (Though I'm not speaking generally and based lang sya sa observation ng husband ko).

Another is, I read an article in Marie Claire magazine, about the daughter of Estee Lauder founder regarding on how she learned the ropes of business in cosmetic industry, she said that when she was still working as a sales rep sa isang dept. store sa US, she learned daw na entertain everyone who walks on the store kasi it may be a potential buyer or potential profit for the business. So for me, it doesn't matter kung maporma or simple ka lang pumunta ng mall, what's important is when a customer came into the store, you put up your best smile and entertain the customer. Its not an excuse na maging rude ka just because you had a bad day or not in the mood. 

[budzwhiz]

Yung mga SA na hindi namamansin, or feeling nila wala kang pambili, nakakabastos talaga yun...

But I remember having this experience, sa Rustan's dept. store sa glorietta. Galing ako sa makeup section, and nung napadaan ako sa perfumes, napatingin na rin ako. May lumapit saking 2 male SA's, pinipilit yung pabango nila. Mejo makulit, and ako yung type na nahihirapang mag ward off ng mga ganong tao, so sumunod nalang ako sa stall nila, which was Kenzo ata. Started offering this, that perfume. And pinapakita ko na rin na hindi ako interesado. Then yung isang pabango he sprayed sa kamay ko. Tapos kinuha yung kamay ko, and he almost kissed it! The f. Tas sabi ko nga next time nalang talaga, and headed out. Sumunod na times na pumunta ko sa Rustan's, iniiwasan ko na yung aisle ng pabango. After non, naiilang na rin ako sa mga male SA's lalo na yung magkakasama. Dayum.

[little_princess]

i usually get good service or friendly SA's when I travel but this obnoxious chinese guy at the ysl outlet in bicester village really riled me up. he was so curt, unfriendly and rude towards me when i was asking if there are any available ysl clutches. i really had to say "how rude" out loud for his colleagues to hear.

[sima]

Hate na hate ko yung sinusundan ako habang nagtitingin-tingin ng mga products sa store.

Sa Beauty Bar, parang bodyguard yung mga sales clerk doon.  Once, nagti-tingin ako at nagte-test ng mga samples nila, sabi ba naman sa akin ng sales agent - ay naku miss, hindi po yan tester!  eh tester kaya iyon -  so pinakita ko sa kanya yung label at TESTER at ang taas na nang kilay ko at nanlilisik na ang mga mata ko and my voice was dripping with sarcasm noong tinanong ko siya -- hindi ba ito tester -- eh ano itong nakasulat dito?  O loko, sorry siya ng sorry sa akin -- sabay bili ako ng Philosophy fragrance hahaha!

[FOURever]

Agree ako dun sa di ako bibili pag masungit yung SA. Tapos binabalikan ko naman kapag nice mga SA nila pag nice ka din sa kanila, mas magiging nice pa sila.

Di naman ako agree na dapat magbihis to impress. I actually find it too trying hard sometimes kapag mag shopping lang tapos todo bihis pa. Saka kulang pa ba yung naka blouse or shirt ka, pants and shoes? Ano pa kelangan di ba? I seldom go to shangrila because one time, i went there i was wearing a simple blouse, pants and shoes. Okay lang naman na iinspect nila shoulder bag ko, pero the one behind me, nakadress and puro alahas, hindi na chineck bag nya. I felt little pero after a while okay lang, poor guard she was. I have a high respect to guards.. Except to her. After that, i seldom go to shangrila na. Besides, ang konti lang naman ng shops dun, and i don't like na maraming parts na mukhang old and need to be replaced na :p