Customers sidetracked

The age-old adage of the customer being always right might have undergone a series of changes over the past generations and today,it would not be inappropriate to say,The customer is right only if the salesmen feel so.

The age-old adage of the customer being always right might have undergone a series of changes over the past generations and today,it would not be inappropriate to say,The customer is right only if the salesmen feel so. While stores might have changed from small 500 sq ft shops to swanky malls with designer interiors,the quality of sales staff at most of these places does promise a customer an out of the world experience,but not in a good way.

Twenty-three-year-old Neha Mistry has an interesting incident to narrate. About four months ago,I had gone to one of the malls in the city to buy a pair of sunglasses for my dad. I was looking for a specific brand and the salesman showed me everything but that. Ironically,when I asked him he said that he was new on the job and hadnt even heard of the brand. He contacted his superior,who,in turn,couldnt help me out either, she says. The floor manager eventually came down and told me that the model was out of stock and they would get it in a couple of days. The entire affair cost me a good hour,and even though it sounds like an honest mistake,I just wished that the staff was better-trained,if not about everything under the sun,then at least about the products they sell, adds Mistry.

If ignorant salesmen are an issue,then over-enthusiastic salesmen arent exactly the next best thing,as was the case with Vivek Jain,a software engineer. I do know that most people love to be waited upon for all their little whims and fancies while shopping. As a result,sales personnel are usually always hovering nearby,but in my case it was totally the opposite of hovering, says Jain. I had gone to purchase some perfumes recently,and two of the salesmen were actually arguing on the counter to promote their brand. I was left confused,and both of them were just voraciously promoting their respective brands. I eventually ended up not buying anything and ever since then havent stepped back into the mall to buy anything, he adds.

The problem encountered by shoppers facing irate and rude salesmen is not new. But sometimes,events take an unexpected turn and end up being hilarious. Rajesh Bhatia,a businessman says,As far as bad shopping experiences are concerned,I did once have a very quaint experience. I had gone to buy a pair of shoes at a sportswear store in Camp and since the store was relatively empty,all the sales personnel were showing me the various models on sale. All of a sudden,a young boy walked in and the salesmen abruptly left me to go and attend to him, informs Bhatia. I learnt later on that he was one of their most regular customers. I was left sitting with two different shoes on my feet,and thoroughly confused, he adds.

Ranging from weird,sarcastic to plain funny,shopping does provide some out-of-the-box experiences at times. All shoppers can do is lament. Is anybody listening?

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Customers sidetracked

The age-old adage of the customer being always right might have undergone a series of changes over the past generations and today,it would not be inappropriate to say,The customer is right only if the salesmen feel so.

The age-old adage of the customer being always right might have undergone a series of changes over the past generations and today,it would not be inappropriate to say,The customer is right only if the salesmen feel so.