Interacting with salespeople is a super way to practice your social skills (not to mention fun for you shopaholics!). Retail people standing behind their counters are just waiting to talk to potential customers. So take advantage of the free practice and ask for their help—lots of help—as you browse through a store.
I hate shopping because I’m always embarrassed to tell the salesperson I’m just looking. I feel so guilty if they show me a few things and I leave not even buying one. I buy a lot of things by mail order but I don’t like it because a lot of things don’t fit and I have to send them back. But at least the mail order people don’t know me.
—Pamela G., Tulsa, Oklahoma
I e-mailed Pamela and begged her not to feel guilty. I told her—and I’ll tell you, too—that salespeople really don’t expect you to buy. On the average, only one in twenty people who look at a product actually reaches for their wallet. Additionally, many salespeople are not working on commission and thus really don’t care whether they make the sale.
Even if you do intend to purchase an item and you know precisely which one, ask the clerk to show you the others. Then ask for recommendations.
You think that the clerk will be ever-so-slightly offended if you don’t take the one she suggested? Perhaps a tad, but that is excellent practice in standing up for your choices.