Shopping under pressure?

How do people feel about the way we're being pressurised into buying/giving money to things nowadays? We can't walk down the high street without being pressured into giving money to some charity or watch the TV without being made to feel guilty. But, now it has channelled into banks and shops. My friend works for a bank and if she doesn't get enough people to sign up for insurance or mortgages, she gets fired. In Superdrug the other day - yes, SUPERDRUG! - I was approached by a girl on the shop floor asking me if I wanted to buy this brand of mascara! If I wanted to buy it, surely I'd be in the make up section?





How do other people feel about this? The idea of employees being made to persuade people that they want something that they didn't come in to buy? Is it applying unfair pressure, is it an invasion into our personal space when shopping?

Shopping under pressure?
I do not like walking in to a shop and people either side of the doorway rattlng a collection box at me, I give to charity already and I will decide when and how much, not an over keen collector. But I do feel guilty and do not know why, I think that they just think 'Oh she can't be bothered', or 'she doesn't care' I do, but the fact is I can't give to every single collector every single day, and you have to make a personal choice, would you rather give to the NSPCC or the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary? Both need your money. On your other point I stood in a queue at the post office at lunchtime today, (bad timing I know, it's lunch so they only have a couple of the three hundred or so tills open) and the lady at the till was trying to sell the customer in front of me a credit card. Well excuse me but she came in for stamps not a lifetime of debt, how about you take a look at the length of the queue building up behind her??? Mind you, I didn't say anything, don't like to make a fuss, just seethe quietly.
Reply:I just say no thank you and then go about my business. Remember, you are not obligated to these people if you are not interested or simply just can't afford it. Persistant, pushy salespersons are annoying and I do my best to keep my distance.
Reply:I hate shopping, anywhere %26amp; everywhere, especially at malls. Salespeople irritate me. I do 99% of my shopping at home on-line and avoid stores as much as possible.
Reply:I hate this. The other day I cataloged ordered just one item to be mailed to my daughter in another state. They gave me at least 3 different sale pitches about other items. I just kept saying no thank you.
Reply:I agree I've just got of the mobile being told about child prostitution in this country, UK and the whole time i was thinking how the hell did you get my number. I waited a long time before i got a mobile because the thought of people being able to get me at all hours left me cold. sometimes i am exhausted with the information that comes at me from all directions and going to the shops and being met with a line of people each trying to tell me something or sell me something. Good question.
Reply:I try to avoid such places. I like going to places where there are no such salespeople where i can browse as i please.
Reply:I agree, it's appalling. The only way to deal with it is to not give in, do not buy their products, and when solicited for charity just say that you only consider charities that send their outlines in the post, as is traditional. And complain to management. It only continues because people give in to it. Unfortunately, society rarely recognises or uses this particular power that it has.
Reply:... it's disgusting ... and there's one more thing I find really ... I don't know ... it's shameful ... in the centre of the city where I live on squares and busy streets there are always people selling some magazines for kids, and it all goes to charity ... for kids without parents ... they're aggressive, and they chase you down the streets to buy those magazines, because each of them gets certain % for every magazine they sell .. OK again, I don't mind, they have to earn their living (even people that work for green peace get their salaries).. but here is the disgusting bit: NOBODY! not a single government body controls who is printing those magazines, and one friend of mine, just because he wanted to HELP, agreed to try and sell some of those magazines, giving his % to charity aswell .. but there IS no charity organisation behind it ... he found out after only a couple of day ... and everybody who's selling magazines knows it ... it's all just a prit-shop owner, who came up with an idea of how to make money ... and now ... he's bad .. people who agree to workin for him are bad (because they just know it all, and they go on doing it), and people like me are losing faith in all so called charity organisations, and don't want to contribute, because they don't want to fill some idiot's pockets with money .. and there are kids out there who do need help ...
Reply:I think it's an invasion. If I want to buy something, I'll buy it. It's wrong to put pressure like that on employees to get people to purchase extra services or things people don't really need. As far as giving to charities go, I have some that when I can afford it, I give to. I'm kind of numb to new appeals. I know there's a lot of need out there, but I'm just giving to the charities that I've researched and know that they will get the majority of the money where it belongs.
Reply:You forget the people trying to get you to sign up for a catalogue! My sentiments exactly. I loathe it. I just give a 'no thank you', and move on. If it's double glazing, I tell them I live in rented. I cannot afford to keep putting money in boxes every week, but I do give to certain causes, like the lifeboat or cancer, and always buy a poppy. Although I am not religious, I give to the Salvation army, and all these causes use the money usefully.





I am outraged that staff are pressured into asking if the customer wants insurance, etc. People are not stupid, they will shop around for the one they want, plus there are enough leaflets they can pick up if they are thinking about it. Though please blamce the staff, they hate it.





Also, I am outraged that the ones approached in the street are normally women, how demeaning that they think we have nothing better to do!
Reply:I don't like to be pressured to purchase a product or service. However, I respect anyone who is working to take care of themselves and/or their family. When I am pressured by a sales representative, I simply say "no thank you" and move on. Sales representatives have quotas and some people don't excel in that area and lose their jobs. It is unfortunate but it is how our economy works. Hopefully, an individual who loses a sales job will find another type of gainful employment.





Regarding charities, there is a lot of need in the world. If I could, I would help all those in need. However, I have limited resources - in both time and money- so that isn't possible.





Rather than give a dollar here and a dollar there, I determined how much I could afford to donate. I then researched several non-profit organizations and decided who would receive my donations. When I received requests from other charities, I tell them I have my "chosen" charities. Typically, an organization respects that position.
Reply:What is even worse is that they have started cold calling in my ares. I'm sick of charities, health insurance etc types bugging me at home.


It is applying unfair pressure both when out shopping or at home.
Reply:It is illegal for charity collectors to APPROACH you, they are allowed to jiggle their boxes and look towards you, but not walk up to you, REMIND THEM OF THAT, then tell them you have your chosen charities already lined up via your bank.





Banks and shops, you say NO THANK YOU loud enough for most folks around you to hear not just them. Lets face it, they are not considering your feelings, when they set out to brow beat you into buying something you perhaps did not want - so WHY consider theirs???





I hate being followed by an assistant, if they continue I tell them that I prefer to BROWSE, and if that is not OK, then I shall leave the premises.....they normally back off !





You do not have to be rude or aggressive to be assertive, just firmly and confidently, its great fun, the more you do it, the better you get ! Try it - x
Reply:I don't think I would patronize a store or bank that used these tactics. I agree with those who suggested that the employee and or customer complain. The only way spur a change is if the management becomes aware that these tactics are not attracting but repelling their customers.
Reply:If you are being pressured to buy insurance you should ask for the name of the company and then report them to the FSA as not treating customers fairly and that in your opinion they have not addressed the conflict of interest between being an agent for an insurance company and acting for their clients. (The FSA love TCF and CI issues at the moment)





I would also ask them for a copy of their complaints procedures and make an official complaint through their complaints system.





The regulation of insurance in January 2005 was aimed in part at correcting these iniquitous sales techniques.





I would recommend that your friend 'blows the whistle' on the bank to the FSA - there is legislation in force to protect her and if she does lose her job she could get a nice payout!
Reply:Would you like to buy this huge bra?