Comments on: How Assertive Is Too Assertive for Cosmetics Sales Staff?

By: Emily

Emily — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 04:49:45 +0000

I visited a Lancome counter at a local Macy’s just to look, I had never really looked into what Lancome had to offer before. I was a little upset that the pushy salespeople WOULD NOT leave me alone. No matter how many times I told them I was just looking. And I was going to buy eyeshadows [I did, they are pretty good btw.] and was considering color choices as I had a strict budget and they just wouldn’t let me look. I felt very pressured.

By: Sonia

Sonia — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:11:53 +0000

Awww… thank you! I do often have great customer, and ofcourse the loyal once that call me or email me to see if I am there before they come . And ofcourse I always love customers like you, I think the main problem are the pushy SA’s for sure! a pest for the customers and a pain in the butt for honest SA’s that really DO only want to help. It sounds like I am doing things okay…I guess we all just our customers to stick up for themselves and deny those who corner them into a wall and say “no thanks, I am being helped already”. I also meant to say something on my last comment…to all of you, please don’t ever feel intimidated when you walk into cosmetics ever…we are there for YOU and because of YOU. If you don’t want to be helped don’t be afraid to say so, if you feel offended by a SA complain! you could be helping another good person who really needs a job as well as another future customer who may get insulted in the near future. When all else fails…tell the SA’s harrasing you that you are just waiting for your sister, or that you have a return…that usually makes all the bad SA’s run away…LOL! J/K

By: knit_tgz

knit_tgz — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:41:26 +0000

Sonia: the best MA I know is not-pushy. She says hello, asks if I need help. If I say I’m just browsing she lets me do so. If I ask for suggestions, she can be very helpful (if she has time, she will demonstrate me how to get an eye look), and she is willing to tell me what makeup items I already own can be used in that look (“You know, if you have X colour, you don’t need X1 too, you should only get Y because that one is really different”). She writes down the name and prices of items I like but cannot afford at the moment, and she even suggests items she does not sell because she knows they will be better for my sensitive skin. I always buy at least a lipgloss or a mascara to reward her.

I sometimes want a suggestion, but I will ask for it if I want it. I actually prefer to be left alone when I say I want to be left alone. So, I reward the SA who actually listen to me. I wish people who are like me would reward SA like you, Sonia. Good luck at your job!
knit_tgz’s last blog post… Meme (imagens/pictures)

By: knit_tgz

knit_tgz — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:30:20 +0000

I actually have been known to buy items just to reward good behaviour from a makeup artist or seller, because I loathe when they are pushy, rude (listing other person’s supposed cosmetic flaws is rude!) or simply don’t listen (if I say I want to try a subtle look, you can help me think out of the box and try something a little more daring, but you must NOT decide that I should really wear a runway neon look).

So, if they are helpful but not pushy, listen to me and try to understand what I am looking for, I end up rewarding them by buying something (something I will use, but most times something that wasn’t essencial). If they are not polite or are pushy, I will just walk away without any purchase.
knit_tgz’s last blog post… Meme (imagens/pictures)

By: Sara

Sara — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:32:04 +0000

Never assume that the SA is on commission. If someone is new, seasonal, vendor. They aren’t always working for that sale. I work at ULTA and we are NOT on commiseration, we have sales goals but it if we meet it we don’t get any reward or any $ or spiff of any kind. If we don’t meet our sales goals we get yelled at later. Its a double edge sword