# Shopping rant **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 14, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173 "2013-08-14T01:06:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/1 "2013-08-14T01:06:07Z")
Why is it so much to shop? Why can’t I get in and get out? Why must I be greeted and ask if I need help finding anything? Why? Why can’t I just go in for what I came for , purchase and be on my way with out unsolicited banter? ☹ why? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/2 "2013-08-14T02:38:01Z")
[Behold](http://www.amazon.com) ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/3 "2013-08-14T02:49:13Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > [Behold](http://www.amazon.com) :Snerk: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/4 "2013-08-14T03:44:37Z")
In the retail world it’s accepted that conspicuous and interactive customer service [deters shoplifting](http://www.insnews.org/business/focus/2006/02/retail.shoplifting.htm) and primes buyers to spend more. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/5 "2013-08-14T03:44:42Z")
> [@slm2955](#): > > Why is it so much to shop? Why can’t I get in and get out? Why must I be greeted and ask if I need help finding anything? Why? Why can’t I just go in for what I came for , purchase and be on my way with out unsolicited banter? ☹ why? Just do [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td-Lb5NeFZo). ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/6 "2013-08-14T03:54:53Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > [Behold](http://www.amazon.com) :dubious: > [@](#): > > [ul] > [li]Hello **njtt** : Your account[/li][li]Featured recommendations[/li][li]Recommended For You …[/li][li]Frequently Bought Together[/li][li]Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought …[/li][li]What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?[/li][li]Explore similar items[/li][li]…[/li][/ul] Amazon is no stranger to the hard, personalized sell. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/7 "2013-08-14T03:58:06Z")
I don’t mind people asking me if they can help me find anything, or what I’m looking for. I DO mind having to tell a cashier my life story, even if I’m paying cash. “But you might have bonus points!” I refuse to patronize Kmart or Sears right now for this reason; no wonder that company is circling the drain. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/8 "2013-08-14T14:19:11Z")
“Hi. Did you f…” “Yes.” “Do you have a…” “No.” “Would you like…” “No.” “Do you want to d…” “No.” “Sign the p…” “I know.” “Here’s your receipt; have a great day!” “Thanks.” ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/9 "2013-08-14T14:21:55Z")
I remain amazed at the number of people who cannot shop without becoming entangled in these morasses of human contact. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/10 "2013-08-14T14:22:05Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Amazon is no stranger to the hard, personalized sell. If they’re throwing pop-ups and click-throughs in your browser that require you to deal with them, you’d have a point. Amazon is more like store sales associates holding up items in your peripheral vision that you might look at or ignore. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/11 "2013-08-14T14:22:06Z")
Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to say “STFU or I’m leaving”… and have it mean something? > [@](#): > > I remain amazed at the number of people who cannot shop without becoming entangled in these morasses of human contact. Some of us prefer to keep up our hygiene and not wear a “I wonder what your head would look like on a stick” button. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/12 "2013-08-14T14:39:00Z")
It must be horrible to be forced to interact with people. Best to just bitch about it on a message board where you don’t have to actually interact with anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/13 "2013-08-14T14:41:00Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Some of us prefer to keep up our hygiene and not wear a “I wonder what your head would look like on a stick” button. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/14 "2013-08-14T14:42:27Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > It must be horrible to be forced to interact with people. Best to just bitch about it on a message board where you don’t have to actually interact with anyone. Most of the subjects aren’t “people” who might actually give a shit what your name or needs or feelings might be. They’re just droids following a programmed script designed to get you to spend more. Nothing else. In many cases you’re unlikely to ever see them again; they don’t have a right to call you by your first name or engage you in a conversation about your purchases or purposes or life. Their only function is to upsell and cross-sell you, which should be a high-tier misdemeanor. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/15 "2013-08-14T14:46:10Z")
I do this super advanced technique where I still just buy the stuff on my list. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/16 "2013-08-14T14:46:58Z")
> [@](#): > > Most of the subjects aren’t “people” Ah yes, de-humanizing others to justify your disdain and bad manners. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/17 "2013-08-14T14:50:21Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Ah yes, de-humanizing others to justify your disdain and bad manners. KMA. We have the right to shop without being assaulted or subjected to marketing protocols designed to make us feel so, so loved and wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/18 "2013-08-14T14:55:06Z")
Are you confusing your desires for reality again? ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/19 "2013-08-14T14:58:14Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > KMA. > > We have the right to shop without being assaulted or subjected to marketing protocols designed to make us feel so, so loved and wanted. The irony here is the only thing that would make everyone happy is the very thing they are railing against. Truly personalized shopping where you can make your own desires known up front is the only way to deliver excellent and appropriate customer service to everyone. \*You want to walk in, grab whats on your list and never see a sales rep until you check out, click box A You want us to follow you around and make approving comments on every choice click box B Please remember that in order to tailor your visit correctly you must wear the RFID tag we mail you. Have a shoppingly great day!\* ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173/20 "2013-08-14T15:01:07Z")
The people in the stores are merely people doing what their job requires them to do. It isn’t personal, except for maybe the fact that they’re people and they tend to like actual human contact in an otherwise de-personalizing robotic job. Since they’re NOT doing it to bother you and really has nothing to do with you personally, I suggest you suck it up and stop acting and thinking like the world is shitting on you by forcing other people to talk to you. Then we can complain about the REAL issue, which is why the goddamned credit card swiper by the register keeps asking me questions and making me hit 8 different buttons before it will complete the transaction. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-rant/666173.md?page=2)