Seriously why?
I can’t imagine there is a single customer there that appreciates it.
I’ve decided the best way to deal with these people is to not acknowledge them at all. Rude, but less rude than the words that would come out of my mouth were I to speak.
I’m posting this because a sales lady called me a jerk for ignoring her. Lol
ETA: I’m not talking about sales people promoting stuff that is being sold in the stores.
I’m talking about stuff like AT&T or cable service.
Are they wandering the store or is there a table/booth?
There is always a small table with people trying to sell me on a new electricity company. “How much is your electric bill?” Sometimes they are outside the store, but lately I see them inside the store. This is at Kroger. My HEB doesn’t have people harassing me!
Why do grocery stores allow people to try to sell you stuff, indeed.
(I don’t mind the sample people. They are promoting stuff the STORE is selling.)
Is it multiple grocery chains or just one? I’ve never seen it.
They have the AT&T sales people at Target from time to time. They annoy the absolute living shit out of me and I’ve wondered why they are even tolerated there, myself
I’m guessing the store is being paid to let these people sell their products in their store. It’s like the kids selling Girl Scout cookies out front, although they allow non-profits to be there for free. Trust me, someone is making money from this some way or the store wouldn’t allow it to happen. Just ignore them, and if they call you names or harass you in any way, immediately report them to the store manager.
I’ve seen those sorts of add-in sales.
I’ve never had any sales person do anything other than back off when I say “no thank you”. In fact I’ve rarely had one even approach me. They mostly seem to sit at their little table / booth looking bored.
If they are giving out free samples of something tastey I don’t have a problem with them. But the cable and electric people, off with their heads!
The Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts get a pass. But they should give out free samples if they truely want to learn how to sell things.
The one I go to (Kroger) has a booth. But they are in a spot where it’s kind of hard to avoid them.
Naw, they got more hustle here. One day I was at Target unexpectedly while high, and all I wanted to do was get to the item I was looking for, and I swear I got tag teamed by the two AT&T reps who would just not shut up. “I already have AT&T!” “Well, who do you use for cable?” “Comcast” “Well, how about AT&T!” “Leave me alone, I just want to get yogurt.” “We just want to help save you money.” ATGHHHRH!!!H#@R VEWIA
I’m guessing you were driving by and mistook it for a The White Stripes reunion concert. I’m always slightly disappointed inside when I walk into a target and “Icky Thump” isn’t playing on store public address system.
Stranger
The more mundane story is my wife sent me on a fetch quest when I thought I was safely in for the night. It’s only a ten minute walk from our house, but between that and hyper focusing on your mission while fending off salespeople aggressively hawking their wares on you make a for a far more “interesting” experience than usual.
Absolutely this. AT&T, the cable company, etc., is paying the grocery store chain for access to the store, and the ability to set up a booth, and do their sales pitch.
So, in answer to the OP, “why do the grocery stores allow it?,” it’s because they are making money doing it.
AT&T’s relentless sales tactics bug the hell out of me, and I say this as an advertising person.
I have exactly the set-up that @pulykamell mentions: I have mobile phones (and a landline, still, for reasons) with AT&T; I get my cable and internet from Comcast/Xfinity. I am probably too old school, but I don’t want to change that setup.
For the past 20 years, I have gotten two to three pieces in the mail, every single week, from AT&T, trying to get me to switch. They spend quite a lot of money sending me those things, and I have to wonder about the thinking on that: “The past 400 mailings haven’t gotten him to switch, but surely this offer will!”
In addition, AT&T sends a sales person, to my door, at least twice a year, to try to get me to switch. “But we’re sooooo much better! We can save you money!!!”
And, when I went to the AT&T store a couple of months ago, to upgrade our iPhones, I had to sit through a 20-minute sales pitch from the rep on it. He was actually a little apologetic about it, but it was clear that AT&T forced him to do it.
Break eye contact, say “Sorry, not interested” and keep walking. Edit them completely out of your reality; relegate them to background noise.
The only culprit around here is Costco where rain gutter and solar panel companies have tables on the way to the exit. Sometimes those folks can be annoyingly persistent. Nothing like that in the grocery stores but we do get those paid signature collectors and some missionaries just outside the exits. It’s aggravating as Hell when you have to say “No thanks” more than once and quicken your pace before they give up.
This.
And if that doesn’t work, go all Buzz Aldrin on 'em.
Or like this:
There are more in-store salespeople in Costco, like the ones by the ATT and Verizon tables. I just walk past them without engaging with them at all.
I wonder how fun it’d be to engage them in polite conversation. That is, for every question they ask you about your life, reciprocate.
“Hi! Who’s your cable provider?”
“I use Comcast, thanks! What’s the name of your doctor?”
The questions you could ask, to show equal interest in them, are endless.
“How many children do you have?”
“What’s your greatest fear?”
“But enough about me. What’s your mother’s maiden name?”
“Thank you for asking! What’s your street address?”
I would think it affects the store’s sales since I’ve avoided sections where the salespeople are and I’ve avoided stores when they have these sorts of salespeople at front. Nothing I need is so important that I can’t go to another store to get it.
Since the booths are interfering with the store’s customers, stores should have rules about their behavior. For instance, if a customer says they are not interested, then there cannot be any further followup. No asking about why they’re not interested or whatever. No customer likes being hounded for a sale. No store should allow these people to hassle their customers to the point that they avoid the store.
A lot of the sample stations are essentially the same thing. They may be outside vendors trying to drum up sales. But they are less annoying. They seem to be content with a simple “no, not interested” and leave it at that. That’s what all on-site vendors should be like. “Would you like to learn about AT&T? No? Ok, have a good day.”
The alcohol vendors in grocery stores are a little pushier than I would like. Aside from not wanting to be pressured, it’s also the fact that some people have problems with alcohol. Some people may be struggling with their alcoholism. They don’t need the temptation of someone pressuring them to drink something while they are just trying to buy groceries.
Maybe because I go on Sunday only but my Costco has no sales tables and only an occasional rep in the electronics area who waits for customers to come to them. The most they do is give a hopeful look to passing shoppers.