Retail Attitude

I suppose that may be true.  I've found that often people's assumptions about what other people think are projections of their own attitudes or fears.  I talk to people a lot.  About some pretty wierd stuff, often.  Sometimes that look of concern, or the appearance that someone isn't paying attention to you is right, but not about what you'd think.  People have sick parents, sick children, rent due and no money, good nights with girlfriends, bad nights with the bottle, and all manner of things that keeps their mind not necessarily as concentrated on their work or on their customers as they ought.  And then, of course, you're right too.  Some people think they're rock stars because they work in a place with guitars for sale. 

- Zurf

Saturday, I went into a Guitar Center in San Diego to buy a capo and a instrument cable. I found a instrument cable on the rack but since the capo's were behind the counter I had to stand in line to get waited on. After I stood in line about 15 minutes or so I got to the front of the line and asked for a capo. The person working on the counter reached behind him, took the one  I wanted off a rack and handed it to me and started waiting on the next guy in line. I asked him if he was going to take my $$$$ for my stuff and was told I needed to go to another line. I said why can't you take my money, you've been taking everyone else's. I was told "Well, my register is closed now. Go to the other register". Another line. So, I went to another music store and bought what I needed.

nela

The shop i got my acoustic from, the staff were great, couldn't have been more helpful. BUT, when it came to buying my electric, it's a different story. I'd only been playing my acoustic a few weeks, so was still a beginner. As soon as we walked into the shop, i got a 'look' from one of the salespersons.  I'm stood there gazing at all the guitars, not really knowing what the heck i'm looking AT! We'd only gone in to have a look, really. Eventually the sales guy come over, asks what i'm looking for. So i explain i'm a new player, & would like an electric.  So he picks down this Ibanez & shows me & start s this reel of waffle. So i says, i really have no clue what ur on about! Instead of explaining what he was saying, he plugs it in & plays some awesome Riff, & i must say, he played good. Then he gvies it to me, & i do a cpl of bars of knocking on heavens door, & Wonderful Tonight. He looked at me, as if to say, damn, why are you bothering?!  I felt totally small & inferior. So then i ask about an amp. Well.. long story, but he gave us a great deal on the Ibanez & the amp together, probably thinking we wouldn't buy. We went away to think about it, went back 30 mins later... & ya shoulda seen his face when we said we'd take the deal he offered!  It was like 'shit, i've gotta let them have it..!  So i did get a good deal out of the place, but the salesperson was a smarmy, slimey git!

Interesting thread... so here is my two pence worth.

  I have worked in the Sales/Service industry for a good piece of my working years, and attended a few of those "professional seminars", but the best advice I ever got was from an old gent that I worked for at a gas station while attending college.

  He upheld that  "the  customer won't always be right, but the customer is ALWAYS the customer.  Everyone who walks in the door and everyone you greet, has done you a good turn by choosing to open that door amongst all the others.  It does not matter what the customer is shopping for, or what you are selling... sell yourself first and the product will sell itself."

  Treating people with respect and having an attitude towards helping your customer make the right buying decision to their benefit, is far and away the best way to ensure that you cultivate a relationship with the public that will put you at the top of the list if ever they need to be rid of excess money again!

End of Seminar-

Take Care;  Doug