The unbearable crowd of shopping

Last week, I walked with my husband into a Mall of the Emirates pharmacy to buy a bottle of my favourite shampoo. Since I had picked up a basket at the entrance, I assumed it was a self-service store.

A super-friendly sales girl met us with the usual "Can I help you ma'am? Can I help you sir?" Since I wasn't intending to buy any medication, I announced that I was there just for "the hair stuff." My statement did not give her an immediate indication that I wanted her out of my way.

When I ignored her question about what she could get me, she seemed to realise that she was wasting time with me, so she turned to my husband saying, "Would you like to see hair loss treatments, sir?" At this point, we both turned around and left the store.

Her lost sale was not only because she suggested that my husband's hair was becoming an obvious problem - but also because she gave us no space.

Techniques

Thinking about her sales techniques, I can see how she juggled two different ways in dealing with the two of us.

The first one is using nagging disguised as positive assistance, which may be appealing for people who like to be served - even if only in the form of having someone to pick up something from a shelf on their behalf. It is a push to close the deal as soon as possible.

What is the problem? You get what you ask for, but you won't be able to read the back of other products or compare prices without intervention from the salesperson. Is that good for their business? Why else would they be doing it?

The second method that the pharmacy's salesgirl used with my husband is an attempt to engage the customer - professionals may have better names for these techniques. The salesperson simply suggests a certain problem and proposes a solution.

Hair loss for men, weight management for women and healthy food for children can draw the attention of customers. Once you are discussing alternative solutions, the sale is just a matter of time and negotiation.

Trap

I see many people happily walk into this trap. Women in particular like to discuss with sales girls their choice of make-up colours, clothes and even perfumes, which are very personal in my opinion.

Additionally, when they talk quality, size, and fashion, price falls lower and lower on their list of priorities.

This does not mean that sales people do not bring to your attention some of their best offers or special packages.

But you should watch out for what they are promoting. If a sales person argues prices too much, I start to question whether a good deal is the cheapest.

I went with a friend to an auto showroom to see a particular car. The salesman told us there was a four-month waiting list for that car, then he tried to sell my friend a smaller car of the same make which was immediately available at a lower price.

Having previously thought about buying one of those two cars, I looked up the differences in specifications, which did not match the marginal price difference. For me, the salesman was getting rid of a car that wasn't fairly priced.

Decision

You can only make a similar distinction between two products if you have special knowledge of them. If not, it may be your only resort to listen to sales people's advice, but be sure that their primary - and very legitimate - goal is to sell more products. If you think otherwise you're mistaken.

So what about using some research and common sense, or at least checking refund or exchange options for high-priced items?

While I am still curious whether any one out there needs assistance with buying hair shampoo, I am certain that there are many people whose resistance is triggered by sales people's nagging. If they are left alone they may spend much more money.

I may have finally found one positive thing of having salespeople everywhere: they control my spending.