How to Avoid Annoying Shop Assistants

Shop assistants can be extremely annoying when they keep bothering you looking for a sale when all you want to do is browse around the store or are fully capable of choosing between dining sets yourself. This guide is for those who are sick of being bothered and want a few tricks to getting around these situations.

How To Avoid Annoying Shop Assistants: Avoid Eye Contact

Generally, people are taught that when someone talks to them they should give them eye contact. The reason for this is that eye contact means emotional contact, leading to empathy. While this is a good way of approaching every day situations, this is precisely what shop assistants prey on in order to get a sale. The solution to this is to avoid eye contact and thus avoid seeming like the kind of person who could be talked into a sale.

How To Deal With Annoying Shop Assistants: Politely Reject Their Aid

Often, if the above tactic has failed, the shop assistant will approach a person and ask them if they need any help. In response to this, a polite 'no thanks' will work in most cases. Sometimes, the shop assistant will keep pressing the issue and the correct polite response is 'I am just browsing'. While the just browsing line is fine, if the shop assistant keeps pressing the issue it can easily be resolved by stating that you are just waiting for a friend.

How To Deal With Annoying Shop Assistants: Play The Poor Card

Nothing gets rid of a shop assistant faster than someone stating or seeming that they have no money. While it might seem like a strange idea to dress down when going out in public, in regard to shop assistants it can be a very effective tactic. If they think you are poor, they will leave you alone as it means they are less likely to make a sale. Another method of achieving this is to simply say that you will not be buying anything or, even better, that you have no money on you.

How To Avoid Annoying Shop Assistants: Be In A Bad Mood

Faking a bad mood should be reserved for the worst of shop assistants, though by the time you need to do this you are probably in a bad mood anyway. This is the shop assistant who keeps coming up to you despite having already been told multiple times that you do not need them. While the above tactics work for the large majority of reasonable shop assistants, this particular shop assistant is so aggressive that they will keep pushing the issue. As a result, seeming like you are in a bad mood can make you seem slightly dangerous. They may think that you will flip out and go crazy, so will definitely avoid approaching you.