How do you feel about sales assistants suggesting different stores?

If you work at Wal*Mart, it really doesn’t matter. If you work at Macy’s or Nordstrom, you give them directions on how to get to that place that has what they want if it keeps those big spenders coming back.

I have! I don’t sell my soul to anything, especially something as dubious as commerce. The person standing in front of me is a person first, then a customer. I will help that person to the best of my ability.

A retailer that spends too much time not selling things will not last long. Either figure out something you CAN sell the customer, or say, “No, I can’t help you with that”.

As a business owner, I would not condone it. As a consumer, I would appreciate it.

I’m a fan of it. I don’t expect it of them, but I defiantly love it when they put helping me get what I need above making a quick sale that won’t satisfy me – especially when it’s not just recommending where to get a product that they flat out don’t have, but where to get a product that’s similar to theirs (like the difference between a bath shop recommending where to get car oil vs that same shop recommending where to get lotion with no fragrance). To me, it shows integrity, and I normally remember it and am more likely to go back to that store because of the pleasant experience than think ‘they’d rather sell me something I didn’t want to make a 5 buck sale than create a life-time customer, even though there was no sale this time’.

When I worked at Petsmart, I would always call another store for them if we were out of something they wanted.
For example: A lady came in looking for a specific parrot food. We were out and she seemed disappointed, but was willing to try another brand. I gladly called two other Petsmarts and when they didn’t have them, I called three local stores until I found one that had it in stock. I gave her directions and sent her off.
I worked there for the animals, not for the company. That bird had been on the same food for 5 years. I didn’t want her to have to switch foods like that.

I would sometimes suggest alternatives if the person didn’t want to make a trip to a different store, but most of the time I would call other stores for them.
Like @phillis said, I see them as people, not a customer. I want the true best for their pets.

I always appreciate it.

As a business owner I’d want to be known for the quality of the associates I keep on my payroll. After all, everyone in business sells product, and most of that can be purchased online, too, sometimes for less than at the store. But your people can make or break your business.

I’d want my employees to be of service to the customer—and then to tell me what we needed to stock, if we didn’t have it. They’d know, too, that our success depends on our sales, but our sales depend first on having “bodies in the shop”, and having the best sales associates is a lot cheaper than silly promotions and gimmicks for attracting and retaining repeat customers.

I think they’re being honest, and I appreciate that.

@CyanoticWasp You sound like the kind of person I want having a store!

Of course a sales person should suggest where you might find what you want if they don’t have what you need, Didn’t you ever see Miracle on 34th Street?! When I trained at Macy’s around 22 years ago they were still teaching it, but I doubt their training is worth anything anymore. I worked for Bloomingdale’s and other retailers and we most certainly would have helped the customer; rather, our clients in any way we could.

I feel that shows class. It means the store and sales associates are aware of the competition. I like that.
I also tell the recommended store that I was sent there by the first one. Maybe they can return the favor some day.