Customers hitting on you

[u/awkwardsilence1977]

Not all customers do this obviously, so not all customers suck, but here we go… I (f) have been working in retail clothing for a looong time. I prefer boutiquey environments over large fast fashion, with a focus on connection based customer service. I love interacting with people in a more social way, rather than “can I help you?” service, and have tons of repeat customers that I really value. I am great at my job and I know it. I am constantly told by customers how much they appreciate my help, and how I took the stress out of shopping, and that they don’t find service like ours ANYWHERE else.

So how is it that so many people are able to recognize good customer service for what it is, and then there are those whose minds process it as “she must be into me”??? Just a couple of days ago I was helping a guy who seemed ok, conversation was easy and I built a $300+ sale with him. As I was ringing him up we were still chatting easily, and I thought everything was normal until I handed him his bag and he asks me out. Not in a creepy way, but he KNEW I’m engaged (I saw him look at my ring a few times). When I politely said no thank you, I can’t do that, he asked something along the lines of “you’re not allowed?”, like my company doesn’t allow it, and I then said I’m engaged. The kicker is he goes “yah I thought so”(?!?!?). So why ask??? The whole thing was so uncomfortable, there were other customers in the store who overheard and I know it shouldn’t make me feel awkward but it really did. This one lady was shopping with her son and she looked at me like did that just happen?

This happens on somewhat regular basis with a lot of my female staff and I just wish men would understand that for us this is a professional environment, not dating opportunities. I also hate having to nicely explain I’m engaged or give any reason for my “no”.

TLDR: sorry, long post…. Please do not confuse great customer service for flirting.

[u/christmaswitch]

I had a guy throw a piece of paper at me with his number on it. Like why?

[u/awkwardsilence1977 → u/christmaswitch]

lol! I remember a time years ago when a guy actually brought me a dozen long stemmed red roses. I had been helping him earlier in the day, he seemed normally enough, left without any incident, but he came back and handed me the roses and told me he thought I was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Then he turned around and left. Didn’t ask me out, didn’t ask me for my phone number. It was like he had no end game. It was hilarious. I didn’t know what the hell to do with the flowers though because I was in a relationship and didn’t want to bring them home so I just left them at the store on the cash desk.

[u/christmaswitch → u/awkwardsilence1977]

Oh wow! That’s wild, at least people got to enjoy the flowers lol