I do not enjoy clothes shopping (or, honestly, shopping in any small store) in China*, and I lay my objections squarely at the feet of the salesgirls.
First, let me explain what I do appreciate when I'm shopping: a question about whether I need any assistance when I walk in, more than a few clerks available go give me that assitance, and an entire staff that'll leave me alone to shop. Easy-peasy lemon-squeezy.
But here, here, sales staff attach themselves to me like a long-lost shadow the minute I walk in the door. In fact, sometimes I just peer into a shop from outside, and they'll eagerly make a move toward me. I can tell them "I'm just looking" in Chinese---a phrase I was compelled to get Tiffany to teach me shortly after arriving---and they'll still eagerly trail me through the racks like monosodium on glutamate. Showing me different styles of something I glance at, attempting to take clothes from my arms until I'm ready to try them on, asking me questions even after I've said "I don't understand," and generally being annoying and unhelpful.
And the thing is, they're not simply trying to sell me stuff. They're actually trying to be helpful. Which, for the average Chinese customer, they are being. That's the customer - retail clerk relationship here: the retail clerk waits on the customer in an overly-attentive way, and the customer expects and appreciates the service. But for someone who,
A. likes to shop without being bothered
B. comes from a culture where being tailed by sales staff means you're a candidate for
theft
C. does not like to have people hovering over her, to the point that she has a hard time
doing it as a teacher, to students, even though it's a common motivation technique
it's a very uncomfortable, frustrating experience.
I like going to bigger, more metropolitan cities like Shanghai. It's less of a problem there.
A perfect example of the too personal, too hands-on service---and the inspiration for the title of this post---occurred the other day. I was shopping with Tiffany when I found a skirt I wanted to try on. After just slipping it on over the dress I was wearing, I left the mirror-less dressing room to check it out in a mirror outside the stall. The dress underneath made it sit a little funny, so as I was fidgeting with it to get an idea of how it might appear if I were wearing it in an appropriate manner, a sales girl reached around me from behind and began to help me rearrange the waistline of the skirt. I don't know about you, but I've never had that happen before, so I was completely caught off guard. I immediately jumped away from her, waving my hands, shaking my head, and alternately saying "no-no-no" in English, and "thank you" in Chinese, over and over while Tiffany laughed.
In conclusion, here's a photo of the Chinglish shirt I couldn't not buy from a Chinese clothing chain I really enjoy.
First, let me explain what I do appreciate when I'm shopping: a question about whether I need any assistance when I walk in, more than a few clerks available go give me that assitance, and an entire staff that'll leave me alone to shop. Easy-peasy lemon-squeezy.
But here, here, sales staff attach themselves to me like a long-lost shadow the minute I walk in the door. In fact, sometimes I just peer into a shop from outside, and they'll eagerly make a move toward me. I can tell them "I'm just looking" in Chinese---a phrase I was compelled to get Tiffany to teach me shortly after arriving---and they'll still eagerly trail me through the racks like monosodium on glutamate. Showing me different styles of something I glance at, attempting to take clothes from my arms until I'm ready to try them on, asking me questions even after I've said "I don't understand," and generally being annoying and unhelpful.
And the thing is, they're not simply trying to sell me stuff. They're actually trying to be helpful. Which, for the average Chinese customer, they are being. That's the customer - retail clerk relationship here: the retail clerk waits on the customer in an overly-attentive way, and the customer expects and appreciates the service. But for someone who,
A. likes to shop without being bothered
B. comes from a culture where being tailed by sales staff means you're a candidate for
theft
C. does not like to have people hovering over her, to the point that she has a hard time
doing it as a teacher, to students, even though it's a common motivation technique
it's a very uncomfortable, frustrating experience.
I like going to bigger, more metropolitan cities like Shanghai. It's less of a problem there.
A perfect example of the too personal, too hands-on service---and the inspiration for the title of this post---occurred the other day. I was shopping with Tiffany when I found a skirt I wanted to try on. After just slipping it on over the dress I was wearing, I left the mirror-less dressing room to check it out in a mirror outside the stall. The dress underneath made it sit a little funny, so as I was fidgeting with it to get an idea of how it might appear if I were wearing it in an appropriate manner, a sales girl reached around me from behind and began to help me rearrange the waistline of the skirt. I don't know about you, but I've never had that happen before, so I was completely caught off guard. I immediately jumped away from her, waving my hands, shaking my head, and alternately saying "no-no-no" in English, and "thank you" in Chinese, over and over while Tiffany laughed.
In conclusion, here's a photo of the Chinglish shirt I couldn't not buy from a Chinese clothing chain I really enjoy.
the
DESTINY
NiGHT
Chelsea Couture
love and carbon burns must try
to cool it let it
wilfully it took a heart burn
MAGIC PARTY
*As usual, when I refer to "China," the subtext is "Yancheng, China" unless otherwise specified. Because in a country that's 9,596,961 square kilometers, there's bound to be more than a little cultural diversity.
1 comment:
O.M.G.
This is the funniest thing ever. I totally am the same, and if someone I'd never met TOUCHED MY WAIST I would have punched them in the face. No joke.
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