The strange worl

I WALK into the store and
take a look around.
“Good,” [think to myself,
“Om safe.” But when [turn
the corner, there they are,
with big smiles on their
faces,

Trapped. | casually try to leave
but they've got me. E know what's
about to happen so { try to ignore
it, bul those next six words are
like a blood curling scream, “Can
help you with anything?”, The
six words that any regular shopper
hears everyday, Yes folks, we have
entered the world of retail.

For the past three years | have
worked in a number of different
retail stores and at each job they
taught me different ways to
approach a customer,

First there's the basic “Hi.
How are you doing today?” That
one works every time,

Another regularly used
approach is: “So, is it still raining
out?" Now that one you have to
be more careful with. It backfired
on me once when the customer
reminded me that 1 was standing
in an all glass building.

Most salespeople are sincere
when they try to help you, but if
you're ever in the situation where
you can't hear the radio playing in
the background because they've
greeted you so loudly, that’s when
it's time to leave.

There is one major rule to sell-
ing that I think is very important,
and that’s honesty. Some stores
teach their employees that honesty
is the key, whereas others just

- want them to sell.

We've all been in the situation
where we are in a store trying
something on and the salespeople
are ranting and raving, telling you
how “flattering” it looks, Then
you go home feeling like a fash-
ion model and your friends tell
you the truth. It looks like you're
wearing a bag. So you take it
back.

I’ve decided that I will never
buy anything until I have asked
another shopper's opinion, not just
that of the sales person. If you
think about it, a lot of stores work
on commission, so obviously
they’re going to try and sucker
you into buying a fifty dollar item
over one that is only $20.

As an experiment, my friends
and I went as undercover shoppers

Spooky
crafts

and tried on only the mast lideats
outfits. Some of the comments f
received included: “Lt looks great”
anid “that is a lovely color on
you".

It was so hard to keep a
straight faee as they were saying
tow nice | looked in auttits that
even Madonna wouldo't wear. The
worst part was Knowing that as
suon as Eturned my back to leave,
ill the sales people were snicker-
ing.

Ishouldn't be stereotyping all
salespeople, considering that Lam

one myself, There are the odd few

who come straight out with the
honest truth, “Phose are the peopl:
who you respect.

However, you wish that they
had just Kept their mouths shut,
You definitely do not want to
leave the store feeling worse than
When you went ip.

The most iniportant thing you
want to get from a salesperson is
respect, You want a person fistens
to your needs without boggling

your brain with 20 different items.

Finally, it is absolutely most

cd of retail

important’ to check the return poli-
ey, Often itis printed in very
small letters at the bottom of the
receipt.

And you were supposed fo sue it.
Par not saying that all sales-
people are bad, but there are a fow
who will do anything for a sale.
Just keep in inind, the cus.

tomer is always right.

Anna O'Brien ty a Sutherland
Secondary Grade 12 student
enrolled in Video Production 12 at
Leo Marshall Centre.

‘

HALLOWEEN
FREE TRICK OR TREATING
Tuesday, October 31

ALL STORES HAVE FREE TREATS
FOR KIDS IN COSTUMES
4:30pm cto 6:30pm
(while supplies last)
Larry THE CosTuME
MIAGICIAN PARADE
Don't miss this Every kid wearing
fabulous show a-costume can
of Halloween fun Join in the
and magic in the parade around our
Grand Court. Grand Court.
4:00 - 4:30 pm $0 - 8:45 pom

for kids ©
KIDS AND their parents are wo
invited to prep for Halloween

the environmentally friendly
way.

ANTIQUE
Snow
LRUYE miss our
semi annual antiques
and collectibles shaw,
You'll find it
throughout
the mall.

PUMPKIN
CARVING
Kids over 9, when
with an adult, can
carte scary jack-o-
lanterns. Sponsored
hy House of Knives.
3:00 - 6:00 pm

ERA Ba RAR REE Be

The Better Prices Mall

Qn Oct. 28, from noon to 3 p.m.
North Shore Recycling will host
creative Halloween activities for
children aged seven through #1.

Kids should bring their own
paper bag. to be decurated as a
goodies bag or scary Halloween
puppet using recycled and scrap
materials,
> While the youngsters create and
have their faces painted, parents can
have a coffee and talk to volunteers
about recycling and composting.

The event will take place at Park
and Tilford Gardens. at the Kose
Room and Compost Demonstration
Garden. .?733 Brooksbank Ave.
North Vancouver,

For more information, phone
Rachael at 984-9730.

OPEN MONDAY TO FRIDAY 10:00AM - 9:00PM
SATURDAY 9:30AM TO 5:30PM, AND SUNDAY 11:00AM TO 5:00PM