There's a store in South Korea that allows customers to chose whether or not they want to be approached by staff or not by the color of their shopping basket.
In the supermarket I never get asked if I need help. Which is fine with me. In clothing stores, however, I am asked constantly. Which is not fine with me.
I've spend some time in South Korea, and this is a thing.
It's most common at cosmetic stores and the like, not because there is a habit of people bugging you like in the US, but because customer service is completely different there.
As an example, I went to a few girly stores (see: makeup, accessories, etc) with my wife, and the first time I was flabbergasted. As soon as a customer walks in the door, they effectively get their own dedicated staff. This person will follow you around, explain about any products you are looking at, and help make reccomendations on what to get if you want. They will also carry your items for you to the counter, check you out, and here's a kicker, GIVE YOU PRESENTS. Gifts / presents is a big thing in korean shopping culture. Grocery store, makeup, drugstore, you name it. After they ring you up, depending on how much you spent, or what items you bought, they will just start throwing things in your bag. My wife got a number of face masks, makeup samples, etc just from normal shopping trips. At the grocery store they will just put free food into your bag. It's very cool I must say.
marzrandi86 on August 13rd, 2017 at 20:25 UTC »
In the supermarket I never get asked if I need help. Which is fine with me. In clothing stores, however, I am asked constantly. Which is not fine with me.
mdiehljr0717 on August 13rd, 2017 at 21:33 UTC »
"I can do myself"
Dessert404 on August 14th, 2017 at 03:14 UTC »
I've spend some time in South Korea, and this is a thing.
It's most common at cosmetic stores and the like, not because there is a habit of people bugging you like in the US, but because customer service is completely different there.
As an example, I went to a few girly stores (see: makeup, accessories, etc) with my wife, and the first time I was flabbergasted. As soon as a customer walks in the door, they effectively get their own dedicated staff. This person will follow you around, explain about any products you are looking at, and help make reccomendations on what to get if you want. They will also carry your items for you to the counter, check you out, and here's a kicker, GIVE YOU PRESENTS. Gifts / presents is a big thing in korean shopping culture. Grocery store, makeup, drugstore, you name it. After they ring you up, depending on how much you spent, or what items you bought, they will just start throwing things in your bag. My wife got a number of face masks, makeup samples, etc just from normal shopping trips. At the grocery store they will just put free food into your bag. It's very cool I must say.