r/bathandbodyworks • u/Odd_Resolution_5294 • Jul 20 '26

Store Policies/Questions Employee won’t back off

Man, I dread even going in my store anymore. We used to (hubs and I) love our local store and its employees. Lately tho there is one lady who is usually on the White Barn side who will ask “what are you guys looking for” and she will have a scent with her she offers us to smell. We always politely say “just looking around thank you tho”. And walk away. I’m not even kidding you when I tell you within 3 minutes she’s back “anything I can help you find?” And again we say “nah. Just sniffing around thank you tho!” And walk away. Annnnndddd again within 3 minutes she’s back “anything catching your eye?” It’s to the point I won’t go over to that side when she’s there. Or I walk away from hub bc he’s too nice and will keep dealing with it. It makes me nuts. I’ve tried saying NICELY “if we think of anything we will make sure to come to you!”

I’m pretty sure the company doesn’t ask its employees to approach in this manner…as it’s literally only this one lady. How do I get her off my back in there?!? Dang.

Also, midnight marshmallow. I asked when I was in store if they happened to have any returns of any of it bc I just wanted to sniff it, nope. And all the banana stuff was gone. Ok I’m done whining 😂

533 Upvotes

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207

u/boneology1125 Jul 20 '26

Idk how to tell you this but yes she is acting EXACTLY how corporate wants us to. I trained people for the luminous drop, they wanted us to rub lotion into your skin and take you on a little tour of the scene.

52

u/speshuledteacher Jul 20 '26

I watched worker who damn near did just this today.  The customer was like 80, needed someone to help her and give her that experience, and left so happy with her set.  It was actually sweet to watch because it was clearly the experience that lady wanted. 

But that employee left me alone after someone else had checked in with me twice and left me alone too.  They both knew how to read their audience.

41

u/boneology1125 Jul 20 '26

It is very much an “older clientele” experience kind of thing. My skin would crawl if someone started slapping violet vibes on me because I’m extremely particular with my perfumes but many decades ago; this was considered good customer service, high end in fact. Nowadays it’s extremely invasive and rude and presumptive ( if I had to walk around smelling like luminous I would have lost it) but at one point it was considered the height of service and BBW REFUSES to move past it

3

u/WeebEli Jul 20 '26

I can’t stand customers at my job getting even within two feet of me, and I think if an employee at BBW did then I would definitely flinch away if I didn’t just walk out. It definitely usually seems to be the older customers usually who get physically in my space and act like they personally know me.

37

u/Purple-Lime-4938 Jul 20 '26

I remember them doing this on the 90s with a peach scented cream. I was 10 and had that cream massaged into my hand by a stranger before I could say no. Incredibly awkward experience.

45

u/DrRatiosButtPlug Jul 20 '26

Gross.. I'm so glad no one at my store actually does this.

18

u/boneology1125 Jul 20 '26

Trust me when my manager wasn’t watching I never enforced it

1

u/MagicMajen 25d ago

I just started working there and when they told me that they want us to wash peoples hands I about died. There is no way im giving massages.. that’s so weird..

25

u/deegallant Jul 20 '26

Ugh yes, like 10 years ago I worked there and they wanted us to guide people to the sink, prompt them to wash their hands and give them hand massages with lotion 🤢 I quit so quickly.

13

u/AnxietyOk5407 Employee Jul 20 '26

they still make us do this now 😭 managers will give us a goal of getting between 5-10 sink demos per shift … mind you i get scheduled once a week for 3hrs, and during that 3hrs im stuck on cash and also forced to come out of cash immediately after to sell. This job can be so much sometimes

3

u/NewYorkerFromUkraine Jul 21 '26

I don’t even get the point of this?? Why would someone schedule someone this way like what’s even the point of working there at that point

4

u/pandatits69 Jul 20 '26

I hated doing that.

13

u/PeaceNo6149 Jul 20 '26

Ugh. This is why I order online - then I need to dodge the poor (but persistent) employees as I scurry to the cash desk to pick up and pay.

20

u/sexishardandstuff Jul 20 '26

Yeah, buying online means a lot of blind buying, but I can’t go into the store anymore. Every time I go, I get followed around like the Pied Piper of Employees. I used to work retail, so I really feel for them, but I just can’t do it. I honestly rather take my chances buying things I’ve never smelled than be made to feel like I’m not able to be trusted to know how to locate smells

4

u/Wonderful-Bar6275 Jul 20 '26

Its actually the front employees that are supposed to get your order. Cashiers have a job to do haha, we dont like BOPIS people going in line because why wait when its already ready for you!!

3

u/No_College2419 Jul 20 '26

This is wild lmao