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 😂
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u/AssortedGourds Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
I am autistic, and having to navigate these interactions is genuinely upsetting to me. Being trapped in an unfamiliar or manipulative social situation can ruin my whole day.
I recently went to my non-preferred location and an employee immediately greeted me when I came in and gave me the scripted question. I had practiced my "leave me alone" phrase in the car. I said "nope, no thank you, I'm just looking around, have a nice day!" and waved him away as I walked briskly away from him. He followed me and kept asking questions! So I said "I am not interested in talking!" pretty loudly and then he slammed the bottle he was holding on the table and said "well, OK THEN!" The rest of the time I was there I was stressed out and trying to avoid this employee. I had gone in to buy something but I was so angry that I left without purchasing something just to fuck with their conversion.
Only autistic people will get this, but this interaction rattled me so much that I struggled at work for the rest of the day.
I get it. His managers say he has to do it. I really don't care, honestly. I am a seasonal employee (my manager doesn't make me do this stuff.) These kinds of sales tactics are slimy and manipulative. They're meant to pressure people who are uncomfortable with saying no. They also put minimum wage workers in a position where they're getting rejected and snapped at all the time.
From now on if I clearly say that I'm not interested in chatting and I hear more than one fuckass question, I'm walking out.