There were two things I was known best for amongst my friends when I was single — firstly that I hated shopping and secondly that I could drink any son of a gun under the table. Both these qualities made me quite popular with my guy friends who shared my aversion to malls and loved to part other guys of their money by having a drinking bet with me.
My drinking days obviously stopped once I passed out of college and began to work, but my aversion to shopping continued. Despite living just a few blocks away from one of the biggest malls of America, I cannot bring myself to rub shoulders with fellow humans in the crowded mall nor do I like to discuss my needs with some pert saleswoman.
Recently, while visiting a store in the Magnificent Mile district in Chicago, I got waylaid by a lady dressed in a real fur coat. She tried to pass me a leaflet on the store and asked me to feel the soft fur. The old fox even smiled at my husband and told him that a little pelt might make his wife happy.
I stared into her old wrinkly face and wanted to turn tail and run. It wasn’t as if she was forcing me into the store, but the pressure of trying to politely reject a fellow human being made my old nemesis reappear.
Once in a while I suffer from Social Anxiety, especially when a stranger catches me off guard or tries to make friendly conversation. I, however, tend to clam up and look for the nearest exit points.
The fur lady cootchie-cooed my kids and tried to herd us into the store. I felt crowded and smiled at her rather sickly.
“No thank you,” I muttered and tried to step away.
She raised a faded eyebrow and pressed a little more, “Honey, you just have to see the marvelous furs.”
I stared at Aaman, hoping that he would stop the barracuda from herding me in. He put his arm around my waist and pulled me away from the lady.
“We are in a hurry. Maybe, next time.” He smiled politely and wheeled me away.
I breathed a sigh of relief and we continued our window-shopping.
If you happen to ask Aaman whether or not I like shopping, he would probably tell you I love shopping, but not in person. I get fidgety in front of cashiers when they ask for my zip code or phone number or try to make some sort of inane conversation.
Article comments
1 - chantal stone
You gotta love those drive-throughs here in Ohio! My only problem is the lack of selection.
Anyway, great article. I was once a manager at Bath and Body Works, and we were required to pounce on every single person that walked into the store and slather lotion all over their hands. I was never really comfortable doing this because I know how off-putting it can be to many people.
Aggressive salespeople can often make retailers LOSE sales. No wonder online sales are on the increase.
2 - swingingpuss
Chantal, egawds...pretty girls lathering lotion on customers....probably have me running out and my husband running in ;)