Ever Had A Salesperson Insult You?

I went shopping yesterday with my husband to buy some chaps for me.  We own two Harley's (Im a passenger - I don't drive) and the sales lady told me "Honey, you have a big ass - you're going to need to go up a size or two".

I'm heavy, I know.  But I'm in an 18.  She was shorter and rounder than I am and was slinging insults as to why I needed a larger size.  First of all, This wasn't a HD store, it was a vendor at a bike show.  I think the chaps she was selling were made in a foreign country because the sizes weren't our standard jean sizes.  She tried a pair of 2X chaps on me and told me that because of my huge ass that I needed a pair of 3X, possibly 4X.  That's when I walked away and said "nope".

If I wear a size 18, there is no way I would need a size 3-4X in chaps.  I was insulted that she kept referring to the size of my ass.  Sure, it's plump, but it doesn't cause a solar eclipse either (LOL).

Even if she did find a pair that fit me, after her insults, there was no way I would give her a sale! 

Anyone ever been insulted by a salesperson?  I'd like to hear your story. 

 

 

I returned a pair of jeans once and before I had finished asking if I could exchange them, she smiled that evil salespersons smile and said for a bigger size dear, So I smiled back and said no smaller please. she just walked off and got my new pair. Really upset me as I had felt so proud of myself for needing smaller ones, needless to say i put it all back on and thats why i'm here

In this case I would have told her...I may have a big ass, but thats better than being one!  I would have walked away

I don't believe I have ever been insulted by someone trying to sell me something. But, OMG, that "lady" was an idiot!

Her JOB is to sell you a pair of chaps, not discuss whether or not she finds your "ass" attractive.

She lost a sale!

Therefore, she is an idiot.

Pity her.

That sounds terrible! I think I may have mentioned something about not throwing stones in glass houses!

A month ago I went looking for a dress for my brother's wedding...t was an awful awful day! I know what will fit me and what wont and I am of the opinion that it is better to try on a size that is too big and work my way down than try on something too small and get bummed out.

I had sales women try to close small corsets on me and make me feel like an over stuffed sausage ... The worst was this one dress that I was sure wouldn't fit me!

I  told the sales lady never mind - and she said "Honey this will fit you for sure, Do you know what huge cows I have stuffed into this dress in a smaller size, you will fit for sure! I mean really huge cows..." and it didn't fit

OMG!  Unreal!   You guys have made me feel better.  It's one thing to chose your words carefully while being suggestive but to flat out tell you that you can't wear something and insult is awful.

We know what our weight is, we know how our bodies look, we don't need reminded and especially insulted.

Thanks for your posts!  I just wanted to see if there were bad experiences out there as bad as mine was.....there IS and I'm sure there are some that we haven't even heard yet!

 

...you were shopping for chaps....i'm not suprised at all that she worded it that way. I'm not trying to be stereotypical here, (my dad's a harley rider, has been for 30 years, laconia, daytona beach, sturgis...been around it all), but.....most people of that culture tend to be raw and blunt.

Edited to say:  Depending on where you were shopping...chaps can run really really small.  I'm 5'2" and 111 pounds and I take a Medium to Large in most chaps....there may be a reason she was steering you towards the larger sizes. 

Now...if you were shopping in dkny and the sales person said that to you....I would find it hard to believe. Depends on where I'm shopping regarding how I take the comment. If I'm shopping for chaps, I expect a poke or three about my butt and thighs....if I'm shopping at dkny...I expect more of a professional attitude.

I'm not saying she's right....just sayin' is all.

I have worked the other side of the counter and I see co-worker say the STUPIDest crap to people. Even make faces. I would rush over to rescue poor customers from them quite a bit. You are far from alone on this one.

One higher end store I was working at a gay male couple came in and bought shoes that looked unisex even though it was in the womens department. My manager actually said "you know mens shoes are on the second floor" in this "you idiot" tone. He looked so insulted and looked at me which out of reaction I was looking at my manager like "wtf"
and said "I think they look good anyway" We both laughed at the manager.

the return comments - why? Why do people even say anything? You are suppose to ASK what the problem not tell the customer what the problem is. LOL
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

I guess my only personal insult was when I was actually OW I got ignored and dismissive types when I asked questions about sizes like " do these tend to run small?" Which was what i was looking for as I am used to shopping old school sizes. I got an eye roll like I was trying to make excuses for why they didnt fit. The person obviously didnt know squat about clothing lines otherwise I would of just gotton a yes or no. They were thin.

When I am thin women working always flock around and seem to like dressing me up and stuff. Especially when trying on formal things. (women usually 40+)

I just think its really annoying that you get treated totally different shopping if you have some meat on your butt.

_________________________

To op- Insulting harley riders is a bad idea. I think the only true big *ss was talking to you.
;)

I was at the mall in the buckle one day looking for a shirt.it was on a weekend that I was feeling really skinny. I was down to a weight that felt almost perfect. I am a large guy with allot of muscle. I asked the sales person for this particular shirt in my size either a XL or maybe an XXL if they ran small. The salesman looked at me and said "I don't think we have anything here like that, our clothes are made for model type guys." I couldn't believe it. Here was some guy that was maybe 120lbs. I was about 265 6'6" and mostly muscle at this time. I wanted to choke him. I just said "Being little is not always cool" I kindly handed him the shirt I had in my hand and left. I've bought plenty of clothes from this store before but not anymore. They are even on commission. I am also a Harley rider 03 fatboy. The leather depends on where it was made. I bought a coat that was my size on-line and when I received it it was way too big for me. I bought a coat at a leather shop for my wife and in one brand she was a XL in the brand she bought was a XXXXL and they both fit the same. I think she is a size 13.

Never to my face. I've had people sneer at me when I'd be fingering something totally beautiful and shiny in Mervyn's or Penny's....But I tried my best to ignore it until I could get home, and cry there, rather than give them the satisfaction of even acknowledging them and their crass, rude behavior.

When I was an 18/20 I only shopped in large girl stores like Torrid or Lane Bryant, so the salespeople there were my size, or larger.

I'm a 12/14 now, and I feel like the larger girls in those stores look down on me now that I'm smaller, because I barely fit the smallest sizes there now.

...I miss the friendly atmosphere of sales people who knew/could sympathize how hard it was to get my butt into that skirt. :( 

OMG!!  Never, NEVER insult bikers!  Of course, that said, at a 18-20... my last pair of chaps were a 3X.  I think it depends on who makes them.  But still, I wouldn't buy anything from someone who talked to me like that!

I'm currently living on Guam, and believe me I stick out big time amongst the Japanese and Koreans.  I was in a little golf shop in our mall a couple weeks ago.  I was LOOKING at the rack of shirts... not touching... just glancing.  This little Korean woman... not much over 4' tall... walked up to me and said "Oh No, we no have clothes as big as you!!!"  Mind you, I've lost 35 pounds and am currently wearing an XL!!!  Which they HAVE!!! 

I looked at her and said "You have no idea what size I wear, don't you DARE speak to me that way!!".  Then I handed her the things I was about to buy in her overpriced store... and walked out!

Yes, I have. I was overseas with my DH during his tour in South Korea. I was wearing a size 14/16 at the time, and went shopping at one of the local markets. Koreans, like most asians, are small people and most have absolutely no butt! The salespeople thought nothing about telling me they didn't have anything in my size, in a very disgusted tone of voice, as soon as I walked in the door. I dismissed their rude behavior as a cultural difference since they didn't have a problem with urinating in public or using their hand to catch their snot when blowing their nose. Totally gross!

Consider the source, and don't let it bother you.

My biggest laugh happened when I was preparing for a massage.

I know that a masseuse/masseur often asks questions about problem areas and pregnancy.  This is to tailor the experience.  However, this chick had been with me for 10 minutes or so talking before she looked me up and down twice and then asked, "Are you pregnant?"  I burst out laughing.  I said, "Nope.  I'm just fat and my fat is in my stomach.  I'm not pregnant."  She then says, "I have to ask everyone."  Well Darling, if you asked everyone, why'd you give me the once-over...that's all I could think of.  But it did give me a good chuckle, and still does to this day.

It all depends on how they were made... maybe they were made for midgets. I was just looking at skirts on ebay and the smallest one that said it was my measurements was a size 18 - the largest was a 4x! Last time I looked, 22 was not a 4... some clothes are just cut really really small, and it's not your fault - it's the idiots who made them.

I have never had a sales person at a retail store insult me- but the guy who sells gym memberships insulted me.  I had just had my baby about two months or so before and the manager walked up to me (while I was jogging on the treadmill) and started to harrass me about renewing my memebership.  This followed with "you don't look half bad for just having a baby,  I mean you definitely still have a good deal to lose though, but I've seen a lot worse".

I didn't re-sign!

Original Post by cmama:

I have never had a sales person at a retail store insult me- but the guy who sells gym memberships insulted me. I had just had my baby about two months or so before and the manager walked up to me (while I was jogging on the treadmill) and started to harrass me about renewing my memebership. This followed with "you don't look half bad for just having a baby, I mean you definitely still have a good deal to lose though, but I've seen a lot worse".

I didn't re-sign!

Oh, my!!! Hahahahaha, the dork probably thought he was complimenting you!

I'd say, pity him, but really, I'd pity his poor wife. Just imagine what he put (or will put) her through when she has his child!

I just don't understand that kind of attitude from salepeople. I mean really, wouldn't a "WOW! You look GREAT for just having had a baby! You've been working out hard, and it's really paid off!" put you both in a win/win situation? Bet you would have renewed then. Instead he lost a commission.

Just remember, it's much easier to lose weight than it is to grow a brain.

yeah bikers! This isn't a comment about being insulted about my size, however, but being insulted because I'm a girl. I was just looking at bikes yesterday and a few days before that (I'm the driver not the passenger-but passengers rock hardcore!) and I brought my boyfriend with to the first place and the salesman barely looked at me half the time - and I was the only one talking and asking questions, my bf didn't say a word! The second place I went, the guy behind the counter treated me like I was some kind of alien species (though, the guys in the place were apparently more normal than me) - undoubtably because I'm a female biker and besides being female, I'm pretty short- only 5 foot. It's really hard to go into male dominated hobbies/sports like that and be treated like a real person, and it's even harder when they treat you like crap because of your size. That salesguy you talked to sounds like they have no idea what's going on. anyways - thanks for sharing!

She was just a crass unclassy dame, I'm sure she didn't think what she said was rude, but maybe she'll LEARN!   I know I can be blunt and funny with people I know REALLY WELL, but not with a total stranger and certainly not one I was selling something to!  Chalk it up to stupidity and go get yourself some new chaps.  Ignore the number, be proud and HAVE FUN! 

I've never had a sales person that I knew of, but I have an ER doctor. He asked how many kids I'd had and when I answered zero, he proceeded to argue with me (keep in mind, I'm in excruciating pain from a gall bladder attack and think I'm dying). He insisted I had because of my stretch marks. I flat out told him, uh no, I'm just fat (and that was about 40 lbs ago, now I feel like crap).

Well, that was also health related weight loss that I enjoyed the heck out of, but once I got healthy again, I put it right back on, plus a bit. Guess that's why I'm here talking to you guys :-)

I know what you are trying to say and no offense taken.  I just didn't think that if she wanted a sale from me that she'd be so abrasive, that's all : )

ive never had anyone insult me because of my size in a store before, although my mum has, but ive had a shop assistant look me in the face and tell me that the present i was buying my boyfriend for christmas was ****, (she actually said,  "well if you think so, but i think its a bit ****")

my mum was buying a pair of jeans in a shop, and when she took them to the counter the shop assistant looked at her and said "Evans is accross the road" evans being a larger clothing shop. she was a 14! thats a US12 its the smallest size that evans even sell, and at least their shop assistants are friendly and know what they are talking about. i was with her as well, obviously just wanted to try and embarass her in front of everyone.