I used to like shopping. Each trip would be a big event, getting together with friends to walk around the mall and look at sweaters and electronics. Now I'll avoid the mall at all costs. I just have no tolerance for annoying salespeople anymore.
But last night I mustered up all strength I could and headed out to the Cambridgeside Galleria. I had to go to the Apple Store (yay!) to get a small piece of my 3-year-old iBook replaced just before my Apple Care warranty ran out (in 9 days). They fortunately did replace the piece, covered by my warranty, and they even offered to do it on the spot. The only issue was that I had an hour and a half to kill before I could come pick it up. OK, well, instead of trudging through the rain back to my apartment and then back again, I decided to stay and shop. If only I had had my book with me, I could have sat in Starbucks or the Food Court and read. Yes, I would have preferred to read my book in the Galleria Food Court than go shopping. But alas, I did not have my book.
So the shopping began.
The Angry
There's nothing like a Boston teenager who hates his cashier job at the mall to lighten up your holiday shopping trip. If nothing more, The Angry certainly serve as a delightful contrast to the overly happy salespeople all across the mall. I'll take their grumbles and tired looks anyday over
The Pushy
Oh boy, here's where it really gets going. The mall is filled with little booths strategically placed all along the corridors, so that salespeople can grab you before you duck into your next store. Well, one such salesperson managed to pull me into her booth with a simple, "Can I ask you a question?" and I am just too friendly and unassuming to say no to that. Well after that she quickly managed to get my coat and bags on the floor, me sitting on a chair, and my hands in hers getting moisturized with some body butter and cutticle cream. At the end I did indeed buy something (it turned out it would make a good gift) - their smallest item, given to me at "half price". What amazed me was that, even after I finally agreed to buy something, she kept trying to get me to buy more. I guess once you've got one item, it's a lot easier to sneak in a second, third, fifteenth. But no, no, I really was not going to be swayed by any more of her really obvious sales tricks.
The Zealous
When I finally got away, I thought I was done. As long as I stayed away from the stores and sales booths, stayed away from people in general, I could pick up my computer in just 10 more minutes and be out of the mall without being accosted by any more salespeople. I camped out on a bench to rest for a moment and check my email on my BlackBerry. I must have a very inviting look. Because who but a couple very unassuming looking missionaries come up to me to tell me all about their church that preaches a female Creator of the Universe according to the Bible. The Religious Studies student in me wanted to hear more about this random sect, but the exhausted shopper in me politely said, no thanks, I'm happy with my religion, and I have to go pick up my computer in any case.
I couldn't believe my evening. In just an hour and a half I managed to encounter all the aspects of shopping that I dread. Actually, I should correct myself: I did not actually dread being approached by young missionaries in the mall. I never expected for such a thing to happen.
To all you mall shoppers out there: Good luck. I'll be sticking to online shopping.
Photo by JoelZimmer
