Written by Cara Jackson 
A good relationship with a retail assistant is key to having a good shopping experience. Each retail assistant is employed to serve, help and maintain the appearance of the store. They understand their own roles and are equipped with plenty of useful product knowledge. It is the retail assistant that can point you in the direction of amazing sale items that you may have otherwise missed.
Here are a few of our tips on how to get the most (and maybe bag a bargain) from the person behind the counter.
Be polite, considerate and respectful
To get the best help and advice from a shop assistant you need to treat them with respect. It’s as simple as being polite and using your manners. A shopper who is nice to a sales assistant will get genuine help and advice and in many cases, the shop assistant will go above and beyond their role to ensure the customer has a good experience. Alternatively, a shopper who is rude and obnoxious will get the least amount of help while in the store.
Don’t be afraid to ask
The best way to be sale-savvy is to ask your shop assistant about the current sales that the store has running. They can point you in the right direction to ensure that you leave the store with the right product and no buyer’s remorse.
Give yourself plenty of time to shop
Entering a shop five minutes before closing and taking your time shopping can annoy sales assistants. By staying in a shop after closing you are forcing the assistant work later than required. Many have a tendency to tell customers anything just to make the sale a quick process. If you want genuine service, aim to shop well before closing time.
Minimise distractions
Avoid getting distracted by talking on your phone when being served. This is the time that shop assistants inform customers about special deals or sales that are running. Being distracted prevents them from voicing these offers, and you may miss out on something exciting.
Haggle
Don’t be afraid to politely ask for a discount when buying an expensive product. In many cases you will get one. Stores like JB Hi-Fi, Bunnings Warehouse and The Good Guys have sales assistants that will happily bargain with you over price.
However, be aware that many smaller stores don’t allow their workers to give further discounts to customers. If a shop assistant says that they are not allowed to give you a discount, it is unlikely that you will be able to change their mind.
Treating shop assistants with respect is a fantastic way to ensure you get bang for your buck. From being shown the perfect dress on the discount rack to being offered a VIP store membership, being courteous is a great way to grab a bargain.
