Why Online Shopping May Be a Better Choice

Case #1: No Personality
Scene: Jo-Ann Fabrics

I had been in the not-too-busy store for about 20 minutes looking at fabrics during which time I heard an occasional announcement on the store intercom calling the next person to be served. After selecting six bolts of fabric that needed to be cut, I made my way to the cutting counter and placed my fabric on the counter. The cutting woman asked me if I had taken a number. I answered, "no" and she told me to please take a number. I thought it was a bit weird, since no one else was waiting to be served, but I obliged. She then looked up to see which number was next, grabbed her microphone and proceeded to announce to the whole store in a monotone voice, "Now serving number 58, now serving number 58." I handed her my little number 58 card. At that point she was ready for a not very unenthusiastic "How may I help you today." Gotta love that personal touch.

Case #2: Too Personal
Scene: Target

It wasn't my day for a big shopping trip, but I needed to run into Target to grab a few items. I placed my ten items on the conveyer belt at the speedy checkout line and reached in my purse to get my wallet. I was quite amused at the following conversation that occurred between me and the 20-something store clerk as he scanned my items:

He: Random.
Me: Random?
He: You're buying a bunch of random things. I'm trying to figure out how they go together.
Me: I just needed a few things today. I did my big shopping on Friday.
He: (scans milk, four boxes of pasta and two jars of salsa) Does the pasta go with the salsa?
Me: No, I already have pasta sauce and corn chips at home.
He: What about the marshmallows?
Me: I'm making rice crispy treats. I have the cereal at home. (Why am I explaining this to him?)
He: Those are good.
Me: My kids love them.
He: (weighs my apples) Hmmm. Apples.
Me: (couldn't think of any comment about apples)
He: (while scanning the replacement blade for Erik's electric shaver) Wow! This is almost as much as a new razor! I can't believe it costs so much!
Me: Actually a new shaver is a lot more. You don't have to replace the blades very often.
He: I've never used electric.
Me: (glad that's the last item and that I'm not buying anything embarassing).

Case #3: OOPS!
Scene: Local Department Store (unnamed to protect the innocent)

While shopping with my girls and mother-in-law (Kathy) a couple of months ago, Amanda & Ashley were each trying on outfits in the dressing room in the junior's department. While they were dressing a young male store employee kept coming in the dressing room area to empty out the unused dressing rooms. By the time he had been back there four or five times Kathy commented how weird it seemed that they would have a young man working in the junior's department. I agreed.

A few minutes later as we were checking out Kathy commented to the cashier (a middle aged woman) that it made her uncomfortable to have a young man coming in the dressing rooms while her granddaughters were changing. "Oh," the cashier said. "You mean Jill. She's a girl. She plays basketball." Yeah. Didn't see that one coming. There was nothing feminine about her. At all. Manly clothes. Manly hair. Manly face. Manly watch. Flat chest. I wasn't convinced.

Fast forward a couple of weeks. Same store. Jill is my cashier as I purchase a new toaster. I can't help but carefully scrutinize her for any signs of femininity. I can't find any, except for the voice, and the name tag that says "Jillian." She's extremely helpful and one of the nicest people I've encountered at the store. I guess you can't judge a basketball player by her cover.