Saturday, July 02, 2005

Damn Me and My Big Mouth

I walked into a fancy store today in my new strapless, striped green & white dress. The two sales ladies said, almost in unison, "I love your dress!"

Where a normal person would've just said thank you, especially when surrounded by $120 jeans and $100 handbags...I said "Thank you! TJ Maxx!"

"Did you say 'Two bucks?'" One lady said.

So I was forced to say it again, louder and more clearly this time. "No. Uh, I said TJ Maxx."

Why not just say it: I am obviously cheap and cannot afford anything in this store, so do not waste your time trying to sell me anything because I'm clearly out of my league and just browsing at things I can't have.

Then, later, as I was looking at a new pair of sunglasses for myself, one of those same salesladies pointed at my ring: A huge light pink gem surrounded by diamonds. "Oh my God! That's so beautiful! Tell me that's real!" And what did I say? "No." I told her it was fake. I followed it up by volunteering that I got the ring at TJ Maxx, too.

Can't I just keep my mouth shut for once and simply say thank you?

12 comments:

MunkieFast said...

You could say "thank you", but come on, it is much more fun to "keep it real" with those snotty sales people. Way to go!!

Sometimes I like to go into an expensive store dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. They tend to leave me a lone. Then I will go back a couple of days later looking profession after work, wearing a shirt and tie. Then I tell them I bought somewhere else. Kind of like Pretty Women.

Casey said...

I wouldn't worry about it. If those women had much more than you do, they wouldn't be working in retail.

:)

Julie said...

I do the same thing! My boyfriend always teases me because I can't just smile and say thank you. I give a detailed account of the sale price and any coupons I used. And then I rattle off prices of other things I'm wearing. So if someone says, "I like your earrings." I say, "Thanks! I got them at Meier and Frank, they were originally $20, but they were 30% off, plus I had a coupon. And this purse was only $10! Isn't it cute?"

Shawn said...

When I lived in Portland, the unholy trio (TJ Maxx, Marshall's and Ross)was a couple of blocks away. You can bet I spent a lot of time and money in those stores.

I still liked to go to the spendy, hoity toity store downtown though... my French (or at least pseudo-French) salesguy always remembered me after I bought a $75 shirt from him... after a $300 sweater he remembered my name too. Amazing!

But once I figured out that I could find awesome stuff at TJ Maxx I never really looked back. Sorry Alayn...

Now, I'm in Milwaukee and I still shop the Maxx... I got an awesome cashmere sweater there last winter and it was pretty inexpensive. I made people rub it because it's so soft... I'm such a dork.

By the way, Happy Fourth and stuff.

Kristi said...

My mother taught me when I was little that when someone pays you a compliment a lady graciously says thank-you.
Sometimes thats hard to remember. Especially when your excited about something!!
Most especially when money is saved and you were able to get the Ring Too!!!!
WooHoo!!

GoGo said...

Somebody is craving sunglasses?

Adri said...

oooh girl! you know nobody loves TJ Maxx like I do! can you help it if you can rock the sales rack? nope. :D

Anonymous said...

My wife worked at TJ Maxx when we were in high school. I had nothing of note to contribute to this conversation, so other than that, I got nuthin'!

James said...

I really enjoy reading your blog...I think you are a great writer and the way you articulate you life's experiences provide me with a comic relief. You always seem to see that positive side, and I envy you for that. Please keep sharing...

God's gift to women (with really low standards) said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Jason said...

Great, to-the-point post! The need to be modest makes us go out of our way to deflect compliments.

Charlie Mc said...

Hell.... TJ Maxx should make you their director of marketing......keep spreading the word!!!