open for business
With the holidays encroaching upon us it is time for many of us to visit our local cesspool of humanity and sales, the mall. I was doing just this recently when I was verbally and mentally accosted by a salesperson manning one of the kiosks. For all intensive purposes his name shall remain unknown but do know that it was of biblical origins and made the situation all the more ironic. Having finished my shopping I was heading to the food court to forage for sustenance when the man, I will call him “Tom”, stopped me. He asked my name, my age, questions any good salesperson asks when attempting to show a false sense of caring.
“I… I’m… Amanda… I’m … 21,”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Y…yes? YES. Yes, I do,”
“Then you must promise me Amanda, you must promise me that after I show you this magical treatment you will not hug or kiss me. You must promise me Amanda,” says “Tom”.
With this last statement I saw that all hope of escape was lost and I was trapped. The next thing I know he has taken my phone and set it on his fake oak kiosk and is pulling up the sleeve to my sweatshirt. What I find most interesting about this is that if he were from the country of origin he claimed I highly doubt this would have been allowed as their practices towards women are far more conservative than ours. But no, being silly Americans it makes others believe it is acceptable break personal boundaries.
Following the sleeve pushing, he smeared an unpleasant smelling cold clear jell on my arm and rubbed it in. There were many things wrong with this action. First off he was touching me and I did not know him. Second, he was putting a foreign substance on me. Third, I use a bronzing tanning lotion – I admit it, and he was ruining it.
“Now Amanda, you see this? This will take away all the dead skin that makes you look old,” he smiled cheekily at me.
“Uh… er….” I muttered unintelligently.
“My! Amanda, Did you shower today?”
“What? Yes… Yes I did shower today TOM,” my eyes narrowed with distain.
He proceeds to rub the gel in and all of my bronzing lotion clumps up and begins to fall onto the mall floor. Not only is this disgusting because I can only imagine how people he has done this too, but he has just accused me of poor hygiene and ruined my arm. Unused to such sales tactics I bristle with hostility, but I keep my cool.
“Sister can you hand me a mirror?” he says to a pretty Middle Eastern girl standing on the other side of the kiosk. “Now Amanda, look in the mirror. You see your face? You could be very pretty if you were not using the products you use… you see the lines? The dry skin, and the blackheads? They make you look old, you could be so pretty… if you use this. Look at my sister, so beautiful! You could be beautiful,”
I was in awe. Did this man, “Tom”, just tell me that I COULD BE PRETTY? Did he just manage to point out every possible flaw and insecurity I have in less than five seconds? Yes, I’m pretty positive he did. I’m speechless.
“Now today we are having a sale Amanda,” says Tom
By this time I have all but tuned him out and am wishing with every inch of my being that a text message would ring in, that I would see a friend perhaps stroll by, anything that might allow me to flee. Of course, I could not possibly be this fortunate. Instead I remained helpless to his mercy for what seemed like an eternity.
Eventually I was released from him prison as I told him I had no money, I would have to talk to my mother. He proceeded to mock me as I am 21 and would have to get my mother to pay for something. Go head, add some more insult to injury, TOM.
Continuing my journey towards the food court I could smell the deliciousness of glory just within reach. I should have known it was too good to be true when I was stopped by another man at a kiosk. Had I been smarter I would have screamed and run away – feigning crazy. I was not this smart.
I will not bore you with a repeat tale of horrors which I encountered as it was quite similar to the first situation. But I will tell you “smiling and nodding” will not suffice or please these men as they will berate you with questions until you answer.
I tell you this not to frighten you away from the mall this holiday season, but to warn you. Be wiser than I was, have a plan of escape should you be approached by these people.
Just as well, I left the mall yesterday with far more than I bargained for. Not only the goods I purchased, one shiny nail, one bronzer-free arm but a bruised ego. So best wishes to you fellow holiday shoppers – don’t say I didn’t warn you!
I actually covered my mouth when reading this blog because this exact same thing happened to me. I was at the Clack Mall and this Israel female grabbed me, literally, she grabbed me and pulled me to her. After she talked about my family for a little while she took out my arm and smeared a clear gel across my wrist and proceeded to rub it in and then rub it off. She even asked me, “Did you even shower today?” The Hutch eventually came in and had to save me. I had to explain to her that I was irresponsible with my money and that I lived from paycheck to paycheck and thus could not afford her odd smelling (and burning, I might add) deep mineral salt from whatever sea they managed to dredge it up from.