commission

     Many salespeople still work on a commission basis--something many of us were taught while shopping with our parents. Now that we are beginning the "shopping season" it may be a useful thing to understand. Commission means that the salesperson is paid a percentage of everything he or she sells. The wages of people who work on commission are often very low--and sometimes non-existent. They may get 4% of each sale they make, plus a small hourly wage. When an item is returned, the salesperson has to return the 4%. People often complain that salespeople are "following" them or that the salesperson seems "suspicious". These salespeople are probably just trying to make sure that the person they have been helping comes to them when they decide to buy something. If one salesperson helps a woman by bringing things into the fitting room, looking for different sizes, and offering suggestions, that salesperson expects that when the woman makes up her mind, she will buy the item from the salesperson who has been helping her. Otherwise the person who just stood at the cash register will get the 4%, and the salesperson who was helpful will get nothing.
     While shopping, if you can reassure a salesperson that you understand this--by repeating his or her name --or by otherwise showing that you have noticed him or her--you will find that the salesperson doesn't "hover" any more.