Mall Mugging

Do you ever walk through the mall and feel like you are in the midst of negotiating with a street vendor in Jamaica? It's crazy! Several years ago the malls starting making extra money with their real estate by selling "cart space" in the middle of the mall. What was once a cute little addition of smaller retailers, has become an all out, in your face sales-pitch. I have stopped the "mall walk" and instead, park closest to the store I want to go to and try to avoid these salespeople at all costs.

The other day I was asked by one of these kiosk kings if I needed more volume in my hair. Granted, there are plenty of things I am sure I "need", more hair is not one of them. How about an I-phone case? A roll of sausage? Sees candy? Beanie baby anyone? I think I prefer to walk INTO the store I am interested in purchasing something from.

Here at CTM's tips for avoiding these aggressive people:

Take a bite of something just as you approach.
Quick! Put your phone to your ear and talk aggressively.
Use a person walking in front of you as a cover and scoot pass on the opposite side.
Look the other way.
Don't engage them unless you plan to buy something.
Be kind, smile, and keep walking.

Look, these guys are doing their jobs, but, for me, it has become a huge negative in what used to be a nice walk.

What do you think? Should malls make it clear that they cannot approach shoppers walking past their kiosks? Is internet shopping looking more and more valid and just plain easier?

CoffeeTalkMom