Community Chat

[Colinka]

I haven't been to my city's large mall (5 big anchor stores) in over a year. I usually shop online, or in smaller strip malls closer to home. Today I had two hours to kill between medical appointments in town, so I went to the mall. What I discovered is that I hate running the gauntlet of those cheap kiosks in the center walkway of the mall. The salespeople practically pounce on you, one after another. I do not want some dead sea skin potion, a cell phone cover, eyebrow threading, junk accessories, etc. It make getting from one store to another quite disagreeable. Even if I've already refused a person going one way, on the return trip, I get accosted again. I no longer enjoy window shopping or people watching anymore.

I probably will not go back to that mall again. I know some of you will say, "Just ignore them and keep walking.". Which is what I do!  But, why has what used to be a pleasant experience turned into such a nightmare?  I feel like I'm in some third world bazaar. No wonder many malls are tanking.

[jackthebear]

easy

no eye contact and a "no thanks"

doesn't bother me

[chrystaltree]

Welcome to my world.  Although I came to that realization about 5 or 6 years ago.  I've always been a world class shopper and a fashionista.  I'm also good at shopping online so as my online shopping expanded and therefore my fashion choices expanded, malls became boring/dull/restricted.  I can go online and find anything I want at the price I want to pay and have it delivered to my door in a week or less.  So, wandering around aimlessly from store to store to store in malls and being restricted to the same stuff; was not something I wanted to do.  The thrill was gone.  I never shop in malls now, occasionally I go with my sister or a friend but it's never good experience.  I like some of the restaurants and there's one high end mall near me that has a great food court.  As for those gawd awful kisosks...lol   Honestly, I never paid any attenion to those.  

[bonnielu]

 We only have one mall left. The other has been closed for over 15 years. Small town, center kiosks.. but no one comes after you.  They look like they are on cell phones.  However when we visit larger towns they do seem to chase you around.  Heck, get more Fitbit points by outrunning them. 

[Bri36]

I like going to our large outdoor mall.  There are no kiosks there.  

You can't make eye contact with those people.   

[Teddie]

@Colinka  I agree with you. I rarely go to the mall but needed to three times in the last couple months. Yes, I ignore the people in the kiosks, but it still affects how I feel about shopping. I don't want to be bothered and they bother me when they yell out to me. 

[QVCkitty1]

When I was young, we always went to the department stores in a nearby city. The everything left the city and was in the mall. I loved shopping the malls. Then one by one the good stores left the mall, now it's online shopping and once a while TJMAX and Homegoods. Online is convenient, for sure, but sometimes I miss those stores.

[Greeneyedlady21]

I hate those kiosk things too, the skin people are unbelievably aggressive. I think it's almost cult behavior. I think I did Google it years ago and read some interesting info.

I miss the mindless visual experience of a mall, but not the annoyances. Actually going to a mall would be better for me, I'd spend less than I do online.

[kaydee50]

I like going to a mall.  I like seeing the items in person, touching the fabrics and seeing the variety.  The kiosks are an annoyance but not enough to make me avoid malls altogether.

[shoesnbags]

I just act as if I can't hear them and keep walking.  Doesn't really bother me at all.  I do feel kind of sorry for them, because they're trying to make a living.  But it would never keep me from shopping.  What does keep me away from the mall is the wide variety of stuff available online.