Why do salespeople do this?

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They aren't really "salespeople" in general. They are just store assistants. A salesperson is someone whose job it is to make you buy a particular thing, whether you want it or not. Lots of stores (at least in England) do encourage their staff to ask customers if they need help. When I worked in a supermarket, I did that mostly because I like helping others, but I always tried to judge if it was necessary. I don't like it either when they make a beeline for me the moment I've walked in the door. If I can't find something, I will ask.

When I worked at a shop I picked up the interest of reading the trade publications and there were some really good suggestions about selling the particular product to different people. The one I liked most was to strike 'can i help you' and replace it with 'what brings you in today?' Of course it helped that I was being paid to spend the day with my interest, and thereby as knowledgeable as one can be

Allow me to explain this from the perspective of someone in sales. The vast majority of people who are in retail sales are not there voluntarily. In fact I would say that no one at all works in sales does so because they dreamed of selling crap to people as a child. This person is pestering you because their manager is constantly pressuring them to make sales. If they don't come up to you and pester you to buy something, they will lose their job. And for the most part, people in sales are a just a paycheck away from being destitute. So try not to be too hard on them. It's much worse for the salesperson than it is for you.

What about those ones that ask you if you need help the moment you get through the door. I tell them to shove off and let me browse. Whereas ifd they had at least let me get as far as an aisle I'd say "no thanks". I really don't believe in floor sales staff unless it's a huge warehouse full of things which quite frankly people will have to ask where they can pick one up or if it can be demoed.

The reason salespeople ask customers if they need help or if there's anything else they need is that they'll get fired if they don't greet or harass every single customer. The easiest thing is to say, "No thanks, I'm just looking," or "I've got everything I need" if they ask if there's anything else as you're walking to the registers.

I didn't read the whole thread, but it is true...

We have to ask. I don't like asking. I don't like it one bit.

But, we have to. And there's this camera watching me if I don't.

So I ask, and move on.

I too like to be left alone when I am shopping in one of those stores. If I need help, I will ask for it. Therefore I resent when a salesperson will not leave me alone when I am wanting to shop on my own.

I was in an electronics store a few years ago looking for a video camera when a sales clerk asked, "May I help you?" I replied that I was just browsing and thank you. The clerk stayed with me and said what department I needed. I said video cameras and that I wished to look alone and that I would contact him if I needed help. The clerk stayed with me. I told him, "Since you will not leave me alone after I said that I wished to look alone, I will be leaving your store and purchasing a camera elsewhere." I left before the clerk could respond. I bought the camera elsewhere.

I worked in a very nice local department store when I was in college and we were told that the customer is right. Whenever a customer told they me he/she wished to look on their alone, I let them look on their own---as did the other sales associates. It is most rude to continue to follow a customer around when that customer wishes to look in private. Since the customer is right, it therefore makes sense to allow the customer privacy when he/she requests privacy.

Its really bad this way at one of the electronics stores around here. A lot of the time I have to make an effort to specifically avoid the employees, otherwise one (or several, if its a slow day...) will come up and "help". Im considering getting a shirt printed with a message not to bug me for whenever I go there. I wouldn't go there at all, but its the only electronics store left here that has a good selection, and sometimes its just too urgent to buy online.