Absolutely from the era of ‘training you to be a good checkout monkey store clerk’ and pre ‘we already eliminated those jobs for the sake of profits’ era.
My biggest complaints are the endless prompts from stupid things like donations, the fact that there is no standardization, and that at Walmart in particular, they will have 20 of them and 6 are open.
I know a lot of them are ordered to do it by their bosses, and I feel bad for them, but the way employees can help me find anything is when I ask them to do so. Otherwise it isn’t help, it’s just an annoyance. As I have a teenager, I have to take her to the mall sometimes and those stores are the worst at it. Sometimes the salespeople will follow you around the store trying to “help” you. And I don’t think they believe it’s because either of us are going to steal anything.
Some of those mall stores are the worst! I’ve noticed the same thing when shopping with my teenage nibling and nephew. They don’t even let you think or consider a purchase.
It’s also the number one reason I’ve stopped buying gifts at Bath and Bodyworks. If I could just look around freely, I’d be able to make a decision, but swooping down like a vulture only creates confusion and makes me shut down and leave.
I now have a habit of giving as firm NO to anyone who seems like a staff member trying to 'help' me at checkout or those kiosks in the bulk type stores.
One of these days I'm going to do that out of habit when I do want help and will feel like an ass. Worth the risk though.