My brilliance

If there's anything that mars the shopping pleasure, it has to be the salesgirl.

Scene 1: I step into a shop.

Salesgirl: Hello, miss. (picks out some outfit at random) Want to try?

Me: No, thank you. (pseudo smile)

Salesgirl: (picks out another outfit at random) Then this one?

Me: It's all right. I'll look around first. (Don't you get the hint?!! Back off!)

Salesgirl follows behind

I can NEVER EVER shop with a peace of mind when the salesgirl follows around like that. I'm sorry to say but that is not help at all. But it's different when you ask for assistance.

Scene 2: I want to try on an outfit but not sure about the sizing.

Me: Excuse me, do you have this in another size?

Salesgirl: You wait ah..I go & see for you.

Me: Thank you. (Nooo mee nooo mee nooo..tra la la la la!)

A short while later

Salesgirl: Sorry, miss. Don't have.

Me: Do you have it in another colour?

Salesgirl: Only got this one colour.

Me: What about other outlets?

Salesgirl: All no stock

Me: Oh..ok. Thanks (Yah right! You didn't even check with the other outlets!)

At this rate, Little Red Dot customer service will never be top. Let me give you what I mean by good customer service that even my Dad gave it the tops.

We were at a Clarks outlet in London. My Dad doesn't just have size 8½ feet but 8½ B-R-O-A-D feet. As some of you would know, Clarks has the E range for broad feet. My Dad tried on ???? pairs of shoes (Hehehe...and you think only girls do?!). I remember the salesman going in & out of the storeroom for upteen times & everytime he returned, he had the widest smile on his face. I'm so sure he must have been cursing & swearing while away from us. The best part was that this salesman actually put my Dad's feet in the shoes & made sure they were a good fit by feeling the shoe around. This chap was such a darling because he even offered the bored ones (Read: Mum, Brother, Grandpa & me) some tea. At the end of it all, my Dad FINALLY got his shoes (hurray!) & told the salesman that he's a really good at his job. The salesman just said, "If my customers are not happy, I feel like such a horrible salesperson."

Tell me...just tell me where you would get such a darling of a salesperson in any store here?!

Anyway, just an observation I made at shopping. I pity guys who have to follow their girlfriends or wives around. If I were a guy, I would just show my black face (actually, some of them do) & die there. I would never make my boyfriend/husband walk follow me while I shop. Instead, I would tell him to go wherever he wants & do whatever he wants & we'll meet after a certain time.

This takes me to my point - all (major) shopping malls should have a "Men Area", a la the Topshop in Oxford Circus in London. In the hugest Topshop outlet on the planet, they have an area for the bored boyfriends/husbands to keep themselves entertained with xBoxes/PS2 & CD stations.

I suggest that the "Men Area" come equipped with the following:
1. TV - to watch EPL, F1, "man shows" like Band of Brothers. No porn because there might be Daddys who bring in their little boys.
2. Pool tables
3. xBox/PS2 game consoles
4. Computers for LAN & surfing the Net
5. Reading area - magazines like FHM, Maxim, Fortune, Men's Health, Time, The Economist..you get it
6. Stoning area - sleep, dream, fantasise about girlfriend/wife/Giselle, etc.

Of course, it will not be a free service. The service providers can charge by the hour for being there & extra if he is gaming & surfing the Net. It will work like the Ikea play room - each guy will be given a number tag & his girlfriend/wife will have a card with the corresponding number. He will stay in there & make merry & get to make new friends. When the girlfriend/wife is done, she will go up to the counter to claim her guy.

This is a win-win situation because for one, the guy does not have to die while tagging behind the girlfriend/wife & become the bellboy. Instead, he enjoys himself & does whatever makes him happy/occupied in the "Men Area" - what's paying that pittance for not having to suffer the humiliation of being the girlfriend's/wife's dog? Hehehe.. At the same time, the girlfriend/wife is a happy person because she can shop shop shop shop shop merrily without feeling bad that the boyfriend/husband is miserable being the dog. (That is, if she even cares at all, to begin with)

So yes, all men should thank me for this brilliant idea that would save them from the agony of tagging behind indecisive girlfriends/wives :)