Are SAs being too friendly?

So I read a post over at Beautiful With Brains and I can absolutely relate it to my personal experience. I love looking at makeup at drugstores and I never step into those department shops (the ones in the mall, like Metrojaya etc?) because the girls scare me. I can imagine all of them crowding around me as usually the counters are quite empty.

So I prefer drugstores like Guardian's and Watson's because there's only 2-3 people working in the shop; cashier, store room and one SA (Shop Assistant?). I'm not usually the only person in the store so it's rare to have the SA following me around. Also, they absolutely know how to leave you alone yet give you answers with a smile when you ask.

Now this is not the case in some shops and especially shops like Sasa. Things that I don't like :

1. All of the SAs will greet you with a very loud "Welcome to Sasa!". Okay, maybe they just want you to feel welcomed.

2. Then I noticed that they really need to go to beauty school. I don't think my makeup is that much better but I'm not working at a place that sells makeup. Look at MAC! All the people working there look fabulous. I don't think I want colour recommendations from someone who doesn't know how to do her own makeup. The SA recommended a super pink fuchsia blush for my friend and it didn't suit her at all! She was rather tanned and she looked like she had sunburn.

3. Then as I'm browsing, one will approach me asking if I need help. Most of the time, I'll tell her "No, I'm just looking around myself" and smile at her for being so kind to offer help. And that's when I realise, she's going to follow me around as I browse the entire shop, from skincare to foundations to the nail polishes! It makes me really uncomfortable as I can feel her observing me, looking at my makeup (stop looking at my mascara smudges and fading eyeshadow!) and probably watching me so I don't steal. Okay, even if she wasn't thinking all that, that's how they make me feel and it's not a good feeling.

4. Playing around with other SAs, like tickling them or laughing loudly. Please.. You are working right now. I can accept chatting as it can get boring but making a scene is a big no-no.

My ideal SA would have the following characteristics :

- Welcoming with a smile and if I'm staring at something, ask if I need any help.

- Back off if I say no.

- Don't follow me. I know how to look for you if I need help. It's not a very big shop. Or at least pretend to arrange some stuff while briefly looking to check if I need assistance.

- Doesn't have to have a lot of makeup on but I would like to see bright faces and mascara. If you're going to wear eyeshadow, please make it look good.. Or don't wear any at all.
- If you're going to watch me because your manager tells you to, stand behind me or out of my view so I don't feel so pressured.

Okay, maybe I'm too picky but when a shop makes me feel uncomfortable, I'll just leave straight. I don't care how interested I am in the products. In fact, I won't even look back as I run away from the shop.