> In most European countries staff might great you, but they will try to discreetly shadow you and once you act like you need a help they will step in to assist.
This is even worse (to me) because most of the time there's nothing discreet about it.
I'd rather have someone ask up front if I need help - at which point I can politely say no - than just follow me around the store, silently watching, like a hyena stalking a wounded gazelle.
He's being a bit hyperbolic. As I'm also European, I can tell you employees are off doing their own thing. If you do need help, you have to go find one.
In my experience, this is a global phenomenon that's probably driven more by management philosophy than by geography. It's endemic to e.g. luxury retailers and trickles down from there.
The other nice thing about being asked up front is the ability to say yes, but I will ask for help when I need it. The staff are usually much easier to find when you do have a question or need something to be retrieved, yet you don't have to deal with them if you don't need them.
This is even worse (to me) because most of the time there's nothing discreet about it.
I'd rather have someone ask up front if I need help - at which point I can politely say no - than just follow me around the store, silently watching, like a hyena stalking a wounded gazelle.