Furniture Squatters

Go ahead, take a load off.

I understand the need to sit for a moment after a big shopping spree; or perhaps to catch your second wind. If you’re in the mall, there are usually a myriad of benches sprinkled throughout for your sitting needs. But, what happens when you need to kick your feet up in a department or a Marshall’s? You could locate the furniture department, select the perfect recliner, and take a breather. 

I think that’s wrong unless you’re in the market for a recliner. For the sake of argument, let’s say that you can’t take another step; go ahead, sit on the edge of the couch for a few minutes and then move on, or go home. Where I draw the line is, when you whip out your cell phone and speak loud enough that the people two aisles away can hear you (not necessarily understand you), just hear you. Is that going too far? No? How about when the weary shopper plops down, leans back and scratches their scalp, leaving hair and possibly dandruff all over the chocolate brown recliner. Are you disgusted yet?

New furniture is not there for your comfort–someone may buy that. Doing it with suavity: And don’t get me started when the fatigued shoppers allow their darling little children to climb all over the brand new couch.

Here are a few options to consider next time you become tired while shopping:

• Take a seat on a bench. 
  
• Go to your car and sit. 
  
• Lean against a wall, out of the way of course. 
  
• Stop into a restaurant or a Peet’s Coffee & Tea shop. 
  
• Consider going home. 
  

Rosalinda Randall is an Etiquette and Civility Consultant. She provides on-site workshops for your sales team, administrative assistants, new hires, exit package, managers, high school and colleges. She brings a modern attitude and a little humor to the age-old topic of etiquette. Her website is: Your Relationship Edge.com.