I find myself wandering the malls these days trying to keep one toddler happy and an infant quiet. We almost never spend anything and have become aware of a few mall rats like us.
1. The Walk Zealot - these are people who use the malls as their personal gyms walking at brisk paces in laps around the mall. Usually a bad idea to get in their way.
2. The "Mom and Stroller Group" - a group of moms walking sedately pushing any number of children in strollers around the mall - often taking up the entire passageway.
3. The "Business Professional Playing Truant" - any professional looking person, often a man, wandering around the mall talking on a cell phone trying to look like he or she is doing business, but actually they are just avoiding the office.
4. The "Do You Have a Minute Retail Clerk" - my personal all time worst. This person stands with some sort of "freebie" trying to entice all of the above people to come into their store and spend money. They are annoying, invasive and often oblivious to body language and their environment. I was stopped by the same person inside 5 minutes as I walked past a store going one way and back past the store going the other way. I, especially, hate it when they stop to ask you if you are interested in beauty products and try to make up for the obvious mistake by asking if you have a special woman in your life. IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!
I personally fall into the "Leave Me Alone, If I Had Money I Would Hire a Personal Shopper" Category. I go to the mall because it's warm, offers choice and provides places for kids to be fed, changed and played with. I do most of my shopping online - not in the mall. So, while the walkers walk and the strollers stroll, and the wanderer wanders, retail clerks - leave me alone!
