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Why are sales clerks called "associates?"

Item added by irishgit. Added on 11/11/2003
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26 Reviews

Darkpalace
06/04/2009

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 3

When I saw that I was an associate at sales I really liked the title. It sounds as if you are involved in it. Then I thought why am I an associate? It leaves something to be desired. I am sure it is to make them feel they are part of the company and to work harder. It can also be a sort of protection for them as if they are not just lowly clerks.

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FranksWildYear s
06/04/2009

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 2

It's in lieu of giving them a raise.

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TRUNCH253
11/28/2008

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 3

"Associates Only" looks and sounds so much better than "Employees Only". Along the very same lines, if you're an employee at a bookstore, you can now tell people that you're a "bookseller" -a title you can be proud of as opposed to "I work in a book store" or  "I'm a shelf stocker".  I've seen people on game shows proudly state "I'm a bookseller from Chicago, Alex!" If you didn't know any better, you might think they were some kind of executive in charge of sales at a publishing firm. At the very least you have to admit that it sounds a lot better than "I'm a cashier from Chicago, Bob."

So, basically you're now offered a better sounding title instead of better wages. At least that's SOMETHING...isn't it?

    

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fitman
11/28/2008

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 3

Because it ain't PC to call them wage slaves.

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Doctor of Madness
11/27/2008

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 3

Because sales clerks are often called something beginning with the same three letters.

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Vudija
11/23/2008

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 3

So people making minimum wage feel more important?

Join to vote! 0 Helpful / 0 Funny / 3 Agree / 0 Disagree

oscargamblesfr o
05/09/2008

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 3

ATTENTION! ASSOCIATE MICHAEL HOLLY TO IRISHGIT'S WEBLIST...ASSOCIATE MICHAEL HOLLY TO IRISHGIT'S WEBLIST...

Join to vote! 0 Helpful / 3 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree
Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 3

Because every once in awhile the ruling elite like to change the title of "slave" to keep the serfs on their (bare) heels.

Join to vote! 4 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

XAgent
06/17/2007

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 3

It looks better on the resume.

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numbah16tdhaha
06/17/2007

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 3

To stroke their ego.

Join to vote! 7 Helpful / 0 Funny / 1 Agree / 0 Disagree

Djahuti
12/26/2006

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 3

The top brass decided it has a nicer ring than "schmuck".

Join to vote! 4 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

Molfan
04/05/2006

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 4

it seems like in the last couple of decades we need to use big important sounding titles to make an employee sound more important than they are. all apart of being part of the team. i am sure they know better. just like I am not a "stay at home mom", I am a domestic engineer. { yeah right}

Join to vote! 3 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

texasyankee
04/04/2005

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 2

To get some real hard work out of the fools who think they might just get someplace if they work hard.

Join to vote! 2 Helpful / 1 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

Solenoid DH
01/11/2005

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 2

The answer is obvious. It's a psychological thing - making them feel like part of the team, on a par with the big shots who run the place. I doubt that any of the employees are buying into it though.

Join to vote! 3 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

Skizero
01/11/2005

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 3

so they can feel important and not have their dignity totally stripped by all of the digusting people that come into stores and treat them badly.

Join to vote! 3 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

jirai
01/11/2005

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 2

Because they're big fans of euphinasims.

Join to vote! 1 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

fierce_pajamas
09/11/2004

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 4

To give them a nice warm fuzzy so they don't realize that they are being systematically bent over by The Man.

Join to vote! 1 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

abichara
02/25/2004

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 4

To make everyone feel as if they are not a lowly slave of some large company; that they have a legitimate stake in decision making. More than likely sales associates don't have anything to do with corporate decision making, but it raises morale among clerks.

Join to vote! 4 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

SEGISAURUS
12/23/2003

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 5

For the same reason that the Garbage Man is called a Sanitation Engineer.

Join to vote! 2 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

scarletfeather
11/27/2003

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 2

Sales clerks are usually paid very low wages and often receive very few benefits aside from a highly touted associate discount, which entices them to spend their meager earnings at their place of employment. Calling them associates is a way of making them feel a little better, but most associates would be OK with being called just plain sales clerks as long as they were paid more.

Join to vote! 4 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

AndrewScott
11/14/2003

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 3

Since some of them may give you incredibly careless customer service, this allows you to abbreviate their title in a meaningful way: sales a$$.

Join to vote! 4 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

tvtator
11/13/2003

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 4

Oh I can answer this, slave and servitude are illegal and associate sounds so nicer. It is to associate with the customer and provide better service Yeah that's a load of crap. Luckily I mostly work in the office so I associate with other associates

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CastleBee
11/12/2003

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 3

I believe that associates is the word that is used during the indoctrination period meant to subconsciously trigger a sense of well-being, fair wages, career prestige and social significance in sales clerks. However, only the executives actually believe that this is an effective form of mind control.

Join to vote! 5 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

kamylienne
11/11/2003

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 5

Because it looks much better on a resume'.

Join to vote! 4 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

Creamy Goodness
11/11/2003

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 5

So if they screw up the boss can say he's not really with us. He's just an associate.

Join to vote! 5 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

irishgit
11/11/2003

Why are sales clerks called "associates?" 4

To convince a minimum wage barista that he's a decision-maker for Starbucks.

Join to vote! 8 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

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