Seems like more and more the stores, everything from grocery to fabric store, etc. are playing up-tempo oldies, or radio stations with annoying loud car dealer commercials, or other kinds of music that literally make it so frustrating for me to shop. I can't concentrate on what I came into the store for. I can't block the music. Have thought about getting IPod or earplugs or something, but I also have PTSD & startle so badly (my heart just about goes into fibrillations! :) ) that if someone came up behind me and tapped me on the shoulder I'd probably jump 3 feet in the air! Am I the only weirdo who has a problem with the ADD-distractibility in public places? It even affects my choices of where to apply for jobs, which I'm currently doing.
Q: Anyone else bothered by up-tempo loud music in stores interrupting concentration on shopping?
Answers (6)
7/18/08 11:36pm
Hi Bunnyhoppin: The reason that they use this music is that research has shown that people actually spend more when they are energized. Companies hire psychologists to analyze their marketing to increase sales.
In any case, it sounds like it is more likely that your anxiety rather than ADD that is interfering with your concentration. You might want to read my recent sharepost at Anxiety Connection about PTSD. While my article may not address your specific cause of PTSD, we know from years of experience that hypervigilance, inattentiveness, jumpiness and super sensitivity to sounds, light, smells or sudden movements can have a negative impact on your day to day living.
I assume you have a therapist, and perhaps he/she can help you desensitize to these stimuli. If you don't have one, find one who specializes in PTSD. You can locate a therapist in your area through Psychology Today.
I hope this helps,
Dr. Diana Walcutt
7/25/08 8:01pm
That annoys me too and I don't have ADD. I don't shop in Walmart because they don't put accustic tiles in the ceiling of their big box store and I can't hear myself think.
I do tell the store why I won't be back to give them a chance to correct the problem. It helps if you know about how much you spend there each year/ month, most places don't want to lose the buisness and don't know they are sending customers away. If the problem isn't corrected be sure to write the corp. address on you reciept and let them know.
1/11/10 8:44pm
I am very distracted by the music in many department and grocery stores. I have wondered if this was merely my own idiosyncrasies or if other folks also were bothered by it. It actually makes me want to run screaming out of the store rather than shop. I am considering earplugs.....
1/12/10 4:55pm
Thanks to the people who validated that I'm not alone in this! I have friends too, even my psychiatrist agrees. (She also joked that it gets worse as we get older, which is probably part of it.) I have tried too to inform management, fill out customer comment cards, etc. but have a feeling the prevailing culture is against me.
I tend to spend more if I am relaxed and daydreamy and wander around more in the store, LOL! But since I'm trying to overcome impulsive spending habits, maybe it's a blessing in disguise that this music chases me out before I can get in too much trouble.
However, it would be nice to be able to finish shopping for necessities like groceries without tearing my hair out.
3/20/10 6:16pm
Hi Bunnyhoppin and Healthcentral users,
You're not alone. This is bothersome for lots of people. Store owners and marketing teams and corporations have decided that they want to manipulate us, the consumers. It's possible that some of them do it with good intentions. Here's a couple of tips from us.
1. Get some soft, high-quality, foam earplugs. Use ones that are NRR32 or higher. NRR32 means that each earplug blocks out up to 32 decibels of sound from the environment. They are usually inexpensive. We buy 24-packs. You can get a 24-pack for only a few dollars. They might not block out 100 percent of the sound, but they will do a good job.
2. Avoid loud stores whenever you can. Avoid loud restaurants whenever you can.
3. If you must be in a loud place, wear your soft foam earplugs and ask the managers if they can please turn the music down -- or off completely. Caution: this is a crazy world and some managers and customers might get upset. Once, at a restaurant, we asked the manager to turn the music off completely. After she turned it off, a customer screamed at us and then slammed a door in our faces when we walked out to the restaurant patio area.
We're always researching new ideas. One idea could be to wear earplugs *and* noise-cancelling headphones at the same time.
Good luck everyone.
Sincerely,
The Daily Decibel
www.thedailydecibel.com
8/25/10 1:31am
I know OSHA regulates noise in the workplace requiring training and providing hearing protection for employees. I know because when I was a technician before I retired at ATT and I was also a communications specialist with the Air Guard they both were very serious about safety. What bothers me is that a lot of retailers crank up the music esp. stores like Abercrombie and Fitch which I am sure they exceed the 85 db level. You will have gradual hearing loss when exposed to 85 db for 8 hours a day. I find that a lot of retail malls have music in open areas including parking lots. (the District in Tustin CA is one example) which is ridiculous because a person can be vulnerable to assaults because you cannot hear your attacker approach because of the noise. Because of my training and one bad incident in my twenties I began wearing earplugs to night clubs.
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