THE economic downturn is making salespeople pushy.

That was the conclusion I came to while shopping with a friend on Christmas Eve.

We were looking for jewellery, and we both eventually bought pieces from a local mum-and-pop store.

Although we love big international brands, we were scared off by the sales tactics that were laid on us at various big-brand boutiques.

There was the famous chain (which shall remain unnamed) in Orchard Road where I tried on a classic piece I'd been eyeing for some time. I tried on several sizes but decided it wasn't quite for me.

"You know, I'll have to think about it," I told the salesgirl, who had gone on about the meaning of the piece (marketing spiel that did nothing to endear me to her or the design).

She blinked at me before saying shrewdly: "Well, are you going to buy it today?"

I shook my head, smiled and repeated that I would have to sleep on the issue.

At another big international chain store in the same locale, I tried on a ring I'd admired for some time.

"Ooh, it was made just for you," gushed the eager salesgirl as soon as I put the ring on. Her eyes shone with a maniacal glint I'd seen in the eyes of the desperate and deeply religious.

"We also have this in platinum," she added. So much for subtlety.

I handed back the item to her and backed away slowly from the counter. No sudden moves, you know?

That day, there was a heightened sense that these people wanted to make a sale, and that they wanted to make it now. It all felt like a hustle somehow.

I guess these tactics could be blamed on the way recession is affecting spending. After all, recent news reports said that holiday sales have dropped by as much as 30 per cent compared to this period last year.

Therefore, salespeople who earn commissions are feeling the pinch and would, perhaps, employ tougher hard-sell tactics.

One could also argue that without such tenacious techniques, the shopgirls and guys would not make a sale at all.

However, that can come across as desperate, money-grabbing behaviour that does not inspire one to spend.

The reason I eventually chose the piece from the local store was in part because of its price (I, too, have recession guilt, you see), and also because there was no pressure on me to buy today.

In a climate of recession, one does not want to spend indiscriminately - especially when buying a big-ticket item like jewellery. And being pushed makes you walk away as opposed to opening your wallet.

In the shop where I finally made my purchase, I was welcome to take my time. I walked in and out of the store three time times in the span of four hours to try on the same pieces.

The salespeople - whether or not it was truly the case - seemed concerned that I went home happy, regardless of whether I bought anything that day.

That was, for me, the biggest turn-on, and I'll be visiting that shop again in the future, recession or no recession.

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