Sometimes i'll have to try on 10 pairs of jeans before I find the ones that fit right and that are long enough (i'm only 5'7 but i have to buy long sizes). I've had salespeople tell me what jeans to buy -oh those will be long enough, oh it'll be so flattering.
Meanwhile, after I try on their recommendations, i'll end up looking like a sausage in capri (not normal like i'm looking for) jeans. Ugh... i had this guy in the Gap bring me this silk halter top in an ugly paisley and he kept on saying how great it would look on me. It looked horrible! And the material was too thin to wear a bra with, and without a bra everything would show. Sorry to rant, i have issues with some salespeople. Sometimes I just want to be left alone to do my thing!
And just because someone works in a store doesn't mean they can tell sizes and what will look good on someone. Some 16 year old working at Express isn't going to have a clue what would be flattering on me. Matt- you might have that gift, but customers don't know that, and sure aren't used to it
I'll take their advice if it's about different outfits- what matches or looks good together. Sometimes they'll know of a shirt that I missed somewhere, etc. But usually I think they're just being pushy trying to get me to buy more (which, admittedly, is their job) and that just annoys me sometimes.