Ladies, how do you handle SAs swarming all over you?

I recently went to Vegas for a work trip and stayed at Caesars Palace, so naturally, I had to check out the luxury shops. I ended up browsing through almost every high-end handbag store. Some of them were pretty laid-back—like the Louis Vuitton store, where the staff politely engaged when I had questions but didn’t hover.

Then I wandered into the YSL store, where the sales associate was super friendly and clearly motivated to make a sale. I wasn’t expecting to like the Icare bag, but seeing it in person changed my mind—it was gorgeous! Then I checked the price tag: $5,000. I joked with him that if I went home with a $5,000 bag without clearing it with my husband, he’d probably send me divorce papers. The associate laughed and took it in stride but still asked for my number in case I brought my husband back to make a purchase. He texted me his name and the store info.

Afterward, I stopped by Coach. The second I walked in, two associates swarmed over and eagerly asked what kind of bags I was interested in. I made the mistake of mentioning that I liked crossbody bags, and suddenly, they were pulling options from every corner of the store, each with a passionate explanation. Halfway through, I realized I couldn’t walk out without feeling guilty. So I stood there, politely listening as the associate got more animated with each bag she showed. Finally, when she looked at me expectantly, it felt like an awkward breakup moment. I thanked her for her professionalism and enthusiasm, telling her how amazing the bags were but that I wasn’t ready to buy. Her face fell, though she kept a professional smile, and I walked out feeling like absolute shit.

Ladies, what do you say in this situation? Do you announce you’re just window shopping right when you walk in? The thing is, I hadn’t actually decided if I wanted anything until I was looking around. How do you handle it when you’re not sure what you want and end up feeling guilty for not buying? I hate disappointing those enthusiastic associates!