When a predatory mall clerk pounces with “May I help you?”, I usually retort as Mom taught me: “No thanks, just looking.”

I escaped that minor irritation while shopping on-line… until recently.

Now some webtailers are deploying on-line chat clerks, who lie in wait to prod recalcitrant shoppers into ringing the register.

At Lands’ End, the liveperson.net system stalks you awhile before a woman’s face pops up, obscuring the object of your interest without apology, while cheerfully offering assistance. She must wring sales from someone.

Not me. I like more relaxed locales, like Crutchfield, where I can shop unmolested. If I want to talk, I’ll click the live chat button myself.

As for shoppers who encourage marketers by interacting with their pop-ups… Apparently, they just can’t say no, even to a chatty graphic.

They might want to get a refresher course from Mom.