I was in town today, getting non-Christmas related shopping, when one of those "hired guns" that work on those perfume / make up stalls in the shopping centres came up to me and started the ol' sales chat.

Now, my night game has got a lot better since I started checking all this stuff out, but when this happened earlier, I just panicked and didn't know what to do. The conversion pretty much went like this:

Her: Hey, can I ask you a question?
Me: *goes red and mumbles something then wanders away quickly*

The worst part is while I was berating myself for being so AFC, another girl from a different stall came up, this time it went like this:

Her: Hey, can I ask you a question?
Me: Er, ok, what is it?
Her: Have you got a special girl in your life and your not quite sure what to get them for Christmas?
Me: *goes red and mumbles something then wanders away quickly*

I just had no idea what to say or do - in a normal situation I'd (hopefully) be a bit more smooth. but in this case where I know any questions and IOIs are just part of the sales patter, I'm not sure what to do.

I was just very AFC throughout the brief conversation, looking away, not making eye contact etc. - I guess I'm not so good when the girl makes the approach and its not a genuine approach.

When the 2nd girl asked about a "special girl" etc, I was wondering whether I should have said something about her being interested in me, but on the other hand I'm not sure if it would have worked because it was obviously part of a sales talk etc.

Anyway, need feedback please!