Final answer:
The best course of action would be to tell the woman about the sale and encourage her to return next week to buy the dress.
Step-by-step explanation:
In this situation as a sales associate, the best course of action would be to tell the woman about the upcoming sale and encourage her to return next week to buy the dress.
Telling the woman about the sale and encouraging her to return next week provides her with the information she needs to make an informed decision. This allows her to weigh her options and decide if waiting for the sale is worth it.
By providing this information, you are also building trust with the customer by offering transparency and looking out for her best interest.