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Tue 6 Mar, 2007 06:54 am
As many of you know, I have a particular hate for people who try to sell you something over the phone, junk mail, and doorbell ringers. I consider it an invasion of my privacy. As a result, I am on the "Do Not Call" list, and the "no-junk mail list. I have a "No solicitors" sign on my front door. When the occasional phone solicitor does call, I tell them sternly to take me off their list, immediately.
My attitude is that if I want something, I know where to look for it. My attitude even spills over in stores. If a sales person approaches me, I will tell them nicely, but directly, that if I need any help I will ask them. If the person persists, I will walk out of the store.
I think that my attitude goes back to the time when in 1959, a fast talking salesman talked me into buying $75- worth of magazines. In 1959, that was a LOT of money. I have always believed that it was the best $75 bucks that I have ever spent, because it taught me never to get caught up in a sales person's pitch.
My husband, on the other hand, is more forgiving of sales people. He was in a type of sales himself, and has a certain empathy towards sales people that I do not. I often question though as to why he would waste his, (and the sales person's) time talking to someone when he had no intention of buying what the person was selling. His attitude is that you can always pick up bits of possibly useful information in these discussions.
How do YOU relate to sales people? If a sales person approaches you in a store when you are just browsing, how do you react? What about phone solicitors? How to you react when religious groups ring your doorbell, or approach you on the street?
I simply hang up or walk away. I don't give them an inch. If they phone me and start the conversation with "How are you?" I simply answer, "What's this about?" The minute I identify it as a sales call, I hang up without a word.
I do just the opposite of Brandon. I let them make their full pitch. Sometimes I'll even egg them on by asking lots of questions. After I while I get tired of them finally I laugh at them, tell them not to bother me again and excuse myself.
Sales people are taught that if they can "hook" someone into listening they improve their odds of a sale. If they can keep you on the phone or keep you engaged for more than a minute the percentage of people that buy goes way up and they all know it.
So I toy with them and chit-chat. They start trying harder because they know statistically the odds have swung in their favor. Then I drop the bomb. It's best done with a door-to-door sale sperson though. The look on their face when they realize they just wasted a half-hour is priceless. Not only did they NOT make a sale to me, they weren't able to contact a bunch of other possible sales.
w00t! I win!
If someone calls and I know it is a sales call (you can usually tell because there is a long delay after you answer, follwed by a click, and then a Hello, can I talk to miste so and so?) I just pretend I can't hear them. It usually goes something like this.
Me: Hello.
Sales person: Hello, can I speak with jp please.
Me: Hello.
Sales person. Hello, is jp there?
Me: Hellooooo.
Sales person: Hello, can you hear me?
Me: Hello... is anybody there?
Sales person hangs up phone.
It usually works pretty well.
I don't ever answer the phone, or even get up when it rings. Anyone who knows me knows to start talking to the machine and then I'll answer. Actually, much of the time I don't even pick up then, if I don't feel like talking. My phone, my terms. I'm on the Do Not Call list, but we still get a lot of hangups.
I dunno, I don't have much problem with people in stores following me around. When they say hello how are you, I'll reply "fine thanks, how are you"? That way I've acknowledged them, and if I give them the "just looking" statement they generally respect that. If I know they work on commission I'll get their name and tell them I'll be sure to come to them with questions or when I've made up my mind.
People who come to the door? I have a peephole. Like the phone, it's my door and I'll open it if I want (or not).
People who start in on religion? That's hard to say...when they start rolling along, my eyes sort of glaze over and it all starts to sound like "mblah blah rrupth blah blah weennn blah blah. I can't help it, it's so boring.
When I get that delayed time on a call, I just hang up.
When I have to speak to a person, I tell them directly "No Thank You. Won't waste your time. Bye! " click.
In a store, I am direct too. "No thank you. I'll come find you if I need you."
Those who are persistent or rude or ignore me, I simply hang up on or ignore.
Im in between. I dont waste my time , but I let them know up front (as soon as I sense that their introductions were insincere) that Im not interested and how come theyve gotten around the "do not call" Law? Then I hang up.
Since all their calls are monitored for"Quality" (such BS is that tag line), their handlers need to know that Im on the do not call list and Im entitled to a cash payment if I decide to push it.
I usually hand the phone to Jillian who speaks just enough clear words to keep some of them on the line for a while.
Mostly, I start talking loudy with a fake accent of some kind.
I dont bother telling them I am not interested, or dont call. 9 times out of 10 it does no good.
I interrupt the spiel ('excuse me, can I interrupt you for a second?'), a second after I catch on that it's a sales-pitcher. Sometimes they continue, so I interrupt not quite as politely as the first time ("NO, no - hold on, I'm NOT interested in whatever you're selling"). That makes them stop. Then I say: Please DO NOT continue your spiel, because I'm definitely not interested. And how is it that you're calling me anyway, I'm listed on the do-not-call list. Anyhow, please take my number off your calling list.
<Hang>
That last line is important, because it prevents any future calls from that company or their 'partners/ subsidiaries.'
Very easy with phone calls - I have a phone that displays phone calls coming in. If I don't know the number, I don't pick up. If it is an unknown name/number displayed, I don't pick up. I even recognize those very persistant callers - Boston Globe is one - sometimes they call several times a day.
Salespeople in a store - I actually appreciate them coming over and asking if I need help. Usually if I am shopping, I am looking to buy so I appreciate the help. However, if I am just browsing, I let them know - in most cases, they politely say if you need help, I am so and so.
There is one sort of sales person I do help out - recruiters. But then only the ones I know or have worked with before and I respect (not the headhunter types). My husband used to do this type of work and on the flip side if you need to find a job or a good opportunity crosses their desk (even when you are not looking), they will give you a call. I scratch your back sort of situation.
Geez, you guys sure are an angry lot!
I just say, "I'm not interested, but thank you for calling" and hang up.
I smile at salespeople in stores and say, "No thank you, just looking" then turn around and walk the other way.
Must be a southern thing.
When I was in France a few years ago, the rules were different. A store is considered something like an extension of the shopkeeper's home. When you enter, it is customary to greet the shopkeeper and compliment his or her shop. Same as you would do if you walked into someone's home. A few pleasantries, then they leave you alone to browse. Americans, who are famous for assuming the whole world works (or should work) the way their country does, are understandably considered very rude when they walk in, ignore the shopkeeper, and refuse to talk with them. Frankly, I preferred the French way. It seemed very civilized to me.
But then, I was raised by salespeople. I am never rude to them unless they are rude to me first. (Offering to help is not rude...some people walk in the door looking for help.)
we rarely get unsolicited calls these days...
I hate to browse. On the rare occassion that I go into an unfamiliar store I immediately start looking for someone to point me in the right direction. If they approach me first with a "May I help you find something?" they score a lot of points with me.
fishin wrote:I do just the opposite of Brandon. I let them make their full pitch. Sometimes I'll even egg them on by asking lots of questions. After I while I get tired of them finally I laugh at them, tell them not to bother me again and excuse myself.
Sales people are taught that if they can "hook" someone into listening they improve their odds of a sale. If they can keep you on the phone or keep you engaged for more than a minute the percentage of people that buy goes way up and they all know it.
So I toy with them and chit-chat. They start trying harder because they know statistically the odds have swung in their favor. Then I drop the bomb. It's best done with a door-to-door sale sperson though. The look on their face when they realize they just wasted a half-hour is priceless. Not only did they NOT make a sale to me, they weren't able to contact a bunch of other possible sales.
w00t! I win!
Actually, I used to do this with door to door salesmen. I would tell them once that there was no chance of a sale, and if they persisted, I would try to waste as much of their time as possible, until they were begging to leave.
hmmm....I just can't be bothered to waste my time stringing someone along.
To me, I wouldn't find it fun for me, and even if I did, it wouldn't be proportionate to the time I'd invested.
i say try it.
maybe you'll enjoy it, thus improving your overall health and well-being... which could conceivably add the lost time, plus more, to your life span...
Eva wrote:I smile at salespeople in stores and say, "No thank you, just looking" then turn around and walk the other way.
I don't toy with sales people in stores. In those cases I've stepped into their realm and if I don't want their assistance I respond to them exactly as you do.
When they call me or knock on the door of my home however, they are free game.
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