Salespeople typically offer products and services that may be of interest to the right audience. However, not all salespeople offer friendly, helpful purchase assistance. Some try to force people into purchasing items they may not need or want. Do you know what to do if you find yourself on the receiving end of a high pressure sales tactic?
If a person visits your home and applies high pressure tactics to get you to purchase something before you have time to fully evaluate the offer, the salesperson isn’t offering something you need. It could be a magazine subscription, a personal emergency alarm system, or anything else that you’re not currently seeking. The salesperson will try his or her best to sell it to you, even if it’s an automotive cleaning product when you don’t own a car.
Here’s what to do if you encounter a pushy salesperson at your home:
- Don’t answer the door. It’s the easiest way to avoid a pushy salesperson’s pitch.
- If you must know who is at the door, ask who it is and what the person wants without opening it. If the person begins a sales pitch, say “I’m not interested.” If the person continues with the pitch, ignore it. Go to another room to avoid the temptation of talking to the person. The individual will leave if you refuse to engage in the conversation.
- If you open the door, remember not to do that next time. Personal contact is a valuable tool in sales, and by refusing to give a salesperson access to that tool, it severely diminishes the effectiveness of a pitch. Once the door is open, if the person begins an unwanted pitch, say “I’m not interested” and immediately close the door. Don’t give the person a chance to change your mind.
The best weapon in a pushy salesperson’s arsenal is continued conversation with a target. The longer the salesperson maintains contact with you, the greater the chance he or she will wear down your defenses. Sever the conversation immediately after saying “no” and move on. Never try to argue with a salesperson or listen to additional information from the person after you’ve already said you’re not interested.
Terminating contact quickly is your best defense against a pushy salesperson’s offense.