Getting rid of persistent sales people

7 Jul 2004

More and more, we get interrupted in our daily activities by people wanting "5 minutes of our time" so that they can change our lives in some wonderful way. I don't mind this as a rule, after all they do have to make a living, but a lot of them REALLY don't know how to take "No Thank You" for an answer!
Often, you feel that the only way to get rid of them is just to be rude and walk off. But this doesn't benefit anyone - it always leaves me feeling bad, and I'm sure it probably doesn't help them either. sad

Soooo, the alternative I've thought of is coming up with ready-made objections that they just have no answer to. Here's a couple I've used successfully to start the ball rolling:
1. To those people who stop you in the street to get you to direct debit money to a charity every month - "I'd love to, but unfortunately I'm banned from having a bank account" (Used this 3 times, and they're always far too embarrassed to ask why)
2. To door-to-door "change your energy supplier" sales people - "No thank you, we make all our own electricity here". I was waiting for him to ask how so I could start getting creative, but he just looked a bit crestfallen, said thank you and left. neutral

7 Jul 2004

Quote by ChairmanMiaow
2. To door-to-door "change your energy supplier" sales people - "No thank you, we make all our own electricity here". I was waiting for him to ask how so I could start getting creative, but he just looked a bit crestfallen, said thank you and left.

:laughabove:
We have a large, brown, furry, Staffie/Boxer cross that discourages salespeople. biggrin

And we don't seem to get Jehovas witnesses anymore since I shook the faith of two of them that called about 3 years ago. dunno

I though it was fun :twisted: :twisted: :dunno:

7 Jul 2004

Quote by easy

2. To door-to-door "change your energy supplier" sales people - "No thank you, we make all our own electricity here". I was waiting for him to ask how so I could start getting creative, but he just looked a bit crestfallen, said thank you and left.

:laughabove:
We have a large, brown, furry, Staffie/Boxer cross that discourages salespeople. biggrin

And we don't seem to get Jehovas witnesses anymore since I shook the faith of two of them that called about 3 years ago. dunno

I though it was fun :twisted: :twisted: :dunno:
Hmmm we don't get the Jobo's calling anymore either.
My hubby physically 'escorted' one off the property a few years ago- mainly because he blatanly lied to us!
He was a youngish gentleman (mid 20s) and came, supposedly, to canvas our views on gun control (sheesh - we live in a little village in Lancashire! - Gun Control?????).
My hubby asked if he was a jehova's witness, he said no! So we thought we'd give him airtime as we were curious as to what he was getting at.
After 10 mins (he still din't take the hint) - even when we jokingly said that we were not in favour of any control of any thing) , he eventually produced a copy of the watchtower!
That was it!!!!!
Hubby saw red, called him a lyng, irreverant bas**d, and virtually dragged him down the drive.
Funnily enough, his mum and dad were just waiting at the back of the front hedge, so hubby told them too. I don't think we are on the Jobo's xmas card list now (oops they don't celebrate xmas do they?)
Alex x
Mind you we used to have pet Geese - we never got ANY cold callers when we had those! Better than guard dogs!

7 Jul 2004

One of the best to use when they call with offers of credit cards, mortgages, or anything financial is to say your partner works in a bank and with the staff discount you get they are wasting their time.
Also the double glazing people that ring you. As i live in a new house (4yrs old) i let them ramble on for the ten minutes about glazing, soffits, facias, and conservatories. Then i hit them with sorry you are wasting your time as i live in a new house that has all those features.
Works every time. But the best bit is letting them ramble on for ten minutes wasting their time. I just hold the phone and don't really listen to what they are saying
Cee

7 Jul 2004

Quote by easy
And we don't seem to get Jehovas witnesses anymore since I shook the faith of two of them that called about 3 years ago.

I've NEVER had the pleasure of being engaged by a Jehovah's Witness - the closest they've come is sheepishly handing me a copy ""Watchtower" and leaving. Maybe they just can't handle the idea of someone being really enthusiastic to talk to them ? dunno

To deal with double glazing sales people, if you've got the time, one way might be to insist that you don't want double glazing because you'll have to pay more window tax when the next government comes into power, as it's part of their secret unspoken manifesto. If you're persistent enough, and start quoting historical examples, they should get the message.
biggrin

7 Jul 2004

Quote by ceeteex
Also the double glazing people that ring you. As i live in a new house (4yrs old) i let them ramble on for the ten minutes about glazing, soffits, facias, and conservatories. Then i hit them with sorry you are wasting your time as i live in a new house that has all those features.
Works every time. But the best bit is letting them ramble on for ten minutes wasting their time. I just hold the phone and don't really listen to what they are saying
Cee

I had one a couple of days ago. I got all the usual "we're not rying to sell you anything" claptrap. She mentioned double glazing a couple of times and I thought here we go.........
Her: so what would be your next home improvement?
me: Oh double glazing definately biggrin

her: so would you be interested in a no obligation quote. I think we've got a representative in your area at the moment ( rolleyes

)
me: nope :D
her: errr......why? confused

me: 'cos I'm a builder and any renovations I'll be doing myself. :P
her: well thanks for your time evil

me: ................. she'd put the phone down on me. :? :? Something I said :? :? :twisted:
BTW I'm not a builder. I'm quite handy though. Just a spur of the moment thought that came into my head to get rid of her. Apparently it worked. :D
LMAO @ chairmanmeow
Oh and if there is anyone on here who does cold-calling for a living, I hope it pays well, 'cos I really wouldn't like to do it.

7 Jul 2004

Well as some of you already know i do telesales(coldcalling) for a living and yes we can be annoying,but hey its better than sitting at home on our arses bluging off the government.
I'd prefer to go out to work everyday and have the possibility of pissing someone off than doing nothing all day!!!!!
Clare,xxx
wink

7 Jul 2004

Just for the record, I work in sales too, and I think it's a wonderful, very worthwhile profession, which I'm very proud to be a part of!
I think it's because of that fact that unimaginative, pushy salespeople really annoy me, as they give selling a bad name - sales is about listening, thinking on your feet and problem solving, not trying to batter your prospect down until they say yes just to get rid of you!
A lot of the problem I think is due to people not being trained properly - I always feel a bit sorry for telesales people who clearly haven't got a clue, as I know they've just spent half the day being sworn at by people they've called up.
Hence my scheme to find nicer, more entertaining (if slightly warped) ways to discourage the overly persistent, rather than just being rude ! smile

7 Jul 2004

Very true chairman miaow.
In fact we have loads of fun winding them up too,best bit of the day lol lol

:lol:
Clare,xxx
wink

7 Jul 2004

Yep, I agree, the fact that you know all the tricks and techniques they've been taught, and that it's pretty easy to predict their script, does make it quite a fun game! biggrin

One that's got me recently is the fact that so many telesales functions have been outsourced to India. The poor buggers who do this job really haven't got a clue - a lot of them just read through a script blindly. Hence, I've had a recent call which went along the lines of:
Indian telesales: Hello sir, this is Robert, please can I speak to the owner of the house.
Me: No you can't I'm afraid, they're all dead. There was a horrible accident last week, I'm surprised you haven't heard about it on the news.
Indian telesales: In that case, I have an excellent financial deal just for you.
Me: Ah, I see, erm what company are you calling from ?
Indian telesales: I'm calling from . We have an excellent financial package that you must hear about.
Me: You're calling from an Indian call centre aren't you?
Indian telesales: No sir, We are calling from Croydon.
Me: Oh ok, in that case, please tell me, what county is Croydon in?
Indian telesales: I am calling from , we are based in Croydon.
Me: That's wonderful, but what county is Croydon in?
Indian telesales: I have an excellent financial package for you. An adviser is in your area, and I'd just like to arrange for him to speak to you, so that you can find out how to benefit.
Me: Oh, ok. Sure, go for it. I'd love to speak to him.
Indian telesales: Excellent Sir, in which case, please can you tell me your date of birth.
Me: Ok, it's 17th March 1994.
Indian telesales: Ah, you are under 21. Is it possible to speak to the owner of the house.
Me: No, as I said,they're all dead. It was terrible. Dreadful mess. I'm the only one left here.
Indian telesales: In which case Sir, I'm afraid we cannot help you. Thank you for your time. <click>
I really hope they were recording that one for quality and training purposes. :twisted:
CM

7 Jul 2004

Hi Clare. I didn't want to name names and point fingers, so I tried to be as ambiguous as possible.
I bet you have just as much a laugh at our expense as we do at yours.
Still it could have been worse (like the audio clip I sent you wink

)
BTW how you feeling today?

7 Jul 2004

Much better thanks hun biggrin

Still barking like a dawg though lol!!!!!
And yeah we do have quite a bit of fun,thank god
Clare,xxx
wink

16 Jan 2006

I just love those telesales folk trying to flog me double glazing or conservatories. Eventualy getting totally p***ed off I made an apointment for a sales chappy to visit to discuss conservatories but explained thatas I worked odd hours it would have to be after 9pm.
The young lady was delighted and took the details.
9pm. On the dot the door bell rings. Chap in smart suit introduces himself then looked a bit lost.
We live in a 1st floor flat

16 Jan 2006

had a young lad knock last week ,offering home improvement advice or double glazing !!!
thing was he had just knocked on our new double glazed door on our newly double glazed porch next to our newly double glazed front windows ,,we had the whole house done two months ago !!,, he never noticed till I pointed it out. His reply , "well our glazing is better than this"
no hope
:doh:

16 Jan 2006

We used to live near the airport and frequently got teams of Jehovahs doing the streets mob-handed. After much disruption, I hit on the tactic of saying "no thanks, I'm Jewish" which had remarkable effect. Ho-hum.

16 Jan 2006

Quote by yehaf
We used to live near the airport and frequently got teams of Jehovahs doing the streets mob-handed. After much disruption, I hit on the tactic of saying "no thanks, I'm Jewish" which had remarkable effect. Ho-hum.

just tell them your a nurse,the fact you agree with blood transfusion gets rid of them

16 Jan 2006

Rather unimaginative, I know, but I usually say no and walk on.
I feign interest for a short time, ask for their name and number and tell them that my phone is registered with the TPS (Telephone Preference Service) and that I'll be reporting them, don't get to do this very often, only about twice per year.
If they are contacting me via work phone I ask them if they are reading from a script, "No sir!", if they obviously are I tell them to stop readign from the script or I'll hang up, and I do biggrin

16 Jan 2006

Tell them they smell of cabbages and poo!

16 Jan 2006

My reply to any home improvment sales callers is usually "ask the council, its thier house"
amazing how quickly they dissapear lol

16 Jan 2006

The following have worked for me:
1. "I'm sorry, but I'm going to Iraq tomorrow with the Army"
2. "I'd love a patio, but what would the people in the flat below think?"
3. "I'm not falling for that - come on, where's Dom Jolly?"
4. "I can't stand here and talk - I'm and English teacher. Someone out there might be using a split infinitive"
5. "So good to see you. We need another person to take our coven up to 13"
6. "Do you ever hang around the locker room at the gym?"
7. "But the Police promised me a new identity!"

16 Jan 2006

double glazing , credit ,change your gas telephone,electric supplier
tell them your squatters works a treat

16 Jan 2006

For all double glazing, patio, home improvements I just say 'Sorry, I only rent the house'. They don't bother after that.
Anyone else cold calling I say 'No, thank you' as they start their spiel, then just shut the door in their face if they continue. They never knock again biggrin

Phone calls, I just hang up.

16 Jan 2006

the best one i do is say what company is it, and when they say just say i thought it was and say i work for the company they usualy get suck and say sorry i get rid of them in about 10 seconds
rich

16 Jan 2006

Most of the housing around my manor belongs to the National Trust and is in an ANONB so when I tell them I would be delighted to have work done as long as the NT are OK with it and I can`t afford to pay for full planning permission, I usually get left alone. Other than that, there is also the wonderfull invention of Caller Display. Just let it ring and let some other sucker pick up! :twisted:

16 Jan 2006

I really have no problem holding my hand up and saying no thanks without breaking stride to street canvassers and saying the same and pressing the red button for tele sales dunno

16 Jan 2006

Personally...i give these people the time of day... as they might actually be able to save me money or give me a service that i might need..... apart from the accident claims people... never broken a bone or anything.. maybe i should fall over one of them and sue them (just a thought)

16 Jan 2006

Like Marms, I'm registered with the TPS, and this stops the oocasional phone salesperson in their tracks. In the street I just tell them that I work for a marketing firm (not true now but I used to), this rules me out of their "surveys".

16 Jan 2006

Yep.. thats so true.. and also say that your not the main income earner in the house.
or have someone in your house that works in media or marketing
although.. i do have to say... i recommend that everyone does try out these marketting people
i have to say though... i have done the marketting research a few times... well the one in preston is fantastic... on friargate... heartlily recommend it.... mainly because they do fantastic coffee.... although the evil people cant tell me the brand!!!!!

16 Jan 2006

i hate all of them too but as a salesman myself its a bit hypocritical
used to do telesales but only go after companies these days.....altho did love tormenting people on the fone who obviously didnt want to talk to me....ironically, salesmen are the easiest people to sell to

16 Jan 2006

Too right... need centered sales is great.... its funny when you walk into .. anywhere and say these are my needs.. what do you have that will fulfil these? :-)
easily amused!