Spill the beans... on Jedi mind tricks salesmen have played on you

GraceCourt

Lexis200 wrote: »

Charities though are intrinsically hard to say no to, or even ask to leave as you feel you're morally corrupt if you don't at least listen.

Agreed, but you might find it easier if you smile and say: "Yes, I do give to charities, but as I'm sure you will understand, everyone has different ideas about which charity to support financially, and chooses their own favourites... I have already chosen mine...".

That way, you seize the moral high ground - you obtain their implicit acceptance that you are a "good" person, but you have drawn the line... if they come back with "So which charities are they, then?", it's easier to respond with "The ones to which I have already chosen to give money!" and they are immediately wrong-footed... you already know that they can hardly demand that you tell them, and you don't even need to know the name of the charity for which they are trying to collect.

You can even add: "I'm sure that your charity is already one that other generous people have chosen as one of their supported charities!"

They can hardly claim that it isn't! :rotfl:

scrimperdave

I_Love_Shoes wrote: »

What's worse when you open your front door- a salesman, a chugger (charity mugger) or a jehovahs witness?

Living in a 2nd Floor flat, I just open my window and see who's there. Jehova's witnesses & Mormons don't even know I've looked.

Other unexpected callers get asked "Who do you want to speak to?" and are usually told "Sorry, not interested," at which point I close the window. I never have to listen to any sales patter! :rotfl:

ShakeyStacey

The reason the Charity people give you the whole spiel and make you sign up is because a lot of the time they are actually Sales People. They are from the same marketing companies that try to sell you security or electricity. I do feel sorry for them though, because they are usually just out of uni or college and trying to make some honest money instead of living on benefits, so good on them. Remember, they are not the one's you are mad at really. You're mad at the people who sit in a warm office sending kids to do the dirty work.
On the subject of calls for surveys, being on the TPS means you cannot recieve unsolicited Sales or Marketing calls. It does not mean you cannot recieve genuine Market Research calls. Be wary because some sales firms pretend to be doing research, but again try to be nice to the poor student on the other end of the phone. It's suprising how many people treat you as less than human. Market Research is actually really useful, it helps products and services improve and gives you a chance to give your opinion. You might read in a newspaper that 80% believe that the economic situation will get worse (made up example) and wonder where that number comes from. It's a market research! Probably over the phone in a cold call.

friendlyperson

When I have a salesman come to the door trying to sell home improvements I just say that I rent the property and if they would like to leave any paperwork I will pass it on to the landlord. They leave quickly then. I own my house by the way.

If charities come to the door and ask me to sign up to regular direct debit or ring up for the same thing, I say I am unemployed. Works a treat. I donate to charity shops so do my bit for charities that way.

missyvoid

This discussion sparks 2 memories for me - the first from when I worked in a well known PC shop. I listened in to one of the salesmen while he tried to complete a sale. He told a bald-faced lie, that the customer would recieve 2000 Nectar points if he purchased a certain computer. I was also there when the customer returned to the store 2 weeks later to complain that eh hadn't recieved those points! He was livid, but the salesman kept his commission!

The other - we used to recieve lots and lots of coldcalls, and got so fed up of always being polite while trying to get off the phone. I hate being rude and hanging up on them... So I tried talking gibberish! It went something like this:
Man: "Hello madam, I'm calling about your loan" (I have no loans)
Me: Why did you kick my dog?
Man: "I'm sorry? I 'd like to let you know about our service...
Me: You came to my house and kicked my dog!
Man: "No, I assure you I didn't kick your dog. If you have a loan or a credit card debt...
Me: I can't talk to you about loans when you've kicked my dog! The neighbours saw you!

This conversation went on for quite a while with the poor chap getting more and more spluttery, eventually telling me he couldn't have kicked my dog because he liked animals! When I suggested we end the phonecall he sounded most relieved, and we didn't suffer from the coldcalls for ages after that

Chia

grahamm wrote: »

So are the ones who phone you up claiming to be from Microsoft and telling you that they've detected problems with your computer. Should we be polite to them too, even though they're trying to con you?



Oh, right, so be polite, get rid of them quickly, so they can con someone else!

No, be polite to them because you're a decent human being (if you are, that is).

It's true that the "Microsoft" brigade are trying to con you, but you don't know the circumstances of the individual salespeople. Maybe they're just trying to put food on the table and can't get a better job. Maybe not. Do you know one way or another? If you don't, I'd suggest you be nice or just hang up.

Chia

Chia wrote: »

No, be polite to them because you're a decent human being (if you are, that is).

It's true that the "Microsoft" brigade are trying to con you, but you don't know the circumstances of the individual salespeople. Maybe they're just trying to put food on the table and can't get a better job. Maybe not. Do you know one way or another? If you don't, I'd suggest you be nice or just hang up.

Note - talking about the ones who sound like they're calling from overseas (e.g. India). Those are the only 'Microsoft' calls I've ever had. I have much less sympathy for people involved in fraudulent telemarketing from the UK or other countries with well-developed welfare states.

Gizasmum

belgrano wrote: »

There is another superb book along these lines called "Everything is negotiable" by Gavin Kennedy. Its been out for years, but still relevant - I got mine from the local Library.
Used the techniques for many years while working in the NHS, very useful

Good book and a great mantra to have. I was a Purchasing Manager and used what I learnt from it on many occasions, both professionally and personally.

I was once looking at cars and the salesman kept trying to sell the car I was interested in to my husband (who doesn't drive). So I went back a second time without him, coincidentally accompanied by my mum. She was wandering around the showroom while I was speaking to the salesman. When she saw a painting of the Seine on the wall she mentioned to me how much she liked it. Anyway the deal was almost done. I had negotiated a reduced price and also a free tank of petrol, new mats & 12 months road tax. Just for the fun of it (I know, I am a bad yin), I was still humming and hawing about it. Finally the salesman, quite exasperatedly, said, 'So what will it take you to seal the deal?' I told him I wanted the painting for my mum, so he took it down off the wall and gave it to her! :rotfl: :A She still has it hanging on her kitchen wall.

purpleweasel

GraceCourt wrote: »

Agreed, but you might find it easier if you smile and say: "Yes, I do give to charities, but as I'm sure you will understand, everyone has different ideas about which charity to support financially, and chooses their own favourites... I have already chosen mine...".

a chugger in town once said something rude to me when i declined to speak to him. I was genuinely in a hurry but felt very much like going back to him to explain that yes, i do give my time and money to charity, and to ask was he doing this voluntarily?

BobbinAlong

I've always liked getting accosted by the gas companies for a switch, as I say I'll only consider switching if they'll provide the whole infrastructure for free - I live several miles beyond the nearest gas main!
And double glazing/home improvement/tree fellers etc have been told "Oh no, my hubby's in the trade. He does all that" which works well.
Living out in the country has advantages - we're now too remote for door knockers and TPS has done wonders for the rest.