Pushy Salespeople

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
Whether it's an appliance, car or apartment, I've run into very assertive people when shopping. I realize it's their aim to sell, but don't they realize that being too ambitious might be a turn-off to most people? I also get the impression that they don't care about a customer's satisfaction with a product or service - it's just SELL! SELL! SELL!

Decades ago I had an encounter with a B&B proprietor. When he was signing me in, he was all chuckles and smiles, however when I had a complaint, he scowled and turned into Mr. "That's Not My Problem".
 

I just wave them off with a thank you I'm just looking and then pretend to be even deafer than I actually am;) But did you ever notice...if you're just window shopping the salespeople drop out of the woodwork. But when you are ready to buy something or have a complicated question or two...they vanish POOF just like that. You can walk for miles, even look under the counters in case they're hiding, but the store is now empty.
 

I find car salesmen to be the worst, especially Toyota, where if you say "Let me think about it".....they'll go get their manger to come talk to you and that one will leave to go get the next manager and so on, until you say "I'm late for an appointment."
 
Jackie22 said:
I find car salesmen to be the worst, especially Toyota, where if you say "Let me think about it".....they'll go get their manger to come talk to you and that one will leave to go get the next manager and so on, until you say "I'm late for an appointment."
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Yep, it has been a while since I was in a showroom but it was hilarious how they corralled you in the lot where the cars were on sale. As you moved around the cars, you could watch them work their way through the aisles trying to reach you first!
 
I live in the boonies and do a lot of shopping online. So I can avoid the sales people a good deal of the time. What I dislike is a friend or relative trying to sell me something.
 
The very worst hard sell jerk I ever encountered was in a funeral home. I just went in there to get a price list which federal law requires them to supply on request. This clown pushed us unbelievably to buy a pre-need contract. I will not buy anything from a hard sell type ever.
 
Car buying...bah. I look upon the process of buying a car only slightly more attractive than having all four wisdom teeth pulled without anesthesia. By an Afghani dentist. In Afghanistan. If I'm going to get screwed...and when buying a car, I AM going to get screwed, I at least want dinner, wine and flowers first.
 
When my mother died, it was my task to arrange for the funeral, etc. The first time I went to the place, I left terribly upset and confused and almost in tears. I remembered my mother had a friend who was a retired funeral director, so he went back with me and was able to cut through all the hard-sell BS.

At a funeral place, the have you by the proverbial short hairs -- you need something NOW, you are already in an acute state of grief and stress and so are easy prey. They act like the casket you select somehow indicates the degree of love you felt for the deceased, which is total crap. My mother was DEAD; she didn't care if she was in a simple casket or a $20,000 model with air conditioning and turn signals!!

Horrible experience!
 
I've heard funeral directors can be the absolute worst...preying on people so overcome with emotion they can't think straight. My husband was like that with his Dad and they weren't even very close. I've written the directive ahead of time and want everyone involved to know. A simple wood box, cardboard if they like. Cremate me and toss the ashes around the nature reserve. No fuss, no muss, and dust to dust.
 
I live in a rural area with several small towns within a 30 mile radius...we do not get the hard sell in the small towns, its when you go into the city for something that is not available here, at least I never have noticed it.
 
It doesn't seem to be the case in and around where I live. Bought a car a couple years ago and the man seemed almost uninterested in making a sale. Purchased a TV and sound base this year and spent time trying to locate the salesman that was helping us prior to me making up my mind. It doesn't seem as though many salespeople are working on commission anymore and as pesky as they used to be, there seems to be a real lackluster approach in retail. Actually, I haven't dealt with any sales people on commission for years! Maybe it's just in this area, don't know.
 
I hate salespeople trying to sell maintenance contracts along with goods. They are in most cases, a total waste of money. They point out the cost of repairs , and then I say if they are selling unreliable products, I don't want to shop there. An ex-colleague from California who once worked for a large electrical goods retailer in the US, told me that profit margins on goods were very low and most of the money came from selling maintenance contracts and extended warranties.
 
Reminds me of the Blonde that bought a new car, after 2 years she stopped making payments..The dealership called her and asked why she stopped payments and she replied "the salesman told me that after 2 years it would pay for itself!!"..:eek:
 
jujube said:
Car buying...bah. I look upon the process of buying a car only slightly more attractive than having all four wisdom teeth pulled without anesthesia. By an Afghani dentist. In Afghanistan. If I'm going to get screwed...and when buying a car, I AM going to get screwed, I at least want dinner, wine and flowers first.
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About 15 years ago, I went shopping at a Chevvy dealership for a new car. The salesman must have thought an old lady is an easy mark. I asked him how much were they willing to deduct from the sticker price. He laughed and said "The sticker price IS the price." I replied with a counter-offer and added, "When you come to your senses, give me a call." I'm still waiting to hear from him.
 
jujube said:
Car buying...bah. I look upon the process of buying a car only slightly more attractive than having all four wisdom teeth pulled without anesthesia. By an Afghani dentist. In Afghanistan. If I'm going to get screwed...and when buying a car, I AM going to get screwed, I at least want dinner, wine and flowers first.
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I'm so happy I made arrangements 9 months ago and pre-paid for a funeral for my recently deceased uncle. Best to do that when things are calm and you have your wits about you and can make rational decisions. Some undertakers will prey on grief-stricken people and use guilt to get them to purchase unnecessary items and services. Who needs 1000 memory cards or fancy caskets?
 
I had a different experience with a Toyota dealer. Salesman came up with an offer. I didn't argue with him, because I wasn't particularly interested anyway, and left. After I got home they called me several times, making better offers each time. Finally bought a Ford. It was a good decision.
 
The other end of the scale is the salesperson that seems totally disinterested in you or your needs. A few years ago I went shopping for carpeting and took a rolled up piece of my carpet so I could show someone what I wanted, and put it in the car trunk. I went into the carpet store and locate a salesman. I described what I wanted and also indicated that I had a sample out in my car and if he would follow me out, I could show it to him. I walked out, assuming he was following me. I opened the trunk, and turned around an no one was there. I walked back in the store and found him talking to a young couple. I left!
 
I have to say that I had a very positive experience with the funeral director who handled my late husband's cremation. I had expected the hard-sell (have you ever seen the movie "The Loved One"?), but the price given was very reasonable and except for politely showing me their selection of cremation urns, there was no attempt in any way to "up-sell". The director asked me if I would like his ashes placed in a national cemetery (he was a veteran) and said he would handle everything as a courtesy if I wanted to go that route. The ashes were hand-delivered to me at my home by an employee so that I didn't have to come back to the funeral home. They arranged for my initial copies of the death certificate at no cost other than the cost that the county charged. When I mentioned to others what I had paid for the cremation, they were surprised....they had paid much more for less service.

It's not a business I hope I have to use again.....but if I do, I'll go back to them.
 
Recently when I bought my new-to-me car, I went to a dealer recommended by friends. The dealer was also on my bank/insurance company's list of good dealers. They only deal in good low-mileage used cars, the salesmen are not on commission, and the sticker price is the price -- no haggling. Their inventory is also online so you can get an idea what they have before you go (a good thing for me, since my old car had died and I had no car). I was quite pleased with the way I was treated and the easy way I was able to complete the purchase, and I paid less than many do for a similar car. The salespeople were very helpful, but not pushy at all, and didn't try to hurry me. The car is in mint condition and I'm quite happy with it.
 
If it weren't for the time wasted, I enjoy buying vehicles. When we bought the wife's car a little over a year ago, was sorta fun. Dealer tossed out numbers of what he felt her old car was worth. Then, he told of various discounts on the new car we were looking at. I did a bunch of math and decided what I would pay.

Told the salespeople we would take the car. When they started paperwork, the sales manager said the salesman told us wrong on discounts and they no longer applied. In my mind I said, "Gotcha!" First, I pulled the title to her old car out of my pocket. Told him we were ready to deal, with title and checkbook. But, we had an offer from an "honest" dealer across town. My wife and I got up and started out the door. Of course, he begged us to come back while he did some more "figuring". I told him what my bottom dollar was. He said that was ridiculous, but asked us to wait. We went ahead and walked out the door, standing just outside the showroom. Here he came, almost at a run. "We'll split the difference with you." That's when I knew I had him. I immediately began berating him, telling him the games he was trying to play were nothing but scamming his customers. Told him the entire story of the day would be related on Google reviews, Yelp, Facebook, and told to the Better Business Bureau. I made certain the conversation was courteous, but loud enough for other customers to hear. Needless to say, he met my price.
Then, when we went to the accounting folks to pay for the vehicle, they tried to sell us add-ons. When I got through with them, we got a 5-year, 50,000 mile, bumper to bumper warranty.

Most businesses want your money. Car dealerships don't build these huge beautiful facilities by selling at slim margins. They can scam other folks. I will know what I want and what I will pay for it and we will work from my numbers... not theirs. My wife hates car shopping with me. It demands a personality unlike my day to day demeanor.
 
I don't care for manipulative behavior designed to make you do something you know you shouldn't. Generally, I give a polite 'Goodby' and walk out.

The worst but most entertaining fellow was overseas. The guy just could not understand why I did not want to enter his shop, have some tea and gain a 'friend for life". He actually followed me for a block arguing with me and trying to convince me to return to the store. Finally, he gave up when I kept repeating 'goodby' to him as the answer to all his questions.
 

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