Tag Archives: sales

The sales kid

Yesterday, as my husband and I were trying to get him loaded up to hit the road, we were approached by two, well, kids. Oh I’m sure they were 19 or 20, but in my eyes they were kids.

Now, I’m sure it’s the mark of a good salesman kid to just start talking and not give you a chance to say no until you’ve been given the entire pitch. But I really could have saved the kid time and breath, as I knew from the moment he started we wouldn’t be buying anything.

We are are that time of month in which our bank account has pretty much $40 in it until the next payday. We just paid out our three biggest monthly expenses: health insurance, rent and truck payment. Random sales pitch isn’t going to work, no matter what.

But sales kid just starts talking and showing us how his product cleans our truck. At this point I’m just letting him keep cleaning. What the hell…clean my windows! Go for it!

Then. Then he goes, “I see you color your hair. This cleaner will even clean the color off your hair if you decide you don’t like your color.”

First, I’m not using something you just cleaned my truck with on my hair. Second, pointing out a woman’s roots have grown out only works for hairdressers. You, kid, are now being rude and doubly lost a sale.

After about 20 minutes of his spiel, I said we couldn’t do it. But asked if I could keep a brochure to look it up when we could afford it. Nope! He works on commissions and couldn’t let me have a brochure. I snorted to myself. Why not have a name someone can reference so you can still get credit after the fact? Guess the company isn’t looking out for you. And you aren’t looking out for them by refusing to let me keep a brochure.

No color off my hair or money out of my pocket. The kids couldn’t leave fast enough after being turned down. Fine by me. At least they didn’t do a hard sell after being turned down.

Later, I thought about how door to door sales really needs to be something of the past. Things like “Do not solicit” lists exist, and people are hesitant to open their doors to strangers. Being pressured to spend my money on my own property is uncomfortable and frustrating. It’s a blast from the past, sure, and I’m all about nostalgia. But some things really do need to cease.