This situation would have me so tempted to just walk out...except this is my kid and things she picked...or I really do want to have this item for myself. And I have simply left before, but I'm not sure that presented any sort of message...you could have earned $36, but now you have nothing...not that I was on any personal crusade, just that what I was trying to buy was not so important to me that I was willing to have a lengthy argument with the person over buying more.
I have asked the question, "Do you want to sell me this or not?" "Then can we please get to the part where I pay for this so I can go?"
I "get" suggestive sell. I have been on both ends. I have even walked away with something I never would have thought to purchase and it turned out to be a great purchase, so it's a very good tool of which there was benefit on both parties. I even "get" playing with the "c'mon mom" to a point...narrow, but okay.
Suggestive sell is not supposed to be bully tactic. Also understand your customer's needs. The problem is, there is so much pressure on this "suggestive sell" and not letting up that comes from the higher-ups to the lower staff, that I'm not sure they would even recognize that it's a problem until everyone just starts declining their purchase and walking out, which many of us won't do because we finally found the perfect blouse or the dish set or it's the only store that sells this item and we want it or need it and don't have the time to go elsewhere.