"I demand that you stop and listen to my spiel!!!"

[Raintree]

OK, the title of this thread is not what was actually said but it was implied.

BG: This large grocery store sometimes has people wandering around stopping shoppers and asking them to sign up for their credit card. I don't want one of their credit cards. I don't care what they are offering me as an incentive. I don't want one. One time in the past, I got stopped 5 times by 5 different pestering salespeople and I was getting really irritated. But this store has the best prices in town and a store name brand that I like, so I still go there. [/end BG]

End of the day, on the way home from work, hungry, tired, and with an elderly person at home who is likely also hungry and depending on me to make dinner. I needed to stop at the grocery store and I had about 12 items on my list. I wanted to dash in, grab the exact 12 items I wanted, and dash out again as quickly as possible. Hopefully 10 minutes, tops.

As I was running down the tea aisle to grab my specific tea, a fellow holding a clipboard approached me and said, "Have you received your $20 of free groceries yet today?"

Me (still moving quickly): "Is this about signing up for a card?"
Him: "Well if you sign up for a card today, we're offering..."
Me (searching for my specific brand of tea): "No thanks, I don't wish to sign up for a card."
Him (standing in they way of my view of the tea selection): "But just let me explain to you the benefits of...."
Me (peering around him, seeing my tea and reaching behind him to get it): "Actually, I'm kind of in a hurry here, sorry."
Him: "But at least listen to..."
Me (walking away): "No."
Him (a tad sarcastically I thought): "Well you have a good day!"

I don't believe I was rude, but he was rude for trying to get in the way of my shopping!! I can't believe companies think this is a good idea.

[Shopaholic]

I don't think you were rude either.

However, a store rep isn'there asking for advice. It could be possible that he was only following directions given by corporate - have the customer say "no" three times before letting them go, or something of the kind.

You can file a complaint with the management, and feel free to ignore the next rep that comes your way. You have no obligation to engage in a conversation. A "Sorry, in a hurry!" is fine.

[kherbert05]

Go to the store's website and send in a comment saying why this annoys you. Then do it every time it happens with exact quotes. Hopefully TPTB will realize this is BAD marketing and stop.

[Shoo]

Wow.  Groceries would have to be practically free for me to put up with that.  I don't think you were rude at all. 

[gwennan]

I'm with Shoo.  I couldn't deal with that level of interference while grocery shopping.

Maybe you should wear a placard or carry a sign with you each visit that says "NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR CREDIT CARD. DON'T ASK!!"?  (only partially kidding)

[lowspark]

I don't think you were rude, I think he was, by being overly persistent and sarcastic. Does he really expect every shopper to stop and listen to his entire pitch? He's in for a rude awakening! His inability to take no for an answer and his sarcastic reply indicates that he doesn't take rejection well so this job is not a good fit for him.

When people approach me selling something, I just say "no thank you" and turn and walk away.

 

[Hillia]

I don't think you were rude, I think he was, by being overly persistent and sarcastic. Does he really expect every shopper to stop and listen to his entire pitch? He's in for a rude awakening! His inability to take no for an answer and his sarcastic reply indicates that he doesn't take rejection well so this job is not a good fit for him.

When people approach me selling something, I just say "no thank you" and turn and walk away.

I agree this is an extremely annoying policy and the last remark sounds a little snarky, but I have some pity for the employee.  It is almost guaranteed that he is rated on how many of those stupid cards he gets people to sign up for; he will be written up if he doesn't make quota; and he can never be sure who is a customer and who is a secret shopper sent in to report to corporate how the rank and file are doing selling a credit card that virtually no one wants. 

DH was caught in this trap when he worked retail.  He flat out refused to play...he'd offer the card once during the course of a conversation, then drop it.  He got negative marks on his reviews for this, but fortunately the flood of positive customer comment cards made it difficult for him to be reprimanded too severely.

[MrTango]

You were fine.  When it comes to sales people trying to accost me in a mall or grocery store, I ignore them.

I refuse eye contact, "don't hear" anything they're pitching, and aside from ensuring that I don't run them over I refuse to alter my stride for them.

[Tabby Uprising]

Raintree, I had a similar experience recently.  There is a large chain grocery store a few minutes away from my house.  One afternoon I was doing some quick shopping with my son and an employee began the spiel process for a new savings card they were rolling out.  I told her I was in a hurry and on my way out and she followed me to the check out while giving me the sales pitch 

It was annoying, but it only happened once.  Besides, on top of its proximity to my house, this store happens to employ the greatest people in the universe.  Every employee I've encountered has always been friendly, professional and super helpful.  They rock! 

[Trellia]

(Facepalm) Unfortunately, some places do require a person to get three or more 'no's' in a conversation. (My bank is horrible for this.) Corporate doesn't realize that even if being pushy gets one card sign up, will the customer sign up again in the future? Will they encourage their friends to get this 'great deal' and come back to shop? Of course not! You're getting one reluctant customer that you're alienating for the future.

I have to sell memberships at a job, but I do it far differently. I'll bring it up in a casual conversation while ringing up a customer. If they say 'no', if they even start to make a 'no' gesture with their hands, I drop it, even if it's in the middle of a sentence. Then I finish the transaction in a pleasant manner. (With this way, I'm still surpassing the goal.) I had one lady that shook her head during my spiel and I said, "Okay," and dropped it. She blinked in surprise, and I explained that I hate pushy salespeople and will not be one. Ended up making her laugh a few times before she left. No membership sale, but a happy customer who will probably be back. 

[Softly Spoken]

Wow I get people with clipboards on the street and outside businesses, but INSIDE the store? NO WAY. Not happening. It's a captive audience/hostage situation. Who isn't in a hurry when they're at the store? And even if you aren't in a hurry, who wants to stop their shopping to listen to a sales pitch?? Rude and inconvenient.

Dumbest. marketing. ever!

[ScubaGirl]

DH and I got tired of being accosted everytime we left and entered our casino in Vegas about attending a talk regarding time shares.  We finally hit upon the perfect solution. We'd smile brightly and say "sorry, we are leaving today."  They would back off and we'd be on our merry way.  Yes, we said it to the same person more than once but I'm not sure they remembered.

Could you say "I already have a card", even though you don't?

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

I've haven't had anyone be that pushy in a very long time, but it irks me to no end when I walk past a kiosk in the mall/store/wherever and the salesperson pops out and chirps, "Can I ask you a question?". I reply, "You just did," and keep right on going. It usually catches them off-guard enough that they don't have time for a comeback as I sail past.

[Shopaholic]

I've haven't had anyone be that pushy in a very long time, but it irks me to no end when I walk past a kiosk in the mall/store/wherever and the salesperson pops out and chirps, "Can I ask you a question?". I reply, "You just did," and keep right on going. It usually catches them off-guard enough that they don't have time for a comeback as I sail past.

O/T but most kiosk vendors I've encountered in the US are Israelis, or are selling Dead Sea products. I just reply in Hebrew, and they're shocked speechless for a minute or two while I get away...

[TootsNYC]

DH and I got tired of being accosted everytime we left and entered our casino in Vegas about attending a talk regarding time shares.  We finally hit upon the perfect solution. We'd smile brightly and say "sorry, we are leaving today."  They would back off and we'd be on our merry way.  Yes, we said it to the same person more than once but I'm not sure they remembered.

Could you say "I already have a card", even though you don't?

Many years ago, the streets around Washington Square Park were infested with aggressive, high-pressure drug dealers who had been driven out of the park. In the news story on the problem, a father related that he'd told his preteen son, "When they approach you, just tell them you don't use drugs." His son had looked at him pityingly and said, "Dad, that doesn't work, they just pressure you more. Now I just tell them, 'I have my stash.' "