Was this rude?

[Chocolate Cake]

When approached by anyone selling something, it used to be that I would simply smile (maybe tightly) and say, "No, Thank You" and walk on by.   Usually, I still do just that.  However, when grocery shopping last week, I was approached by one of the food company representatives who was there to count inventory/restock.   

That company has a product I've bought forever as well as the same product recently introduced with "new and improved" packaging that is supposed to retain freshness.   I think it's a total gimmick and I could do the same thing at home for free with a plastic freezer bag.

When the vendor showed me the "new and improved" product (smiling like Vanna White over it), I just said, "No, thanks.  I'm not wasting my money on that."  When she pushed, I said, "Again, I'm not spending my money on that. I can do the same thing at home myself." 

My husband thinks I was rude.  I think that the company deserves to know that it's customers (at least one of them) think their new product packaging isn't worth the "new and improved" cost.
 
What do you think?   Was I rude?

[kathrynne]

Nope, not rude at all. The rep is trying to waste your time pushing something on you and you said, "no, thank you." That the rep continued trying to sell it after you said that was rude.

Unfortunately, they never pass your opinion on to anyone. I've tried taking this sort of thing up the ladder with several companies, but to no avail.

[Virg]

For what reason does your husband think you were rude?  You were presented with a product that you didn't want.  You politely declined.  The representative then pressed the issue (which is rude of her) and again you declined.  You may have offered a small insult of the product (well, the packaging) but you didn't insult her and as we've often said, "polite" does not equal "doormat" so you were well within your right to decline again, and say why to shut down further conversation.

Virg

[Bijou]

When approached by anyone selling something, it used to be that I would simply smile (maybe tightly) and say, "No, Thank You" and walk on by.   Usually, I still do just that.  However, when grocery shopping last week, I was approached by one of the food company representatives who was there to count inventory/restock.   

That company has a product I've bought forever as well as the same product recently introduced with "new and improved" packaging that is supposed to retain freshness.   I think it's a total gimmick and I could do the same thing at home for free with a plastic freezer bag.

When the vendor showed me the "new and improved" product (smiling like Vanna White over it), I just said, "No, thanks.  I'm not wasting my money on that."  When she pushed, I said, "Again, I'm not spending my money on that. I can do the same thing at home myself." 

My husband thinks I was rude.  I think that the company deserves to know that it's customers (at least one of them) think their new product packaging isn't worth the "new and improved" cost.
 
What do you think?   Was I rude?

I'm afraid your comments will not make it to anyone who can do something about it.  I would contact the company, and that is very easy, most of the time, thru the internet (but I personally prefer to call them). 

[sparksals]

When approached by anyone selling something, it used to be that I would simply smile (maybe tightly) and say, "No, Thank You" and walk on by.   Usually, I still do just that.  However, when grocery shopping last week, I was approached by one of the food company representatives who was there to count inventory/restock.  

That company has a product I've bought forever as well as the same product recently introduced with "new and improved" packaging that is supposed to retain freshness.   I think it's a total gimmick and I could do the same thing at home for free with a plastic freezer bag.

When the vendor showed me the "new and improved" product (smiling like Vanna White over it), I just said, "No, thanks.  I'm not wasting my money on that."  When she pushed, I said, "Again, I'm not spending my money on that. I can do the same thing at home myself." 

My husband thinks I was rude.  I think that the company deserves to know that it's customers (at least one of them) think their new product packaging isn't worth the "new and improved" cost.
 
What do you think?   Was I rude?

I don't think the fact that you declined was rude, but I think that your response that you weren't wasting your money on the new gimmicky packaging was a tad impolite.  In that situation, I would just say, "no thank you".  The reference to the packaging being a waste of money was a bit rude, IMHO.