How do you deal with sales/marketing people (e.g. BT) in the high street?
Posted by hxydenJ@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 67 comments
I keep getting stopped by people trying to sell broadband/phone packages (usually BT) when I’m just trying to get through town. I don’t want to be rude, but it’s getting a bit annoying having to dodge them every time.
What do you usually say or do? Do you just ignore them, or is there a polite way to shut it down quickly?
Curious how others handle it.
RetroDando@reddit
‘No need I’m already a customer, hope you have a great day’
Nirnroot_Enjoyer@reddit
If you can't avoid their eye contact etc., just say "sorry I'm in a rush" regardless of what they say.
It's a sales technique, and as soon as you respond to what they actually say, then they've managed to get their foot in the door..
So as awkward/rude as it seems, you just have to cut across and say no.
And for the love of glob, don't stop walking.
Nutty103X@reddit
headphones
Fabulous-Wolf-4401@reddit
I usually say 'I'm a carer' (not true anymore, but I used to be) and they step back with their hands raised to the side as though they empathise, when in reality, they're just thinking 'OK, too poor.'
BeachTheHam13@reddit
In your example I simply say "I'm already with BT". Just swap the company name for whoever is bothering you.
bramleyapple1@reddit
Remember you are not being rude, they are being rude by forcing themselves into your day. They don't see you as a person, just a potential sale. As soon as they realise they aren't getting anywhere they'll move on.
Just a polite "no thank you" will do, and then completely ignore their existence. Don't worry they are used it.
fickle_tartan@reddit
Honestly if you were never going to be interested anyway then not stopping is not only not rude but you're actually helping them out by not wasting more of their time.
NotoriousP_U_G@reddit
“Sorry mate, I don’t speak English, try someone else”
heyitsed2@reddit
https://youtu.be/rxUm-2x-2dM?si=Os6vkh0H9r7ZeNqp
heyitsed2@reddit
Tell them you live off grid, your mum deals with all the household bills etc, you're in a cult that forbids whatever they're pedaling, tell them you've got a real bad tummy ache and need to find a toilet, learn "sorry I'm in a rush" in sign language, get a bell and ring it at them whilst screaming "unclean unclean" so they think you have leprosy....
huskydaisy@reddit
I say 'no thanks' and don't break stride.
Belle_TainSummer@reddit
Hah, same, almost word for word.
Belle_TainSummer@reddit
"no thank you" and don't break stride.
escapingfromelba@reddit
Ignore them and carry on walking.
levezvosskinnyfists7@reddit
Still remember walking through town with my mate at uni and he was walking along with his hands up inside the sleeves of his hoodie for some reason. Some sales person tried to hand him a flyer and he just held up his arms and said “How dare you, I have no hands!”. The complete bafflement was 100% effective…
GrabbedByTheGhost@reddit
Be rude. They're being rude by stepping in front of you to hit you with an unsolicited sales pitch.
I usually just walk past them and completely ignore them, if they have persisted I've just been like "I have somewhere to be".
Swamp_Donkey82@reddit
Slightly off topic, but we had a spate of cold callers. So the other Saturday when two women knocked my door, before they could speak I said “No thank you”
They then lifted their lanyards which had police written on them and informed me they were asking for doorbell footage regarding a burglary that happened further up the street…
mdmnl@reddit
"No thank you... Officer"
Spiritual_Long8806@reddit
I get a lot of cold callers at the door too. I always thought my dad was overreacting when he would get annoyed but I completely get it now. It really pisses me off when I’m cooking or just relaxing in my own home and someone knocks on my door and interrupts me to try sell me something. You’ve actually just reminded me to get a sign for the door saying no cold callers.
Dissidant@reddit
Don't even open the door, just say your playing with yourself can you wait 2 minutes and they generally won't hang around
geeered@reddit
"I'm busy, you can walk with me if you want."
Engage them in conversation.
Try and get them to join a side quest.
You get more points the further away from their 'patch' you can get them.
mdmnl@reddit
You just pulled a "walk and talk". Aaron Sorkin would be proud
Icy-Belt-8519@reddit
Doing this in future! Will update with points
afungalmirror@reddit
Take a deep breath, then scream for as long as you can as loudly as you can, without breaking stride. Like a banshee.
peony_beony@reddit
How much money/how many sign ups to companies really make this way? I never see anyone engaging, and it actually puts me off the brand or charity personally.
Bastrato@reddit
I tell them to go fuck themselves.
oncejumpedoutatrain@reddit
2 days ago in Currys, they asked about my internet, I replied I wasn't happy but could not change it, they didn't press the matter.
zoltan_g@reddit
Just start speaking in tongues.
CreativeAdeptness477@reddit
I don't really go into town these days but back when I did I'd just blatantly ignore these guys to their faces and carry on with my day, barely even acknowledge their existence. Occasionally I'd give a politely neutral "no thanks", or even a neutrally polite one. Usually that was enough. On the very rare occasion someone got pushy one "no" is enough politeness so that's followed by "fuck off cunt", again carrying on with my day. If it gets to that point then they've chased after me and deserve no further respect.
znv142@reddit
I just ignore them. It may be perceived as rude, but I do feel that thinking that you are entitled to stop people randomly to sell them stuff is equally rude.
Ok-Flamingo2801@reddit
One negative of wireless earphones is that they're harder for people to see. When I had headphones or even wired earphones, it was a lot easier to ignore people by pretending you were too focused on your music. I've been using wireless earphones for a couple of years, and when I have my hair down, people often don't realise I have them in, so now when I want to ignore someone I have to tuck my hair behind my ears or fiddle with the earphones so people realise I have them in and that I'm totally not ignoring them and just don't realise they're trying to talk to me.
CtrlShiftAaron@reddit
I don’t stop. I keep walking and if they get in my way I gently push them out of my path
ohnobobbins@reddit
Keep walking, smile and say ‘no thanks, I’m in a hurry!’ And I wave my hand in a sort of Jedi way, it makes me laugh anyway. This is not the middle aged lady you are looking for.
Historical_Cobbler@reddit
“Sorry, I don’t speak English” and keep walking.
Oddbw0y@reddit
Stop. Make eye contact. In fact, stare at them intently and with a moist handshake ask them, "Can I talk to you about Christ our Saviour?"
snakeoildriller@reddit
I ask them if they've recovered from the data breach yet and what actions they're taking to prevent the next one. Usually in a louder voice. That shuts them right up.
Alert_Mine7067@reddit
I just say "I'm OK thank you"
It just so happens that I work for BT, and I'm on a colleague package, with that particular group I just tell them that they're wasting their time as they probably cant make my bill any cheaper, they agree and I go on my merry way, foiling their opportunistic plot.
Sleepyllama23@reddit
Don’t make eye contact. Head down, speed up, say “sorry no” while raising your hand and showing your palm. Keep walking and do not engage.
5ubredhit@reddit
I don’t deal with them whatsoever.
Lessarocks@reddit
The only people who ever try to stop me are chuggers. And they do that fake friendly sycophantic thing -‘oh you look super fun/nice/friendly’. I just smile, say thank you, and walk on all the while ignoring everything else they might say.
If they don’t start with something sycophantic, I’ll just interrupt their script with a polite ‘no thank you’ and continue walking. I never let myself get engaged in any discussion.
BOrdinary01@reddit
I either get my phone out and pretend I'm talking/texting or say no thank you. It depends on my mood. I have anxiety so some days its just harder to do or say anything I guess.
emmjaybeeyoukay@reddit
Ignore them. You don't have to engage at all. If they move into your path then alter your route around them.
They want engagement with you, any engagement that leads to you having to stop and remotely excuse yourself is good for them to start badgering you.
A firm "not interested" is a polite accompaniment.
There are other verbal rebukes which in the name of not wishing to have my comment erased, I shall not repeat in such polite company.
Beneficial-Island995@reddit
When they ask: 'can i ask you a question?' Reply: 'You just have' and walk off 👍
Thalamic_Cub@reddit
Face like death. Make them fear the consequences
NoEnthusiasm2@reddit
"No thanks - I'm already with you!" . I lie, obviously.
racsssss@reddit
Just say no thanks and keep walking. Or say you already have the thing they're trying to sell
CherryHavoc@reddit
In my area we get a lot of charities asking for donations, particularly at entrances to shops where you can't avoid them. Hate it.
GoodTato@reddit
you go HGRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHHH at them like when bilbo baggins went scary mode for a second that one time
Icy-Belt-8519@reddit
If I feel like I really can't avoid talking to them, I'll just say I'm already with them, but normally say no thanks and carry on
Mav_Learns_CS@reddit
Say no thank you. They’re salesmen, they’ve heard it before, they won’t even remember you after you’ve said it
lavayuki@reddit
I pretend I don't hear them, and avoid looking there way. I usually purposely look the opposite direction so they can't make eye contact with me
finestryan@reddit
Lock eyes keep walking and turn head slowly to maintain eye contact as you breeze past.
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
Angle your eyes to avoid eye contact, give a quick smile, shake your head and keep walking. A quick muttered - "sorry, late for a meeting" etc helps. They will try emotional blackmail such as "you like nice ...". Just remember that made-up very important appointment and keep moving.
Hopper-1986@reddit
I tell them I am already with them and tell them the service is great and I actually signed up with that person before. I ask them do you not remember me? Then walk away smiling
Mental-Sample-7490@reddit
No thank you.
Tonybham01@reddit
They often start by asking how much I pay. I always respond that my information is commercially confidential and continue on.
Hancri84@reddit
Tell them.you already have what they are offering.
Grand_Equipment5292@reddit
You obviously look approachable, which is a good thing I guess!
Keep walking and just say 'No thank you', as you go buy.
MrMikeJJ@reddit
"Sorry, I don't speak English".
split-tennisball@reddit
Don't stop. Just smile and walk on by.
Appropriate-Cheek970@reddit
Keep walking, don't stop. Just say "no". It's not rude, they are used to it.
smellyfeet25@reddit
if they came up to you just politely say no thank you if you don't wish to engage. They are just doing a job so no need to be horrible
worldworn@reddit
I've never had an issue on the street or door to door, that hasn't been solved with a;
"I'm not interested thank you."
MediocreMan_@reddit
Just politely say ‘not today thanks’ and continue walking.
evenifihateit@reddit
Don't stop. Say "no thanks" if you say anything at all and keep walking.
fickle_tartan@reddit
"No thanks" and carry on walking.
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