Okay, so I know I've already addressed aggressive sales tactics on my blog before. Professional Family Managers are very busy people, and I consider exploring ways to handle "intruders"--those people and things which interrupt our valuable time and rob us of the opportunities for us to do what we need and want to do--to be a topic worth exploring. These days, I'm finding Economic Assaulters to be a new challenge and aggrivation. Yes, we've had telemarketers and door-to-door salesmen and pushy salespeople for years--that is nothing new. The level to which I've had it.
Besides my adventures at the Clinique counter a few weeks ago, I'm finding that, suddenly, everywhere I go, I am being bombarded to buy something I just don't want, and "No" is simply not enough to say anymore. I have resorted to rudeness to get these rude people to back off. I don't want to be rude, but I have to be in self-defense.
Why would I want to shop someplace that badgers me? And why do businesses suddenly seem to think that aggressive sales are going to work, now and in the long term?
I get that many businesses are really, really suffering, but employing the car sales tactics just doesn't work. People dread it when it comes time to buying a new car; it is not a pleasant experience. Jokes abound about car salesmen. So why do businesses think that, by employing the same sales tactics, they are going to earn money and loyalty from their customers?
It's not going to happen with me.
I rarely eat out due to a combination of being on a tight budget and finding that I do not receive as much pleasure from my meal that I would expect for the cost of dining out. I used to get together much more often with a dear friend of mine, but life has made that difficult for us for many months; on Monday night we decided to splurge and go out to Olive Garden. Splurge is right! The prices have significantly increased; for the price of a lasagna dinner I could make three nine-by-thirteen pans of lasagna which would give my family of five nine to eleven meals total. But the idea is to catch up with my friend, which we were almost able to do...if the waitress hadn't kept hounding us to buy more wine, add that appetizer, and order a dessert. When we told her we would not be having dessert,then she started pushing buying dessert to go...according to this waitress, Olive Garden desserts taste better eaten in front of the TV, OR we could get a few and share with family members who didn't get to go out with us, OR.... If the whole idea wasn't to get away from the kids for a night, I'd just say we need to meet at each other's houses from now on; however, our visit was minimal anyway as, instead of being hassled by kids, we were hassled by waitstaff...and were out about twenty dollars each. The waitstaff not only hovered but were in a hurry to get us out the door, and the restaurant was far from busy. It would not have hurt them to let us talk a little; instead, we had our check before we were half-way finished with our meals. Why would I ever pay those prices again to be hounded and rushed out the door?
Even Sam's Club is hassling me! They have some new business member program that, for the cost of $100, I'm supposed to receive greater benefits to save me even more money. Nowhere on the literature they send in the mail, give me when I get my Click 'n Pull order, or press upon me when I walk in the door, explains what these benefits are--it just says I'll save more money. I think Sam's Club employees are directed to push it until you say "no" at least three times; because that seems to be the magic number to make them shut up. Are they working to persuade me to upgrade my membership? Just the opposite! If it wasn't for the fact that I have done the comparison shopping and know that the price of the basic membership is quickly recovered in my savings for the products I buy, I wouldn't renew my membership at all...and I certainly will never upgrade.
I can't buy anything without a suggestive sale being added to it. I took my older children to a movie as a treat (actually, I took them to the theater and bought them the tickets and went to Home Depot while they watched the movie, because I'm not a movie-goer and I wanted them out of my hair and the price of the movie ticket was worth my peace and quiet that afternoon...it was one of those days) and was asked to buy a movie membership that was definitely no bargain. When that didn't work they tried a snack pack card, then a movie-points card. Sorry, no sale, and my kids will just wait to rent the DVD in the future.
Barnes and Noble...my daughter wanted a particular homework planner she saw there (okay, so how do you say "no" to a kid who wants a homework planner, for goodness sake?), and we were asked if we had a Barnes and Noble membership. Well, no, we use the library and buy discount via Amazon. We tried to interrupt the lady's speech about how much money we will save when we buy the membership twice, but she talked right over us until I said loudly enough for people around me to hear, "Please just take our money for the planner and stop! We don't want a membership!" The lady at the register then acted rude and put-out having to deal with us, after we insulted her by calling her on her rudeness. (Remember, this is after our Clinique experience. I have much less patience now.)
The same day I took my oldest out to shop for her birthday (she wanted a few school things that, in my opinion, are more "wants" than "needs") I was pounced upon by sales people as soon as we walked through the door wanting me to open up store credit cards.
I live in a rural area. In the ten years I've been here I've had someone come to my door to sell me something maybe once every two years. This summer I've had seven people at my door. I have a half-window in the door so we can see each other, and I never open my door to strangers; yet telling them "I'm not interested" and walking away from my door does not send the message--now they shout at me through the window! Once I had to shout back that I was calling the police before they would leave. This is on my own property!
And, finally, what is with all these requests for phone numbers "for coupons in the mail" and email requests? So, how am I supposed to get coupons in the mail from giving you my phone number if you don't then turn around to some marketing mining company and exploit my information there? Tracking my shopping habits? Sigh.
I have a message for all businesses large and small out there:
Don't think for one minute that I am going to dramatically change my shopping habits when the resession is over. Not only am I committed to only buying that what I need and acquiring wants as occasional indulgences, but I will remember how you treated me as a customer. You are not earning any loyalty from me. I also doubt I am the only one who feels this way. I hate cliches, but here's one for you anyway just to make sure you understand the message here: you reap what you sow. Right now, you are planting a lot of animosity. This won't help your business at all.
