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SALT LAKE CITY -- The holiday shopping season is fast approaching and shoppers are getting their lists ready. But, the last thing we want to deal with is aggressive salesmen.
Consumer Reports Magazine released its list of antidotes for pushy salespeople.
Of course, not all salespeople are pushy or aggressive, but some of them definitely are. Consumer Reports Magazine senior editor Tod Marks says we'll probably see quite a few of them this holiday season. When economic times are tough, salesmen will have to work harder to catch your eye.
"Sometimes ‘working harder' means giving you a harder sales pitch or a more aggressive sell," he says.
You may already use some of the following tips to keep pushy salespeople at bay:
- Use body language. Never make eye contact if you want to be left alone. That's like asking for someone to approach you.
- Go elsewhere. Consumer Reports describes a scenario where a reader walked out of a hair salon when the stylist was too busy talking on her cell phone.
Other strategies may lead to two separate outcomes. Either they will work, or they'll backfire.
Say you're just looking. Some salespeople will back off, but others won't take the hint. They may keep asking you if you're finding what you need. So, you need to be decisive.
Marks says the conversation should sound like this: "You're saying, ‘I'm just looking, and you know what? I'm not sure I want exactly now. But I'll tell you what, if I have a question, I'll come to you,'" he says.
Say you're comparison shopping. The pushy salesperson may stick with you, saying they can beat anyone's price and they've got the best deal in town. But the more experienced salesman may decide you're not really interested in buying anything at the moment.
But if the aggressiveness persists, try the following tips. They may surprise you.
Be direct. If someone is being rude, ask them if they're having a bad day. This may cause the retailer to slow down and think about his behavior. If it doesn't work and he's still rude, call him on it.
Marks says, "You've got to take the bull by the horns. Sometimes the only thing salespeople understand is aggressive retaliatory action. Give it to them right back, actually to the point of being rude."
Develop "The Look." It's that annoyed, frazzled, fatigued look that lets people know you're really not in the mood to deal with them. Marks says, "I always try to have a little bit of an ‘I just ate some sour pickles' look on my face."
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
