How To Say No To A Salesperson

In a superbly short introduction, lemme just say that there are two types of products that salesperson sells, one is a tangible product such as pen, pencils, shorts, undies, etc... and the other intangible like insurance, seminars, investment vehicles, services, etc. There's two ways to sell a product, one is by numbers, that is, to convince you by reasoning and analysis (ie. investment property, business softwares, etc) and another by creating an emotional needs in a person (ie. handphones for status, house for family, etc). How do we really know WHEN to say NO to a salesman.

First of all, listen to the sales pitch. If you already know what the product is and you're totally sure you're not interested in it, that's WHEN you know you need to say NO. If you're willing to wait, means that you're still open to discussion, so, well, it's not yet time to say NO. So basically, there are three feelings in the first 1 minute with a salesperson. It's either a confirmed NO, a "I'll check it out", or a "I think I might be interested". Rarely is there a "YES I WANT!" in the first 1 minute unless you were already looking for that product in the first place.

So, if it's a confirmed NO, you just need to say you're not interested. Not to be racist here, but usually indian salesperson does not understand "I'm not interested". I have had at least thrice experienced an indian salesperson selling to a chinese lady above 35 sitting nearby. At the end of the conversation, it's always something like "You ah... (while taking out purse), very smooth talker lah. Haihh..." and she pays for it. Yep, indian salesperson are smooth talker, and the meaning of "I'm not interested" is intepreted as "You're losing me as a customer, do try harder please! Give a better sales pitch!"

Now, if you ARE faced with someone who still wanna push a product when you already said you're not interested (and you're REALLY not interested, as in, you really do not want to consider it anymore), then you're faced with harassment. Seriously! It's no different from a robbery or extortion. The only difference is that someone wants your money, in exchange for something you don't need. Here is where you do not need to be all nice anymore, because you've said your say. If you're agressive, say "I said I'm not interested", and further harassment will be followed by "Do you need me to call the police to stop his harassment?!". If you're average, just say "I'm really not interested, thank you." and pick up your phone to call someone, anyone at all. If you're all preen and proper, say "F**K YOU!" Kidding! Just say "Look, no matter what you say, I'm not gonna buy it, so why not don't waste your time on me and utilise that time to sell to others who might say yes?" Personally, I just say "Not interested" and break eye-contact. This works very well against salesperson who comes to see you uninvited. If the salesperson is from the phone, and you're totally not interested, just say "Sorry, I'm not interested."

A trick that all salesman learn is that "Once I can see you, I can have a better chance of selling." So, the phonecall will continue normally with "I just want to introduce this product to you, no obligation. Just to meet up with you to introduce the product." Just say "I'm not even interested to know what the product offers." or just tell them that you're really busy and have no free time. Should they insist, (and I hate that), do what I do, which is to say "Okay, next week Thursday"... and then when Wednesday comes and they call you to remind you, you say "Sorry, got something up, why not next week Wednesday?" and keep postponing till they get the story. While this is a 'bad' way to handle pushy salesperson, just remember, you are being harassed eventhough you're NOT interested. Keep that feeling of harassment in mind, stealing your time from what you WANT to do, that way, you'll know how to react.

Okay, next. If you're willing to listen to the sales pitch. The moment you are willing to listen, switch off your emotions. I repeat, switch off your emotions! Unless you're ACTIVELY looking to buy a house, or clothes (salesperson don't sell clothes though), or cars, you will not buy according to emotions. A Dunhill cigarette lover ended up buying Salem from sexy Salem girls are caught in emotions (to please the girls, ya right!!). So, for a third time, switch off your emotions. Look at numbers.

If you're being sold a pen, do you really need to buy a 17th working pen when you have one in your pocket and another 15 at home? What? The pen can change tv channel is it?? If you're being sold a holiday package, take out a calculator, check your usual holiday routine per year, compare it to the package. If the package does not compliment your holiday routine, forget it. An example. I stay in KL. If I go on a holiday, it'll be to maybe Penang, or Johor. This dude is selling me a holiday package in Hotel Sunway. Why do you need to holiday in Sunway when you're in KL!?? Another example, if a dude sells a hotel package in Langkawi that saves you RM50 nightly, and the package cost is RM300. You'll need to stay in Langkawi 6 days to break-even. If you have not planned to go Langkawi and stay for 6 days, the package is useless. If you're sold an investment vehicle, know your risk profile. You must understand that the moment you sign up for an investment stuff, you're already making a loss. Check with numbers and history of the company, the investment package itself, and make your own judgment. Problem is, investment package is like predicting rain. Sometimes it goes ok, sometimes does not. So if you're really interested in an investment package, take it home, study it, give it a week or two and then make your decision.

Coming to investment package, if you're a bumiputera (malay, orang asli, Iban, Bidayuh, Kadazan, and many more), ASB or Amanah Saham Bumiputera is the FIRST investment you should venture into. In the past 5 years, it has never failed to give a minimum dividend of 6%, much better than that of FD or even Bonds on some occasion. Only after you're satisfied with your money in ASB, or hunger for something at 10% or 12% then you can find other investment vehicles, albeit more risky.

Back to salesperson. Not all salesperson are bad. They (myself included) are sometimes just a shipwrecked person wanting to survive. Those on commissions are especially more tenacious in their selling because they need to meet a certain target. Friendly ones are ok, and if they show numbers a lot and don't push, you'll have a good learning experience. Those very pushy ones, are desperate for sales, or are currently the best in their company and wish to remain that way. These you have to be careful coz' there are too many tricks up their sleeves. The best way to deal with ALL salesman is, to never sign on ANYTHING! NO! DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING AT ALL! Not on your first meeting at least!

No matter how amazing the product is, do not sign on first meeting. All those "today's the last day" or "today you get 50% off" are mostly bullcrap. Personally, I'm more happy with potential tenants/clients wanting to see me again on another day then straight away sign up on that day, coz' they did not have some time to think about it, and I might have pressured into something they don't want. Those who pushes with the "buy now or regret later", you'll just say "I'll rather regret not buying than regret buying."

Any questions? Basically, being on the receiving side of a sales pitch is very nice, at least to me. I can learn about a product or services for free. It's like a free lecture a university is giving. But for those who have problems saying "NO", flee as fast as you can.