Negotiation
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Tell kiosk salespeople you already have the product or service they are selling.
This approach has had 100% success for one person, though salespeople may try to offer upgrades or different packages.
- Salespeople often have replies to this objection, such as offering a package or upgrade.
one person who lived it
Frame sales pitches around how much the customer saves before stating the membership cost.
This causes customers to focus on what they save rather than what they pay.
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Politely say 'No thank you' and then walk away immediately without slowing down or breaking stride.
If you linger, they may think they can still persuade you. They count on people feeling awkward about leaving.
5 people, independently
Leave a deal if removing a discount requires you to sign immediately without thinking.
Such conditions indicate the seller does not care about your well-being.
one person who lived it
Use the Russian phrase 'Please excuse my poor Russian' to deflect panhandlers.
It works to stop them.
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salespeople, salesperson, sales, tell32
Politely but firmly say 'no thank you' without elaboration or explanation. If the salesperson persists, repeat the refusal calmly or ignore them while walking away, as providing reasons gives them leverage.
Claim you have no money to quickly end the sales pitch.
It is the fastest way to end the interaction.
one person who lived it
- Tell a salesperson you already own the product they are selling.3
- Deflect unrelated sales pitches using absurd or irrelevant excuses such as 'I'm trying to quit' or 'I rent.'1
Tell aggressive vendors you do not speak English (even if you do) to create distance.
It confuses them and gives you time to walk out of reach.
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- Claim that you do not speak the local language to deter salespeople or panhandlers.2
Keep moving and do not stop when approached politely in a store aisle.
One person reports this works great for them.
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Be wary of sales pitches claiming a deal is 'one-time only' or 'expires when you hang up,' as these are high-pressure tactics commonly used by scammers and aggressive salespeople.
These are identified as high-pressure sales tactics that are often deceptive.
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Clearly state exactly what you want or need to help with a quick transaction.
It is easier for them to sell something you already want or need.
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Build relationships with customers through genuine conversation and value rather than pressure.
People are more likely to buy from you if you are not difficult to deal with.
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Respond to cross-sells with a polite 'no thanks' without offering explanations to reduce objection handling.
It is hard for salespeople to counter an excuse that has not been given.
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- Do not provide reasons why you don't want to buy a product.1
Politely dismiss pushy retail workers by stating you cannot afford the item.
This phrase stops sales staff from continuing their pitch.
- Some shops with dedicated sales staff may still attempt to offer financing options.
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- Slam the door on persistent salespeople who ignore polite refusals or make disrespectful assumptions.1
Refuse to buy from companies that use guilt trips or falsely frame non-emergency services as emergencies to pressure you into an on-the-spot agreement.
Such tactics involve pressuring customers into deals and inflating quotes if they refuse.
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Tell solicitors you already have their service or product.
They will leave you alone.
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Tell the salesperson you do not care about saving money to remove their primary incentive for pitching.
Salespeople look for easy hooks like savings; removing that leaves them with nothing to work with.
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Avoid starting responses with 'No', even when you agree with the other person.
Beginning with 'no' shuts down open communication.
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Use an absurd analogy to deflect pressure, such as comparing the purchase to liking a shirt but not wanting to buy it.
The salesperson may give up.
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Read 'Influence' by Robert B. Cialdini to understand and disarm psychological manipulation tactics used in sales.
It helps you spot when tactics are being used on you and understand what the seller is trying to accomplish.
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Remain silent and use gestures instead of words when approached by street salespeople, as they have scripts for verbal responses but not for non-verbal cues.
Salespeople have scripts to handle anything you say, but no script for gestures.
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Refuse additional purchases from photo booths if they attempt to upsell beyond your initial intent.
One person refused on principle.
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Give ridiculous answers to leading questions to confuse the salesperson and disrupt their script.
Confusing them is key to stopping the interaction.
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Maintain silence and eye contact after a salesperson makes a request or offer to let discomfort pressure them into backing down or lowering the price.
The resulting silence creates visible discomfort that can force the other party to concede.
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Buy online to avoid pushy in-person sales talk entirely.
No salespeople means no pushy sales talk.
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Politely but firmly say 'no thank you' without elaboration or explanation. If the salesperson persists, repeat the refusal calmly or ignore them while walking away, as providing reasons gives them leverage.
Giving more information provides a good salesperson with material to work with.
4 people, independently
If a salesperson uses the 'cost per day' argument involving coffee to push financing or credit cards, state that you do not drink coffee to disrupt their pitch and create an opportunity to escape.
This response often causes the salesperson to stutter, allowing you to make your escape.
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Do not treat people poorly during negotiations, as doing so gives them weapons to use against you.
Poor treatment provides opponents with leverage in negotiations.
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Walk away if a salesperson rushes you to close a deal, as urgency is often used to prevent comparison shopping and may indicate a bad value.
Salespeople push for quick commitments because customers are more likely to commit immediately; this tactic prevents shopping around and often signals a bad deal.
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Maintain your normal walking pace when approached by solicitors outside stores.
It signals that you are not interested and ends the interaction quickly.
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Hold up your hand and say 'NOPE' firmly to stop solicitation.
3 people, independently
Claim to be allergic to the product or service being pitched to immediately shut down the conversation.
This usually leaves the representative stunned, allowing you to leave.
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Counter 'last one in stock' pressure tactics by claiming a friend also wants the item to expose artificial scarcity.
This tactic often prompts the salesperson to reveal they can acquire another unit, undermining the urgency.
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Do not answer the door if you do not know who is there or are not expecting anyone.
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Check bank, credit card, and telephone bills regularly for unauthorized charges.
Scammers may use voice recordings to authorize phone charges.
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Request an itemized bill from hospitals or service providers to expose hidden fees.
The total amount due often decreases because providers may correct errors to avoid bad publicity when forced to list every charge individually.
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Have a lawyer review contracts before signing.
Professionals may fail to read documents carefully themselves, potentially missing terrible terms.
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