Published on July 31, 2008 By Texas Wahine In Blogging

Last night, after picking up groceries, we decided to stop by Taco Bell.  As we pulled into the parking lot, we were approached by a large woman walking slowly, but animatedly, toward us.  She was clearly braless with quite a bountiful set of boobs.  Her t-shirt was about 7 inches too short for her girth and as she waddled, her breasts pulled her shirt up and then let it back down.  Up and down, up and down.  Almost mesmerizing.  Almost as nice as her skin tight jeans.

She started walking directly toward our vehicle, and I told Adrian to drive on by.  In Hawaii we would sometimes be accosted by meth addicts wanting cash and it was always a scary and unpleasant experience as someone who looked, and walked, like night of the living dead banged on our windshield. 

I had no idea what this lady wanted.  It was late at night, almost nine, and we had the kids with us.  I did not want to know what she wanted.  I know this sounds like I'm a horrible person for not trying to meet whatever need she had, but I couldn't imagine anything I could do for her that wouldn't be scary or disturbing to me.  I had no cash and I didn't need a blowjob.

I told Adrian to go through the drive up because I didn't want to park and have to deal with her.  He pulled into the drive-up and guess what?  She tromped back up to us and rapped on my window with all her strength.  Ugh.

I rolled it down and asked what she needed, figuring she would be angry because of our obvious attempt to avoid her.  She asked, "Can I get a ride to K-Mart?"

I was able to answer honestly, "I'm sorry, we don't have any room."

She protested, "I just need to get to K-Mart right over there" (she pointed off in the dark distance)

"I'm sorry.  We've got 3 kids and groceries in here.  There's really no room at all."  (There wasn't.)

She stammered and continued badgering me until finally she realized we could not squeeze her in.  It just wasn't possible.  And honestly, picking up strangers with kids in the car is not something I would do anyway.

We watched her go to the vehicle in front of us and do pound on the passenger window.

This evening while we were eating dinner, the doorbell rang.

Adrian answered, and I heard bits and pieces of a conversation about a security system upgrade.  From Adrian's portion of the conversation, it sounded like someone associated with ADT (our company) who was pushing a mandatory upgrade.

We invited the guy in, and he had a seat and began asking me for my ADT paperwork.  I got up and started to go get it but first asked him who he was.  He was such-and-such from Honeywell.  He began pointing out flaws in our (very, very comprehensive) security system.  I realized very quickly what was going on.  What Adrian had thought was some sort of ADT associate company pushing something we needed was actually a guy from another company trying to get us to switch. 

I asked the guy point blank, "Are you here to poach us from ADT?"  He stammered and then admitted, "Yes, but..." and went on criticizing our current security system set up.  Now, we have a contract with ADT.  All our equipment is paid for and our monthly payments are very reasonable.  We know exactly what our system can and cannot do, and we feel very well protected by our system.  If there were some reason to upgrade, we'd do it with the company we do business with and have a relationship with.

I told the guy we were happy with our current set up.  He continued to throw "Do you realize" and "If" and "But" at me and would not stop.  I was finally able to make it clear to him that we were not interested.  He thanked us and left.

Superficial of me, but I wouldn't purchase a security system from a guy who looks to be about 17 and who has a shaggy surfer hair cut, a baseball cap, a polo shirt, and tattered jeans on.  Not gonna happen.

He is only like the 3rd or 4th solicitor this month and they always argue with me about how much I need whatever service or product they want to sell me.  I guess I need to get a sign.

Adrian is nice and won't just tell people no.  He will even let them come in to demonstrate.  NOT ME! 

After donating to a couple police organizations, I started getting phone calls a couple times a week badgering me for donations to other police organizations.  Apparently there's like 500 different organizations collecting money on behalf of the various types of police forces.  The put on the pressure and guilt big time and argue with you that you CAN afford to donate.  I feel like a giant douche, but I finally had to start asking to be removed from their calling lists. 

I just want people to leave me alone!!


Comments (Page 1)
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on Jul 31, 2008

Yep, head 'em off at the pass.  Do not let them in the door.  Actually put up a no soliciting sign.  Call your city and ask if they have to have a permit for door to door solicitation.  If they do, just mentioning that will usually scare them off.  I am a bee-yotch and I don't care.  I don't have time to waste and I don't need and can't afford whatever they're selling anyway. 

Oh and most of those police organizations are professional fundraisers who get permission from the organization to use their name in exchange for a miniscule portion of what is raised.  To the police organization, it's money for nothing but most of that money is not going where you think it is.  I say pick one charity to support and then you can honestly say, we have already budgeted to support xyz charity and cannot afford to give to anyone else. 

You're just too nice.  Be a bitch.  It's liberating. 

on Jul 31, 2008

I know this sounds like I'm a horrible person for not trying to meet whatever need she had, but I couldn't imagine anything I could do for her that wouldn't be scary or disturbing to me. I had no cash and I didn't need a blowjob.
  I don't think it's horrible but the last part of this made me snortlaugh.

on Jul 31, 2008
I'm on your side with this Tex. Thankfully we don't have the hassle of people knocking on our door as we live in a secure apartment block. If anyone buzzes that I don't know, I simply say I'm not interested. We do get phone calls though. If the call is at a reasonable hour, I again say 'not interested' and hang up before they can say anything else. If it is not a reasonable hour (we've got some calls at 9 pm and later) I remind them they are breaking a law in Australia and tell them in no uncertain terms what they can do with their phone.
on Jul 31, 2008

If someone wants to come in and demonstrate something for me it better be a machine that makes $100 bills out of $1 bills with absolutely no way to get in trouble for using it.

Outside of that, I'm really not interested and if I am interested, I'll go out of my way to find what it is that I'm looking for.  Coming to my home and invading my privacy to try to sell me something will just convince me to never do business with whomever sent 'em.

on Jul 31, 2008
I hear ya! My hubby is like yours, he finds it very hard to say no! I don't blame you. It happens here too, the soliciting and it is annoying! What the heck was that woman thinking anyway?! I don't blame you for saying no. I'm sorry but I wouldn't have taken a chance either! Like I said to my hubby and kids the other day, when we had a similar situation, with someone coming to us begging, I don't mind helping people, and I don't mind trying to help when I can, but there are just some times when you get this feeling and you know who to say no to. This one did it to us when we were at night, in the pouring rain trying to get to our car, are you kidding me?! Nope, I'm sorry!
on Aug 01, 2008

on Aug 01, 2008

After having friends of mine take jobs as security salespeople, I feel bad for them.  It's not an easy job for these young kids to go out and try and convince people to buy something they don't really need.  Now, I probably wouldn't buy one of those security systems from even my best friend, but go easy on them.  Tell them no thanks, but don't be hating!  They're just doing their jobs.  Also, a lot of times, it's the salesguys that get scammed.  They're promised a ton of money and then the company finds loop hole to avoid paying them in full.  But I digress.

 

I DO agree with you Tex, I find door to door selling annoying at best, but they have a hard job too, you know?

on Aug 01, 2008
I have never been able to just say no to religious people who come around speaking the word of God and wanting me to take one of their booklets. I tend to believe they are only doing what God tells them. But I eventually tell them no thanks.

Sales people, I tend to be a lot less tolerant, though my father once tried to teach me to do it as a child. I guess I got insiders information on how it works so can find ways out faster.
on Aug 01, 2008
Cedar: LOL. I really don't care that it's someone's job to sell stuff. Their job is their problem, not mine. Keeping my money is more important to me than making sure some 20 year old can afford his Mustang payments.

If a salesperson is going to be pushy, I'm not going to be nice to them. Period. I don't care if they're 12, 24, or 86.

LW: That hadn't occurred to me before, but you are so right.

I'll reply to everyone else in a bit. I have to make cinnamon rolls right now.
on Aug 01, 2008
I had a guy come and demonstrate a vacuum cleaner that cost way too much for us. It really cleaned the floor, and my wife didn't have to vacuum that day!

I told him I'd buy it if he could get the price down to what we paid for the vacuum we had.

Then I made sure I locked my doors up reeeeally tight for the next couple days.

My first thought was definitely that he was casing the place, because he didn't say he was selling vacuums - he was just offering free floor cleaning, which my wife wanted. Ugh. Palm, meet forehead!
on Aug 01, 2008

Great article TW!  I find it easier and easier to say no with emphasis and early in the pitch.  I do think about the balance between my time and the salesperson's in terms of us both wasting it. On the other hand, I have had trouble not being gracious and saying no feels ungracious.

See ya!

 

on Aug 02, 2008
LOL. I really don't care that it's someone's job to sell stuff. Their job is their problem, not mine. Keeping my money is more important to me than making sure some 20 year old can afford his Mustang payments.


I hear you, so to speak. They definitely shouldn't be pushy, and you shouldn't feel obligated to buy something from them just because they are there. But now that I know a few, I kind of feel bad for them. Will I buy from them? Not hardly likely. But i do pity them.
on Aug 02, 2008

When I was 18 I roomed with a Marine, and he had this giant Boa Constrictor that he would use to terrorize salespeople and religious freaks away with. One day he literally sent a couple of Jahova Witnesses running for their lives... they threw all their kooky pamphlets into the air and ran away screaming. Hilarious.

on Aug 02, 2008

hahaha...I am so glad to see this kind of stuff happens to other people and not just me!

The Taco Bell lady probably woulda left ya alone if you asked for a blow job...heh.

Door to door salesmen...not a big fan.  I don't like anyone to knock on my door for anything that doesn't involve being social.

 

on Aug 04, 2008

I have this on my door and it works great, I'm never bothered by anyone

 

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