Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be so tired of 'upselling'

290 replies

scaryclown · 02/08/2017 10:01

It's just bloody relentless! I took a bike into a nice independent bike shop today. It's a £45 fix, yet all the conversation was about 'time to buy a new bike', every day I say 'single espresso' to be met with 'double?'
I swear I'm going to punch someone!.

Throwing away a perfectly good bike to meet some oily dickhead sales target!?

Jesus Grin

OP posts:
JeffVaderneedsatray · 02/08/2017 12:45

Upselling does my head in.
I have my oven cleaned twice a year. I pay monthly and they come and make it all lovely again.
HOWEVER every fuffing time the cleany person wants me to buy shelf guards, have my dishwasher and washing machine cleaned, test a vacuum cleaner etc.
It got to the point that one bloke was quite shirty when I said no and told me how little he was paid for cleaning the oven and that the upselling really made his wages.
Not my problem I'm afraid.
Last tiem they rang to book my appointment I pointed out that the upselling was putting me off and that if the cleaner tried it this time I'd cancel my contract with them. The cleaner didn't mention a word about oven shelves. He was about to ask me to test drive a hoover when I raised an eyebrow at him and he stopped.

dingdongdigeridoo · 02/08/2017 12:45

I remember WH Smith being in the news a while ago for giving out Weight Watchers coupons while simultaneously trying to push £1 chocolate bars on people. Who even wants that shitty chocolate? It usually looks dented and half melted.

I remember going in there for a water once and they pointed out if I brought the Telegraph I'd get the water for free. I politely told them I'd rather pay extra to not have that paper!

Twyler · 02/08/2017 12:46

With regard to extended warranties on white goods, I tell them I will take it and pay the full price for it in exchange for a discount on the item. The store will usually do this because they get such a good commission on the warranty (walk away if they won't, you can always come back later). If after delivery you then exercise your option to cancel, the cost of the warranty will be refunded in full and you still have the item at a reduced price.

Mitzimaybe · 02/08/2017 12:48

To the NHS one - it's coming. The increasing privatisation of services means we're on a slippery slope.

A doctor friend of mine worked in the States for a couple of years. She got into trouble with the hospital manager for not ordering enough tests and treatments for her patients. When she tried to defend herself by saying she did the ones that were clinically necessary / beneficial but not the ones that wouldn't benefit the patient, she was told that was irrelevant and the only thing that was relevant was how much she was billing per patient and it wasn't enough. Tell the patient with the broken finger that they need a blood test and CT scan "just to be on the safe side". If the patient is uninsured and can't afford it well, tough, they'll just have to go into debt over it.

dingdongdigeridoo · 02/08/2017 12:50

Oh and those who dislike WH Smith will love this Twitter account: mobile.twitter.com/WHS_Carpet They really are going down the pan.

morningconstitutional2017 · 02/08/2017 12:50

Once when I bought a pair of shoes I was asked if I wanted a handbag to match, I'm not made of money.
Same with earrings - a matching necklace, madam?

And I don't want a slice of orange in my beer.

Kailoer · 02/08/2017 12:53

I hate this aabout the Post office too.

every time i go there, over the last few years, it's never been urgent or espeically valuable (just paperwork, birthday cards with nothing of value in them, all sent as cheaply as possible becaus ei do it in advance).

i fell for their tricks a few times when i've asked for proof of postage etc (they pressure to send it tracked or special delivery), when it's not that urgent or valuable, i just want some proof i've sent it

all my local post offices have the same shoddy service, i've tried all three near us/work and they're all the same

must get the same training ("try and squeeze as much cash out of them as you can"). really really hate going into the post office for this reason - i've started to research exactly what i need online so i have information to back up my purchase (example: what size parcel cut off, what size envelopes are ok in which postage)

you can't rely on counter post office staff to be truthful about the cheaper services available, i suspect they have targets - can anyone verify?

BlackbirdSingsInTheDeadOfNight · 02/08/2017 12:54

Ate out in a nice pub recently and ordered a pudding. Was asked if I wanted ice cream or custard with it. Requested ice cream. The bill duly arrived and they'd added an EXTRA £2.95 for the sodding scoop of ice cream! The pudding was billed separately!

Liiinoo · 02/08/2017 12:58

A young friend works for Smiths and they are pushed very hard to meet targets on selling the extra chocolates etc. Last month it was small bags of Thorntons chocolates, one guy she upsold to bought 35 bags of them - he was a teacher looking for inexpensive end of term treats for his students. As long as there are successes like that shops will keep on doing this.

faithinthesound · 02/08/2017 12:58

YANBU to be sick of it.
YABU if you think we shop workers do it for any other reason than "our managers are making us".

YABVU if you think we enjoy it any more than you do.

Glittermakeseverythingbetter · 02/08/2017 13:02

Went to Jamie's the other week. DH and 2 kids ordered normal hot meals, but I wasn't that hungry and just ordered a 5.95 salad. The waitress asked me if I wanted anything with it. I said no, im really not that hungry. She said it's not very big, more like a side. It was not in the sides section of the menu!! I said no again. When it came, it was plenty.

GirlInTheGreenhouse · 02/08/2017 13:06

The last two times I have taken DD into Clarks for shoes, I have chosen a specific shoe for her to try and the fitter has come out of the storeroom with the chosen shoe and another entirely random pair 'in case I wanted those as well'?!

corythatwas · 02/08/2017 13:13

BigSandyBalls2015 Wed 02-Aug-17 10:10:20
"Do Superdrug assistants get paid extra for every perfume they sell?"

don't know about Superdrug, but at well known coffee chain they have a target for how many extras they have to sell per week, manager sits in his office and watches them on CCTV so will know if they are not doing the pushing job or failing to smile at a customer who's just been rude to them or threatened them

don't blame the poor sales assistant: they will lose their job if they refuse to play ball

or at least, don't blame the sales assistant if you are the kind of person who thinks people shouldn't sit at home claiming benefits if they are fit to work

you'd be surprised at all the jobs that are monitored and/or have set targets

Freshprincess · 02/08/2017 13:13

I fell for the 'would you like the extra special blend' in Costa not realising they were charging me for it.
I also had the one in the bank who hustled me over to the self service machine to pay my cheque 'because it's so much quicker' and spent 15 minutes trying to get me to change my mortgage. Woman even had the appointments book out signing me up to 'help me'. No amount of 'no thanks' would put her off. I ended up making an appointment just to get away. And I'm no shrinking violet.

CCK26 · 02/08/2017 13:14

The other day we went through a drive through Starbucks. I ordered my latte, and she asked if that was my complete order. I said yes, then she asked me if I wanted any cakes or pastries. No, I just want my fucking latte!

metalmum15 · 02/08/2017 13:16

Definitely agree with pp about WHSmith, naff shop now and somewhere I only go as a last resort. It bugs me every time a shop assistant asks me if I want overpriced tat (not their choice though, I know) or can they have my email address for the receipt (er, no thanks). My biggest annoyance is every time I go in the post office to post parcels (and I go in a lot) even though I clearly state second class, they weigh it and ask me 'First class? '. Every. Single. Time.

metalmum15 · 02/08/2017 13:16

Definitely agree with pp about WHSmith, naff shop now and somewhere I only go as a last resort. It bugs me every time a shop assistant asks me if I want overpriced tat (not their choice though, I know) or can they have my email address for the receipt (er, no thanks). My biggest annoyance is every time I go in the post office to post parcels (and I go in a lot) even though I clearly state second class, they weigh it and ask me 'First class? '. Every. Single. Time.

corythatwas · 02/08/2017 13:18

CCK26, there is a fair chance that the sales assistant hates the whole procedure even more than you do. But they don't make the decision, nor (to be fair) does the store manager; it's all about directives from above.

SpareChangeDownTheSofa · 02/08/2017 13:21

CCK26 Where I work we have to check if your order is complete THEN ask you if you want whatever the extra thing we're being forced to sell is that day.

Its so annoying for us and we hate it too, we're not allowed to ask at any other point either, only after we've confirmed that your order is complete. Makes no sense!

glitterlips1 · 02/08/2017 13:24

I also feel sorry for the staff and would never take my frustration out on them! I especially feel for those in WH Smith (of which I hardly shop nowadays) and Holland and Barrett. I just want to get in and out of the shop without being asked loads of questions and all this asking for my email address, why would I give out my email address/home address in front of a queue full of random strangers!?

IshipTomHardysohard · 02/08/2017 13:31

New look
'Can we have your email address to send you a receipt?'
What they actually mean is that can we have your email address to send you a million emails a day Angry

I used to work at a well known chain steak house. The amount of stuff we had to do
If someone just asked for a glass of wine, we'd have to get them a large wine. Not ask what size they wanted.
If they ask for a Pepsi, it be a pint.
When paying ;
Have you got a loyalty card?
There's a feedback form at the back of recept you can win a £1000! Hmm

Honestly it was absolutely ridiculous what we had to ask, try and upgrade etc, just used to piss the customers off and was a nightmare to try and do when busy.

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 02/08/2017 13:39

Does anyone else wonder whether this is a (not so) subtle ploy to get us all to use the self-service tills so we can just click through the upselling rather than have to say no to a person?

crazypenguinlady · 02/08/2017 13:43

I was buying a present for my dad's birthday yesterday. The sales assistant did.not.say.a.fucking.word.to.me.throughout until she asked "would you like to open an account with us and save 10% on your purchase today?"

quickname · 02/08/2017 13:48

the dentist one i recognise, having a toothache but actual treatment for that being the holy grail after much cost of registering with the dentist, signing up for a dental plan and being constantly offered costly cosmetic treatments.. I don't trust that the dentist offers all the treatment needed as I think they make sure that your dental plan payments outweigh any benefits even though I'm paying a fortune each time I'm there. It just feels extortionate but have yet to find an nhs dentist with an open waiting list!

badabing36 · 02/08/2017 13:48

I used to work in Starbucks, god I hated doing that shite! Middle aged man told me 'don't bother with that I know you get paid more for extras' I when I replied that I was on NMW (franchise store, real Starbucks are paid more I think) and got no bonus just an ear bashing from my manager if I didn't do it he refused to believe me.