To be useless with door to door salesmen - help!

[TammySwansonTwo]

I am so rubbish. I have gradually learnt to say no but find it really difficult and embarrassing.

Just had a guy come to the door from a well known doors and windows company offering to do a quote to replace our fascias. Normally I'd have said no, but they do actually need to be replaced (moved in in the summer and they were listed in the survey as something that needs to be replaced in the next couple of years). Haven't had time to get any quotes yet so it seemed a good idea to agree, and then get quotes from others, given that the quote is fixed for two years... except I know that they'll give me the hard sell. If I didn't actually need a quote I would have said no altogether as I hate the hard sell.

Need some tips on handling it so I get the quote but can then get them to bog off so I can get some others!

I don't see the problem. Ask for the quote and then tell them you will getting other quotes and will get back to them if you choose them. That's it.

Salesman: “hello, I’m from Xxx windows. We are working in your area and would like to....”

You (before he has time to finish his sentence): “ oh, we don’t buy from cold callers. Goodbye”. Shut door.

Say no to everything at the door and take your time to shop around for firms you're actually sure you want a quote from. You'll have to get comparison quotes anyway so you're not going to magically save yourself time or money by letting someone badger you in person before you're 100% sure what needs doing and what your budget is.

Don't open the door.

I've been known to pretend I'm the cleaner or nanny to get them to go quickly, think they're less likely to try to carry on convincing me then!

Sorry - about getting the quote just contact your preferred supplier directly. Door to door offers are rarely going to be good.

Im renting

Exactly what Garten said, except say it as you're shutting the door.

When I want a service or product, I go to the vendors/workers. I have no interest in dealing with salespeople.

I have been the salesperson in question, and took no offence whatsoever in polite refusals to engage.

OP wants them to quote, so why advise her to shut the door in their face?

If you feel uncomfortable, ask a neighbour or friend to ensure you summon up your best dragon at the gate 'I'll think about and get back to you. I WILL NOT SIGN ANYTHING WITHOUT PROPER CONSIDERATION'

Get one of those “no cold callers” stickers for the door. I agree that a quote from a doos to door salesman is unlikely to be the best.

Nothing good ever comes out of buying anything from door-to-door salesmen.

Ugh, I know. In fairness I would have probably gotten a quote from this company anyway. At least I have the twins - hopefully they'll have a well-placed tantrum ;)

Fortunately DH is working from home and he's much better at telling people to fuck off than I am.

Also, you can always cancel the quote visit.

My elderly father is always agreeing to this, despite him having the 'no cold callers' sign.
I ring up and cancel (with his permission!)... Frequently...

Have a script written down. They will have a sales script... You need a getting away from pushy sales people..

Something along the lines of
' I've changed my mind and I don't want to go ahead with the visit. Please cancel this'.

They will try and force you... Then you say.. I've made my decision.(if you want you can say- I don't buy from cold callers) Please cancel this appointment. ' I won't let them inside.

Cold callers nearly always quote outrageous prices. Nothing good comes from cold callers

Usually I just say. No thanks and shut the door. Last week due to a frenzy of things going wrong the poor guy got too " my daughters just peed on the kitchen floor and the dinner is smoking, please go away"

I always say politely that they can leave literature if they like but we don't buy on the doorstep. Then close the door. In this case, I'd be happy to get them to come and quote if they were going to be on your list anyway, but make it clear you are getting other quotes too and 'won't be buying anything today, thank you'.

It's your door, you have a choice whether or not to open it.

You can get a plate that attaches to your leetter box from the poundshop which says 'no cold callers, canvassers, junk mail' and variations thereof.

If someone comes invited to give a quote, I tell them straight away that they are the first to quote (whether, they are first or not!) I tell them that I will not be signing anything that evening and will need at least one possibly two other quotes prior to making decision. They will always say that there's an extra discount for signing that night. I ignore this and surprise surprise the discount has always still been available if I have decided to go with the company.

Things that's basically exactly what we did. And honestly, the entire thing was so entertaining that it was almost worth giving up over an hour of my day to see someone assume I'm an idiot and then gradually realise I'm not.

They literally pulled out every single cliche in the book. At one point my husband and I had to turn away because we were both laughing. Of course they quoted an obscene price, then a discount for doing it on credit (yes, that's always cheaper right), then a 50% price reduction if we had it done as part of a batch. Honestly if I wrote a cliche salesman script it would have matched it perfectly.

I pointed out to him as politely as I could that while I'm sure he was completely above board, I had no frame of reference or knowledge of the area, and I wouldn't be able to agree to it now on any terms, even if he gave me 90% off

Then he got surly and left.

It's done my door to door confidence a world of good