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Friends of friends trying to sell you something

post #1 of 24
9/12/11 at 12:48am
Thread Starter 
So I don't know how but I've gotten suckered into some "presentation" by a friend of a friend selling stuff from some Japanese health food or whatever product line...

Nothing, and I mean nothing, makes me more uncomfortable than someone trying to sell me something. I feel uncomfortable for them, because I know they want the sale, and because I feel bad for not buying something... it's like the worst unspoken experience I can imagine short of waterboarding.

I really hate situations like this. I'm thinking this is some sort of Japanese Amway or Avon type deal. fuck my life.

The person doing it is incredibly nice and in between jobs... they work in the arts so money isn't exactly flowing. What would you do?
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post #2 of 24
9/12/11 at 6:16am
Can you make a token purchase just to be polite? Think of it as akin to buying tickets to your friends' kids' theater performances and stuff like that. You did give the sales rep a chance to rehearse the shtick.
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post #3 of 24
9/12/11 at 6:19am
It's a no obligation setting, no reason to feel bad for not buying anything... In Asia, you can imagine how many peddlers and beggars (and hustler/swindlers) there are, people left behind by really fast moving economies that got too expensive for them while they were asleep. Still, they don't expect to really sell anything either.
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post #4 of 24
9/12/11 at 7:24am
What impolyt said.

Sounds a lot like multi level marketing to me. Products they sell are usually expensive and pretty much useless. You should, in fact, do the person a huge favor and tell him to get the hell out of that program. Multi level marketing is basically a huge sham.
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post #5 of 24
9/12/11 at 8:04am
Thread Starter 
The name of the company has luka or something in it...

My skin is crawling I'm totally dreading tonight.
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post #6 of 24
9/12/11 at 8:45am
"I'm not going to buy anything"
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post #7 of 24
9/12/11 at 8:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by drmmr View Post

Sounds a lot like multi level marketing to me. Products they sell are usually expensive and pretty much useless. You should, in fact, do the person a huge favor and tell him to get the hell out of that program. Multi level marketing is basically a huge sham.

This. Buying something from your friend will only encourage them to continue to sink money into this pyramid scheme. Do them a favour and mock everything they say at the sales presentation. When they claim the Goji Berry Juice has Antioxidants that neutralize free radicals call them on their bullshit.

Your friend is being robbed. If you allow this robbery to continue you are not a real friend.
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post #8 of 24
9/12/11 at 9:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by harvey_birdman View Post


This. Buying something from your friend will only encourage them to continue to sink money into this pyramid scheme. Do them a favour and mock everything they say at the sales presentation. When they claim the Goji Berry Juice has Antioxidants that neutralize free radicals call them on their bullshit.

Your friend is being robbed. If you allow this robbery to continue you are not a real friend.

Hey Harvey...you made me spend like...$7k on shoes!!!!! Thanks alot!
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post #9 of 24
9/12/11 at 9:19am
Cancel. Don't waste their time or yours. And next time, learn to say no up front.
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post #10 of 24
9/12/11 at 10:42am
It's probably a waste of both your and their time. and I speak from experience.

tell them that if they can bring you something that you're actually interested in buying then you'll meet with them, but whatever it is this time doesn't interest you and so you don't want to waste their time and yours.
alternatively you can go, and tell them up front you're not going to buy but will offer them something more valuable instead, which is feedback on their pitch.
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post #11 of 24
9/12/11 at 1:19pm
Let them know that you have NO interest. Otherwise you are wasting their time.
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post #12 of 24
9/12/11 at 3:16pm
You never know man. I can't be fucked to really listen to anyone, I don't even turn on my TV, but I'd give the guy a chance just to see what he's got for sale. You can cut them off after you've given them a fair look at the goods. Might be something in there you really do want to buy. I wouldn't put my money on it, nor would I if I had really limited time, but if it were me, I'd give them the chance to make the pitch. Nobody is obligated to give their money to anyone.
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post #13 of 24
9/12/11 at 3:45pm
I'd say you really aren't looking to buy anything right now and that you don't want to waste their time. Incidentally, how are you on pants?
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post #14 of 24
9/12/11 at 5:19pm
I was at a family party when all of a sudden..blammo, some kind of "skincare program" marketing. me, being in the industry, knew it was kind of BS....walked out and left after 10 minutes.

I'd just cancel if I were you. Maybe say "why don't you email me a summary and maybe I'll take a look at it".

I've gotten this from relatives, the line "we'll just be wasting each other's time" seems to work nicely.
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post #15 of 24
9/12/11 at 9:55pm
Thread Starter 
Stopped them about 15 minutes into it.

It's just so incomprehensibly stupid. It actually sort of broke my heart that they've gotten into it.
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