Who's asking?
Rushing about today trying to get out of the house to make an appointment on time, someone had the nerve to knock at the front door. I could see through the misty glass of the porch door that it was a man in a suit.
When I answered the door it wasn't actually a man though, it was a boy in his dad's suit. "Hello," he said, looking petrified, "How are you today?" And he waited for an answer, trying to keep up the pretence that he wasn't going to try and sell me something.
If I hadn't been in a hurry, I might have had a bit of a play with him - it looked like this might be his first job. As it happened I ignored his question, and asked him what he wanted. I let him get as far as "... and we are in the area..." before I whispered an apology shaking my head kindly, and then quietly closed the door.
This evening my mobile rang. "Hello," said the confident voice of some Scottish buck, "I'm calling from o2. How are you?" And he too waited for an answer.
"Now's not a good time," I said, "Is this important?"
"That's fine," he said, ignoring my question like I'd ignored his, "I'll put you on ring back."
"What's this about?"
"About mobile phones," he said, faltering.
"I've got one thanks," I said, and hung up.
Asking somebody how they are is obviously Point One in the "Sell Someone Something They Don't Want or Need" sales manual. They are using common terms of social engagement to try and hook you in and bleed you dry. The bastards.
2 comments:
hey I used to have a door to door job. I lasted 4 days... And yes, i'm with you, if i really want something, im fairly certain i have the capacity to go to the shops, the computer or the yellow pages and buy it...
On the other hand, i liked your put down too.. Reminds me of when i was at my mates and he got a knock from a window company guy.. 'got some windows thanks. Look, there's my mum in the window waving me in. Byeeee' Happy days.
Just to make it totally clear, I am never rude to these people. I understand that it is very often a first-job or a no-choice thing. I've had to do cacka things myself to get by, the worst being Call Centre work.
But, the truth of the matter is that these salespeople are out to trick you. They are trained to rely on people's general sense of decency and kindness in order to make money. So, you are stuck somewhere between sympathising with their situation and trying not to get done over by them.
It is manipulation turned into an artform.
We need to keep our wits about us!
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