Filibuster at the electronics store

Some people are clearly MADE for their jobs. I just spent an eternity listening to a young man detail all the attributes, options, disadvantages, accessories etc. of a line of devices. Try to get him to stick to the point... "You seem like you're in a hurry, so I can let you go." Me: "Nope! My guidelines specifically said I must not be in a hurry. I'm probably gonna buy this thing today! I'd really like you to just write down your dang recommendation!"

First we wandered around other devices not suited to my stated needs. We covered his entire family, educational, and work history. Before it was over, we slammed the cable company for its terrible service, and suggested work-arounds to problems I did not have.

Once I had the coveted recommendation in hand and had made obvious "wrap-it-up" signals, I pretended to get a text from my son asking why I was late picking him up. I literally had to walk away with him following me all the way to the door. I really thought he might climb into my car and continue the conversation all the way home.

Sadly, the brief narrative does not allow for me to address any of that.

And THAT'S why we don't buy ice cream right before a "Quick! Easy! Little narrative!" shop.

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I swear I've been on that exact same shop, probably with the exact same guy. He kept me in the store for an hour and fifteen minutes, telling me all about the awards he had won for salesmanship, and selling me things I repeatedly told him I didn't need (complete with full demonstrations). He pulled up maps of the country and showed me in painstaking detail where there were other stores, and their coverage areas as well as their projected coverage areas over the next few years. I got promises about how much money I was going to save, and lectures about everything that was wrong with the competitors. I was afraid he would tie me up to keep me from leaving the store. After the tenth time I told him I had to get going, he insisted on setting up an appointment for the next business day... I gave him an absurdly made-up name and a phone number with six digits. He also followed me to the door while still jabbering. I was doing a route and just *barely* made it to the next shop in time.

"The future ain't what it used to be." --Yogi Berra

I contemplated calling 911 to report a hostage situation.

I'm definitely laughing with you guys. It's an unwritten rule, the less time you have, the longer the sales presentation.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

@Threemom wrote:

I contemplated calling 911 to report a hostage situation.

THAT'S when you grimace, and immediately place a hand on your stomach area, gently rubbing it. Then look slightly worried, and ask quickly "Where's the bathroom at?", and quickly scurry off to wherever the associate mentions it is. You then do your bathroom check AND give the associate a feeling that you might not want to stick around the store too much longer. If the associate resumes their sales presentation from hell when you return, then you just repeat again. The second time you come out of the bathroom, you might walk a little funny to add more panache to it (while also trying to not be memorable). Most pushy sales people would probably get the hint at this point.

If they STILL don't wrap things up, say "oh, excuse me!" and start waving your hand behind you, pretending to fan a potential silent-but-deadly emission.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/05/2016 02:43PM by STL_shopper.

LOL - these were all funny. I think I just did some of these shops for the first time yesterday. I had the exact opposite reaction from the salesguys - they only said what they needed and couldn't wait to move on. It was funny to watch their reactions when I said, "well, how does that compare with....." LOL

I did a device shop the other day, and it was like pulling teeth to get the info I needed from the guy. I almost would rather have a salesperson talk too much than not enough! But I don't want to be held captive for forever.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

At the very end of the conversation he revealed this wasn't even his department! Think how bad it COULD have been had I shopped there instead!

There's one location I will not do anymore, because the associates always refer me to another specific associate, who takes me to a totally different store within a store, and I never get out of there until an hour later. That said, I had a great device shop yesterday, and the associate was terrific. I truly wanted the product and almost bought it! *sigh* My scenario said to walk away....

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Filibuster at the electronics store

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