I hate passing sales people in the street

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I live in a city where there are sales people almost everywhere. So I'm rather used to passing them on the street. In fact I know which areas they will appear, and what lines they will use on people. To the point where I've altered my walking route specifically to avoid them before. Especially on days when I know the more aggressive sales people will be rigorously circling a particular area.

Frankly, I don't feel guilty about blanking them. I barely even think about it because I'm so used to the same old routine. Always the same scripted lines and approaches. I know exactly how they are going to try to convince or guilt trip me which is why I'm almost immune to their attempts at persuasion.



This is quite a common technique and people have said similar things to me before. For example, a man called out to me "Hey, are you friendly?" and it was quite clear to me that he was selling something. I averted my brief attention and kept walking with purpose. He stayed at his stall with promotional materials and after no response he added "I guess not then! Surely someone must be!"

I didn't feel bad about it. Since I'm aware of exactly what he was doing. He asked the initial question as an emotionally charged challenge; if you answer no then that makes you look bad, but if you say yes then you might feel obligated to put money into his scheme. Essentially leading the passerby into an emotional checkmate. Then he attempted to guilt me into turning back, by indirectly challenging me by calling me unfriendly (the implied implication being you can't really be this rude, can you? I was just asking a harmless question! Why don't you turn back and buy what I'm selling?). Then trying to make me look bad by adding surely someone must be! A challenge to the rest of his audience to prove that they're not as rude as I was.

However, I don't care what sales people think of me. I know that I'm essentially just any other person to them and that it is all an act. Plus, it rather annoys me when people use emotionally manipulative techniques such as this. When he added his response; my first thought was along the lines of "Oh give it a rest".

I especially hate it when sales people deliberately block my path. Usually I am able to simply blank the person addressing me and get on with my journey. I typically avoid getting too close to people who look like they might get in my way. However, some people are especially dedicated to doing so. I was walking through an outdoor market once when a guy holding leaflets walked into my path and I tried to go left but he kept walking left. Attempted to confuse him by going one way and then the other but he kept up with me. I couldn't turn and go back, he'd probably grab my shoulder if I did and there wasn't enough time or space to run for it.

So I kept side stepping to the left at a quick speed (whilst staying aware of my surroundings) because I knew that he'd eventually grow bored of the pursuit. He was hoping I'd give up and try to walk forward which would result in having a leaflet forcefully given to me which I'd have to take if I wanted to walk away. I could've accepted this reality and thrown it away later, but my stubbornness got the better of me. We were starting to get quite close to the end of the market and I was running out of places to go when eventually he relented and went to hand someone else a leaflet instead. A friend of mine later showed me what the leaflet was. It contained an illustrated argument against same-sex marriage. Which is a shame because it was beautifully illustrated but the inside message was awful. It made my inner graphic designer annoyed. Such a waste of time was put into these.

When sales people come to my door I usually put on an act like I'm vaguely interested (but not enough that they'll come again), then when they are satisfied I'll close the door, walk around to the bin and recycle their materials without reading them (it's usually utter nonsense).

On days when I've been in an especially bad mood, I've taken those annoying pamphlets and leaflets, looked at the sales person on the street and thrown them in the recycling in front of them whilst maintaining eye-contact without saying a word. I find it to be a very effective way of communicating don't bother me again.

Don't get me wrong, I can be a nice person. I just heavily dislike the emotional manipulation and pushy nature of certain sales people. Especially those who prey on vulnerable customers and/or corner individuals. I understand that they have a job to do, but that doesn't excuse their behaviour to me.

This is very helpful - thanks!

That is the same reason I hate going to the mall.i had them roll their eyes at me for saying I am not interested before.