A note here - we hate our carpet. It's cheap and we want to replace it. At one time we were looking forward to doing that, then the economy bit the dust, Hubs was laid off, and it sank to the bottom of the priority list. BUT, we still hate the carpet. Therefore we don't want to spend a lot of money on it. Hence, the reason I was going to rent a cleaner from the store and do it myself, even though I know that puts way too much water in the carpet and really isn't good for it.
Finally last weekend, I'd made up my mind. I would do it Sunday afternoon.
Saturday afternoon I walked across the street to the mailbox to check the mail. Somehow, a door to door solicitor got up to the door without me seeing her and I ended up meeting her in the driveway.
They were doing free carpet cleaning demos - one room, my choice, for free.
Me: Free? As in no charge? *my mind was spinning here because I knew there was a sales pitch coming, but the timing could not have been better* I'm not buying anything.
Her: Free! No pressure to buy anything. We just hope you'll recommend us to your friends and family.
Me: Uh-huh. Okay, fine. Set me up. But I'm not buying anything, just so you know that up front.
Her: Great! They'll be by in the next 20-30 minutes.
I scrambled to clear the floor and vacuum the front room.
Two guys promptly arrived. One left, and the other started in.
Him: No pressure to buy today, we just want to show you what our machine can do... blah, blah, blah... really? you don't clean your carpets more often than that?... blah, blah, blah
Me: I'm not buying that today.
Him: No worries... blah, blah, blah... this is why your vacuum
Me: I'm not buying that today. But yes, that really works well. My carpet is looking cleaner already.
Him: Let me just call my manager and check in.... blah, blah, blah... here's the deal we can give you today. I know you weren't planning to buy, but it's a great deal... blah, blah, blah
Me: I'm not buying that today.
Him: I know, but you have to admit, it's a pretty good deal, especially with the monthly financing... blah, blah, blah
Me: I'm not buying that today.
Him: *cleaning up now that he's finished the carpet, small talk dwindling* Well, here's the best price we can do today. It's an out of the box special. *his voice now contains no enthusiasm whatsoever*
Me: Great deal, but sorry, I'm not buying that today.
Him: *awkward silence now fills the air*
After he left, I told my best friend Lela, "It was like that awkward silence at the end of a date when the guy realizes he's not going to get laid and he can't wait to get out of there."
Only it was money I wasn't putting out.
At the end of the hour and a half, I had a clean(er) front room, I hadn't dealt with dirty water or heavy machines that I had to drag back and forth to the store, and I got my Sunday afternoon back. I likened it to sitting through the time share presentation to get the free stay they were giving away at the end. I almost felt guilty. Almost. After all, I DID tell them up front that I wasn't buying, and clearly I wasn't going to be swayed. And unlike their promise of no pressure, I stayed true to my word.
***Ally
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7 comments:
BWHAHAHHA I may have done that before. Kirby, the most annoying salespeople known to man. Drove me nuts but I still didn't buy.
You are a rock star. I could never have lasted under that pressure. I am way too easily swayed. You are amazing. Enjoy that clean carpet! You earned it!
Way to stick to your guns!
Well he told you to tell your friends about him, so tell him about your friend in Winnipeg. My carpet actually smells like feces in some spots. I walk only on specific areas I'm pretty sure haven't been contaminated with canine fecal matter.
Well that worked out well! I love it when things like that happen.
hahaha! I thought this might end with 'and then I bought the damn machine' but I'm glad it didn't!!
I have the worst carpet cleaning story. Signed up for a one room $9.99 cleaning. They did that and tried to pitch the rest of the 2 bedroom apt cleaning for $99.00. When we refused after much ado, he took the dirty water from the carpet cleaner and dumped it out onto our just cleaned living room floor. Gets better though, when he stormed out he accidentally left his keys in our apt so we called the cops and he couldn't go anywhere. Scary part is he threatened to kill us... Even scarier he had several assault charges already. I now stick more reputable carpet cleaners.
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