# Do you give an excuse when saying no to mall kiosk/samplers? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 27, 2014, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627 "2014-08-27T12:47:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/1 "2014-08-27T12:47:05Z")
Because of poor life choices, I have been working at my local Teavana for almost a year now and, as those who have been in a mall will know, part of my job is to stand in front of the store and ask everyone under the sun if they want to try our samples. I have noticed that when people tell me no (since it happens WAY more often than a yes) that they generally give some kind of excuse: “I don’t like tea” “If it was coffee maybe” “I can’t I’m allergic (which is bullshit cuz only like 1% of the population is or something like that)” Now from a personal standpoint I don’t care _why_ you’re not trying the tea, just say “no, thanks” and move on. But people still insist on giving an excuse, so how many of you give an excuse when saying no for things and, if you do, why? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/2 "2014-08-27T12:49:43Z")
I simply say “no thank you” and keep walking. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/3 "2014-08-27T12:52:02Z")
I put on my “don’t bug me” face, which works with most hucksters, and just say, “no, thanks” if they miss the cue. They are playing on your politeness to make their approach, and it’s false courtesy and playing into their game if you in any way feel guilty or uncomfortable brushing them off. It is NOT a social interaction and does not demand social graces, just minimal civility. (I should add that one of my developing projects is a national “don’t bug me” campaign intended to let those of us who wish to buy our groceries etc. in peace, buy them in peace. No samples, no demos, no sign-ups, no upsells.) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/4 "2014-08-27T12:52:49Z")
I wouldn’t feel the need to make excuses in that context - I’d just say ‘no thanks’. There are times when I would explain my refusal (for example, turning down something that is offered in the course of a conversation already in progress). And for people who try to stop me in the street to take something from me (charity muggers, survey monkeys), I either just say “I’m not stopping”, or occasionally, “I’m sorry, I don’t speak English”. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/5 "2014-08-27T13:40:44Z")
My response is somewhere along [these lines.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4CizzE-zZo) ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/6 "2014-08-27T13:46:37Z")
I’m a “no thanks” person - or more often, a slight smile and a shake of the head. Why do I need to give an excuse? Of course, the really pushy ones (there are some, especially around the holidays, at things like the skin care kiosks - there’s one at a local mall with sales folks who will step in front of you and stop) will occasionally get a “fuck off” - but they have to be really pushy and getting in my way to get that - and if it gets to that point, I’m also going to send a complaint to mall management about that kiosk. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/7 "2014-08-27T13:50:05Z")
> [@Lsura](#): > > Of course, the really pushy ones (there are some, especially around the holidays, at things like the skin care kiosks - there’s one at a local mall with sales folks who will step in front of you and stop) will occasionally get a “fuck off” - but they have to be really pushy and getting in my way to get that - and if it gets to that point, I’m also going to send a complaint to mall management about that kiosk. I used to be able to summon a real Andre T. Giant “Moooove.” that was as much bass rumble as vocalization - not loud, but it would make their hair stand on end as they scuttled away. I just can’t seem to muster that… octave any more. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/8 "2014-08-27T13:55:22Z")
Sample-pushers I just ignore or give a “No, thanks.” The bigger pains are the time-share hucksters everywhere in Vegas. The best exchange I ever had with them was when I once waved my hand at one and said “These are not the droids you are looking for.” Everyone who was near cracked up and we all went our ways with smiles. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/9 "2014-08-27T13:59:04Z")
I can’t even bring myself to the “thanks” part - just, “No”. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/10 "2014-08-27T14:01:13Z")
And, of course, there are now robo-hucksters\* that implore you to stop and take a coupon, register for freebies using your store card, etc. BFH time. - credit to Brian Daley for the term. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/11 "2014-08-27T14:04:29Z")
I usually just say “Not today, thank you!” ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/12 "2014-08-27T15:12:51Z")
Do you have cookies too? If not leave me alone please, no thanks. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/13 "2014-08-27T15:58:47Z")
I often have ear-buds in and even if I don’t I just walk on by. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/14 "2014-08-27T16:11:31Z")
Nice OP/Username combo. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/15 "2014-08-27T16:12:23Z")
Is “fuck off dipshit” considered an excuse? ---
**Author:** ![Lorene89095](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/16 "2014-08-27T16:30:23Z")
I usta do this… My thoughts were - you see me here with a table of samples. If you want one,you’ll speak to me/take one and keep on walking… If not,why would I bother you? Kids,of course were told,“Your parent has to tell ME it’s all right.” ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/17 "2014-08-27T16:47:58Z")
I generally say “no, thank you” except if it’s one of those magic bracelet things when I say “you’re selling a scam” in a fairly carrying voice. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/18 "2014-08-27T17:16:57Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Is “fuck off dipshit” considered an excuse? Only in polite company. Add me to the “No thanks” lot, with a “Sorry” added for Charity beggers… ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/19 "2014-08-27T17:17:37Z")
I would reply to your OP, but I’m really tired today. And allergic. Besides, I don’t like typing. Maybe if it were a written OP, I would respond. As it is, I can’t. Witness protection and all, you see? Thanks, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627/20 "2014-08-27T17:24:11Z")
I say “You make poor life choices, don’t talk to me!” Actually I just avoid the whole scene altogether. Or avert my eyes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-give-an-excuse-when-saying-no-to-mall-kiosk-samplers/696627.md?page=2)