# Fun with salespeople

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-with-salespeople/268199>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 8, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-with-salespeople/268199 "2004-10-08T14:44:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-with-salespeople/268199/41 "2004-10-12T22:40:36Z")

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> [@Ruby](#):
>
> Many years ago I had a door-to-door encyclopedia salesman come to the door (unsolicited, of course). I was young and didn’t know exactly what to do with him so I allowed him to give his spiel. After 30 minutes, I told him I wasn’t interested and he was pissed that I “wasted” his time.
> 
> Sheesh. I thought I was just being polite. :smack:

One of the encyclopedia salesholes called on us immediately after the birth of our eldest (quite a while back, of course). He practically accused us of negligent parenting if we didn’t purchase these books (for our newborn?) Conversation continued as follows:

Me: Did your family have a set of encyclopedias when you were a kid?

Saleshole: Yes, I don’t know how I would’ve managed school without them!

Me: My family didn’t have them… And I’m a well-paid aerospace engineer, living in this neighborhood; while you’re selling door-to-door?

Saleshole: \<stunned silence\>

Door: \<Slam\>  
I wouldn’t have been that nasty, except for his remark that parents should “show they cared” by purchasing this set for their children, etc.

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