A local glazer is having a drawing. The winner gets new windows. Why not enter?
On Thursday I got a call from the glazer. They wanted to come over Friday and give me an estimate. I told them my house was a mess, since I’m re-organising and there’s stuff all over the place. I’d rather not have anyone in the house while it’s in this state. Besides, I told the woman, I’m not going to do any improvements until next Spring at the absolute earliest. “Well, how’s Saturday for you then?” :rolleyes: It was obvious that they wouldn’t take “no” for an answer, so I said they could come over but that the estimator would not be allowed in the house. The saleswoman begged a bit, but I told her “Those are the rules.”
The guy came over yesterday afternoon whilst I was raking leaves. We chatted a bit, then he measured my windows. He asked if he could come inside “just for a minute”. I told him no. I also told him that I told the saleswoman that I was not going to buy anything until next year at the earliest. He sat down on the stoop and started a very long presentation. I protested that he needn’t go to the trouble, but he persisted. The funny part was when he went to his car to get the sample window. In order to show how strong the glass was, he lay it on the ground, stepped on the pane, and bounced up and down on it. It didn’t break. But the lower pane (it was double-paned) did.
Here’s the deal: I am not in a financial position to buy new windows yet, and I told the saleswoman that upfront. I really hate “hard sells”. I don’t like uninvited “guests”. I told the saleswoman on Thursday, and the guy who called a few minutes later, that I would not let anyone inside. I thought that this (and the chilly weather) would keep the presentation short. (It finally did get too cold for the estimator. And he had to urinate. Nope. Can’t use the toilet. He knew the rules before he came. Besides, it’s unprofessional for a salesman to use a customer’s toilet.)
I can understand that people will try hard to sell their products. The estimator said that he usually gets an order, even when the customer says they are not ready to buy anything soon. But I really don’t like the intrusion. I figured I’d take a chance at getting free windows (the drawing is in January) and have to get a sales call on the phone. I wouldn’t win the drawing, but I wouldn’t have to be inconvenienced too much by doing it. I never thought that they would insist on sending someone over after I told them I would not be interested until next year.
So was I wrong to deny entry to the salesman? I felt bad for him, but I did tell him and two other people The Rules beforehand.
However, I don’t understand how such a small word (“no”) can be so difficult to understand. You were perfectly clear that you were not in the market until next year but yet you still allowed the salesperson to make their presentation anyway. How’d that happen?
The salesman probably didn’t really have to urinate – he was just trying another manipulative way to get into your house, where you’d have an even harder time getting him to leave. Good for you for standing your ground.
You don’t have to let any salesman or “estimator” or “urinator” in your house. Since you had already told these people you were not buying, that should have been the end of it. This was a bogus “prize”, a contest you never entered, something you never requested, just to get their foot in the door. Assuming you live in Los Angeles from your online name, how would you know this wasn’t a scam to case your house for a break-in or home invasion robbery? My simple rules are:
If I want to buy something, I will call you - meanwhile don’t bother me.
If I don’t want whatever it is, you make your chances even worse by annoying me.
No salesmen or strangers in my house, ever, for any reason.
The word NO means exactly that, in English, Spanish, Italian, etc. It is a simple word. No does not mean yes or maybe, it means no. No discussion, justification or explanation is necessary.
No, I’ve lived just south of the Canadian border for nearly a year. I just kept my moniker because it was so well established.
Well, I did enter a drawing. I just didn’t think they’d be so aggressive. The glazer has been in business for 28 years, and it’s reputable. I’ll get new windows eventually. But as I told them, I’m not ready for them right now. (Incidentally, the energy-efficient windows are about 1/3 what I expected; although wood-framed windows would only be a little less than I expected.)
But, don’t you see? by waiting until spring, you’ll just be throwing away money on your heat all winter long! Right now is the best possible time to take advantage of our surprisingly affordable…
