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February 12 , 2006:    The "F-You" Sales Technique

Have you ever seen it? I have, I did today and I saw it work! It started with Barneys New York, and some boutiques, department stores and even high-end grocery stores are now using it. It is coming to your neighborhood soon! Be ready, resist, prepare and go out and squash it immediately. Just say "NO."

This is how it works: Sales people are taught to snub you. That's right, snub you. They are taught to make you feel as if you can not afford to shop there, you cannot afford to buy what you are looking at, and to make y0u feel you are damned lucky to be even IN their freakin' store! They look down at you. They condescend to you. They ignore you if you are puzzled and need to ask questions. They make YOU come to THEM for information and even then the treat you like scum.

They, by the way, may seem intelligent, even genteel, but ask them something about say…a classic book and they are LOST.

If you are not a recognizable face, (famous,) they will use this on EVERYONE they see walk into their store. You could have a damned platinum card and they will walk all over you. To recognize them requires just a bit of practice. These are clues: They wear no make up or less than anyone does. They act as if they don't NEED it even if they look like dirt. They can be overweight, ugly, or even covered in zits, but they will still act like you are dog meat. They talk to you in short sentences and look away from you a lot, as if they are bored.

They will walk away after answering one question and answering it like you are stupid not to know and irritating them for asking. They make you need to run back to them and say, "Um, I was wondering…etc." They want you on the defensive RIGHT AWAY. Once you are, they have you, trust me! It happens in many places and one does not even notice unless they are educated in sales techniques.

It is easy to notice if you are in a high scale store that you may not enter but once in your life. There, they dress well, they speak as if they have a doctorate in jewelry, and they try to get the amount you are willing to spend immediately.

THESE are honest sales people.

I am warning you about a sales person who will TELL you that "this will cover those little wrinkles you have right there,"

They will tell you, "Well, I think this line of clothing would work for you because it is cut a little bit ROOMY in the rear end." They will insult you and point out your flaws. By that time, they know they have you. They think and most the time we do, buy out of intimidation.

Here’s the idea, we will buy, they assume: to prove we can, because we have been convinced how badly our lives, looks, image, or anything else will be if we don't have the product NOW, and worst of all, they may NEVER like us or smile at us if we don't buy, and buy a lot. Still they will not befriend you. That would be a bad thing for them and it would stop their ability to hurt you into buying!

There is hope for the F- you salesperson and you, however. Once you buy EVERYTHING they recommend, and you do over and over for a length of time, they will befriend you, yes. They will be your "best friend." You will be convinced that they hold a special place in their hearts. They may even, if they are good at this, record your birthday in their "book," along with your size, what you have bought before, your phone number to call you when new stock arrives and stars, yes stars, to show how many sales you are good for. But beware this action because once you say "no," to a purchase, you immediately are reduced to "trash," again.

Resist. Start at in the very beginning. From the first time you feel uncomfortable with a sales person, take the only action that works besides walking out: Give them back the worst "F-you," look back right from the beginning! It is not illegal, they started it, and they will be afraid, very afraid. They will wonder if you were sent by corporate to check up, or if you are horribly wealthy, if your know their sales technique, or worst of all, if you heard something personal about THEM that you could tell others! It works my friends. AND it is our only defense against this new sales technique that used to be exclusive to Barneys, New York and very high-end boutiques. Now, it is everywhere. Back ground: It was conceived by "Industrial Psychologists," and I'm not kidding here, there are those with degrees in Psyche that specialize in causing affects in large groups of people. They work with music to make you comfortable to shop, for example, no classical because you will be tired quickly and go home. Colors in the store must include red or yellow, (or gold,) to give energy, etc. They are without mercy these guys. Eye level purchases are easiest to make, and putting soft things like sweaters on at table to touch sells best. They even set the temp! And men, it's happening to you too, even with power tools. Why do you think that when you go to buy a power tool, you can hold them, touch them, and the stats are hard to find?

Intimidation, men and women, is a powerful tool.

Just say F-you!

Best to you!
Amp, "spying on the world, as usual."