How do you fend off agressive people trying to push their multi-level marketing schemes &

[diva77]

Last edited Wed Oct 25, 2017, 12:36 AM - Edit history (1)

products on you? I think I am about to be barraged and want to have a polite way of declining without offending them (only because I might run into them somewhere else and don't want to suffer the consequences of having insulted them).

[bagelsforbreakfast]

1. Is that Betsy Devos pushing Amway again? ! n/m

[diva77]

6. LOL! I would have no problem speaking my mind if that were the case!!

[SCantiGOP]

23. I got Amwayed once

And it was by my uncle. Starts with "would you like to be rich" and "do you know 5 other people who are as smart and ambitious as you are"? Afterwards, I told him I would think about it and then put him off by saying I didn't have the time.
About a year later, a friend invited my wife and I over for dinner, and said he wanted to discuss a business opportunity with us. Began with exactly the same presentation, so after about 90 seconds I said, "Is this Amway?" He look embarrassed and admitted it was and dropped it. He sent me a note a few days later apologizing because he acknowledged that he shouldn't have used our friendship and a dinner as an excuse to spring this on us.

[elleng]

2. 'No thanks, I'm not interested,'

and exit the place/phone/site, NO MORE DISCUSSION.

[diva77]

8. if all else fails, I'll have to resort to this one...thanks!

[Dave Starsky]

19. I usually START with that one.

I'm familiar with the pitch and absolutely don't need to waste your or my time listening to it. Good luck.

[Sanity Claws]

3. can you claim a tight budget?

You don't have to give details, just something like I am on a strict budget. I don't like to talk about my problems but I have a lot of bills that I need to take care of.

Of course, if that persons knows that you just got back from a long vacation or some other indulgence, that may not be believable.

[diva77]

9. They already have a response for that one - "you don't have to do any more than you want to"

But, on the other hand, maybe if I told them I could only spare $5 they would magically disappear!

Thanks for an excellent suggestion!

[Beakybird]

4. Tell them that when people look in your eyes

You want them to see kindness and love. Not dollar signs.

[diva77]

11. Good one! I'm going to have to carry a crib sheet of responses with me in case I get cornered with

no escape!

[Turbineguy]

5. Many people recognize they have no talent for it.

You can tell them you've thought about it and investigated and decided you would not succeed at that line of work.

[diva77]

7. aha! this one I could use - it's absolutely true and would not backfire on me

Thank you so much! I am now fortified!

[3catwoman3]

10. An acquaintance of mine took a try at selling...

...Mary Kay a few years ago. To be polite, I went to her initial group presentation, where sevral newbies were having their "debut." One of the next-level-up folks was there, running things.

A couple of days later, the next-level-up woman called me to assess my level of interest in becoming a Mary Kay rep. The 3 choices of answers she offered were:

A. Sounds great. Sign me up right now.
B. I'll think about it.
C. I'd rather stick pins in my eyes.

My answer was an unequivocal "C." I would completely suck at anything like that.

[diva77]

12. Sounds like they at least have a sense of humor about what they do!

Annoying, though, how they consider everyone, any place, any time, as fair game to suffer their recruiting routine

[NBachers]

13. Sorry- I know myself, & I know I wouldn't invest the time or energy in it. It just wouldn't work out

[diva77]

14. Thanks! I will add this to my growing list of responses to have ready when the time comes.

[Control-Z]

15. "Is this legal?" eom

[TexasBushwhacker]

16. A broken record of "No thank you" n/t

[kysrsoze]

17. Im destitute and about to lose my home. Works like a charm.

[FakeNoose]

18. Any chance you could pull this off?

Extra points if you look like Phoebe.

[Phentex]

20. Tell them you don't need the money...

most of these schemes are about making money. The phone calls are about saving you money. Switch to this and save money. Buy this and save money. Sell this and make money. When you tell them you don't need to save money, they are puzzled. When you tell them you have all that you need, they don't have a comeback.

It's not a polite way (such as "oh, I just really can't right now" ) but it has worked for me in the past.

This does not work when people are asking for money for charity.

[Thor_MN]

22. Adding "...right now" is keeping them on the hook.

Giving them false hope that, some day, you will be willing. (How I met your Mother did an entire episode on this.)

No, Thanks.

Period, nothing more. If they continue, interrupt, changing the topic. Making sure they understand you are not interested in any way is the best.

[crazycatlady]

21. I left Facebook

I rarely see MLM pushes anymore except for the occasional flyer or Avon catalog left in the gym locker room.