We’ve all been the victim of an all too convincing sales pitch at one point or another in our lives. Whether you’re shopping for a car or a home appliance, salesmen certainly have their way with words and can persuade you to spend money you don’t have.
No matter how much you think you can resist a good sales pitch, it’s too easy to succumb to their tactics. With potential commissions on the line, salesmen have all kinds of tactics to get you to spend more.
Before you step into another store, arm yourselves with these tips to help you avoid the sales pitch trap. Then you can leave with your wallet intact.
Know What You Need
The first rule thumb is to understand what you need vs. what you want — anything you see in a store can be tempting. Salesman can smell whether or not you want something and will leverage this knowledge to get you to buy.
That’s why you you need to decipher between what you really need from stuff you would simply like to have. Refrain from buying anything that you really don’t need.
Do Research Before Shopping
Before you walk into a store defenseless, do your research. Know exactly what you want to buy and approximately how much it should cost. This can easily be done on your mobile phone via a web search.
If you have questions, make a list so you remember what you need to ask the sales associates before you make a purchase. Educated customers are the ones who find the best deals.
Consult Your Budget
While you’re doing research, determine exactly how much you want to, or can, spend. To do this, you first have to find out how much the product in question costs, and then adjust your budget accordingly.
Then look at a few comparable products to come up with a spending range. A salesman may try to convince you to upgrade to a product that is beyond your budget, but don’t give in. Know your cap and stick to it!
Avoid Common Sales Tactics
Most salesmen have the same sales tactics they use over and over again on unsuspecting customers. Don’t feel pressured into purchasing something you’re not 100% about. It’s best to walk away, you’ll find a better deal elsewhere.
Common tactics that are often used include:
- Telling you a deal is ending soon so you better act fast
- Trying to selling you additional products that they claim you “need”
- Claiming they are low on inventory when you try to walk away
Bring Reinforcements
If you get persuaded easily, bring reinforcements, such as a friend or family member. Tell them exactly what you’re looking for and what you want to spend. If a salesman tries to sell you more, ask your friend to step in before you make a bad decision.
Sales pitches are hard to avoid and as consumers, we sometimes feel pressured into buying everything that is recommended to us. But if it’s not what you want, don’t be afraid to say NO and walk away.
How do you deal with tempting sales pitches and common sales tactics?
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I think the biggest mistake most people make is not doing enough digging on the internet before a purchase. It’s the most important step not to be scammed… If you know what you’re talking about, a salesman won’t be able to make you spend more money that you had previously planned, definitely.
I tend to be pretty gullible so to say, so it’s not difficult to make a sale ‘on’ me. I have tried to be more aware of all these techniques and not be so easily persuaded anymore. The moment you get more educated about all these tactics it’s easier to understand where the seller is coming from and resist the urge to make a deal.