Appropriate ways to dismiss street vendors?

Question

In the Netherlands, it seems to be quite common lately to hire some students, put them on a busy main street or outside a supermarket, and have them target every passerby by asking 'Can I ask you something?'.

These people are always selling stuff I am not interested in (newspaper subscriptions, services that deliver food to your house every week) or they are trying you to sign up to become a permanent donor for a charity (in which I am also not interested).

My approach so far has always been:

• Do not make eye contact
• Continue walking without changing pace/trajectory (unless one jumps in front of me, then I swerve)
• Reply 'You just did' (gentle, joking tone of voice, smile on my face) if they ask me 'Can I ask you something'

Usually, this either generates a weird look if somebody doesn't get the joke, or a chuckle if they do. Even bystanders seem to like it. But yesterday, a lady came to me saying that what I was doing was very impolite.

Are there any better ways to dismiss street vendors?

Answer 1

Put yourself in the shoes of the person who is making a very small salary trying to get you to sign up for things. They need to get a certain number of "yes" over the course of a day. They know they will get a lot of "no". The ideal no is fast and is not rude or hurtful. A slow no may be of some value if it causes other people to gather round and one of them may be a yes. A rude no just makes the job miserable and soul destroying.

What is a rude no?

• get out of my way
• can't you get a real job instead of blocking the sidewalk bothering people?
• [to other passersby] these things are all scams, stay away!
• any kind of joke making fun of their script, costume etc

You think that "you just did" is funny, but it really says "I'm smarter than you, so I am mocking you and frustrating your purpose at the same time!" I agree with the lady who told you it was rude. There's no need for it, you just went out of your way to make a joke at the expense of someone who has an unpleasant job.

If you're not interested, don't be interested. Keep on going and let them do their job. Your first two bullets are perfect.

Answer 2

"No thanks, I'm not interested."

That's the boring, but correct way to react. They're busy selling something, so knowing you're so thoroughly uninterested in their product that they're definitely not going to get a sale out of you lets them move on to another target quickly.

You're not wasting each other's time. This is the polite thing to do.

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However, they are bothering you, trying to sell their product. So a small harmless joke like

"You just did. Thank you."

...is perfectly all right. Especially if you remain friendly and your tone of voice makes clear that you're not interested.

As long as you're not mean to them and don't waste their time, it's all right.

Answer 3

If they approach you, you can always just say:

I'm not interested, thank you.

That could still be considered a little rude (although for the Netherlands, it's probably fine), but less rude than simply ignoring them (or making a joke at their expense).

A middle ground between this and ignoring them would be looking at them and shaking your head (in an "I'm not interested"-kind of way, not in an "I'm judging you so hard right now" way).

Both of these can be somewhat awkward if the person is not actually trying to sell you something but is rather just trying to e.g. get directions.

If you want to be even less rude, you'd need to actually hear them out (but who has time for that...).

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I personally tend to opt for just ignoring them, but I also don't really care if they think I'm rude.

Answer 4

In Japan nodding/bowing is really common, so it may not be as applicable in your country, but I just nod my head in their direction showing that I acknowledge them as a human being and recognize/respect their efforts, but continue walking as I am not interested. This shows that you aren't judging them or being condescending, but rather you really are not interested in being sold to, or are in a hurry.

Answer 5

No, I'm not interested, thank you

This is good enough. It may be good to know that street vendors in The Netherlands have to stop trying to sell you a product once you have made it clear that you want them to stop doing that.

In case you find the above a little too rude, you can always let them say their thing first and then tell them you're not interested. You're not the only person that doesn't like street vendors and that's why they often try to keep their first message short and to the point, so it usually shouldn't take more than five seconds for them to finsih their first message.

However as someone from The Netherlands myself I wouldn't consider directly saying that you're not interested rude.

Answer 6

Trying the classic "Sorry but I'm not interested" should work in most cases, but if the vendor still persists, try this:

Look, I don't want to waste your time by letting you tell me everything about your product and then walking away without buying it because I'm not interested (busy/in a hurry). So, thank you but no, thank you.

It would be a good idea to keep your smile natural and tone gentle while conveying this message and most of the times, people will understand.

Answer 7

Please be sure that this type of street vendors has a good salary indeed. It is reputed to be one of the best earning activities for time & money pinched students these days.

I try to keep it silent always.

Once one of them is inside my trajectory, first I spy if I'm targeted. If I am, I seek eye contact and shake my head to indicate I'm not interested. And I smile very nicely.

99% of the time this works, no problem.

In the rare case my preferences are ignored they receive my dagger stare and possibly the word 'NO' (emphasis intended).

By this time I'm seriously annoyed and any further attempt to reach out to me comes full stop.
Hopefully this will work for you too :-)

Answer 8

If they are trying to me sign up for a charity I reply;

Thank you, I am already a supporter of your organization.

They seem pleased and do not engage me any further.

Answer 9

"No thanks" and walk on. Polite and doesn't waste your time or theirs

This is even appropriate no matter what their specific question is. It doesn't have to address the wording of their question. e.g. Even if it's not an offer, or if they are making a request to you.

e.g.

Q: "Can I ask you a question?" - A: "No Thanks", walk on.

or

Q: "Have you got a minute?" - A: "No thanks", walk on.

This might seem like an odd answer, but there is a reason they phrase the question in such a way - it's a sort of psychological sales trick or tactic to get you to stop so they can talk to you, they are trying to play off your politeness.

They know that if they phrase it as if they are asking a favour of you (e.g. by saying "Can I ask you a question?" or "Do you have a minute?") and you just say "No", you will feel rude or uncomfortable, therefore you'll be reluctant to do that.

So If you just say "No thanks", no matter what they said, they'll get the message, and you'll get to keep your feeling of politeness.

Answer 10

"Thank you but no. Have a nice day!" should work.

I always tell such people that I have a policy of not buying from door-to-door people, street vendors, or whoever (I really do have this personal practice), so I am going to do them a favor and let them go so they can find someone who will.

If they are proselytizing for a religion other than my own, though, I tell them that I won't talk to them but I will take their literature if they take mine (I keep a small supply of information about my faith, some about how it conflicts with various faiths that are likely to be proselytizing, handy at all times and places -- in my purse, my car, right next to my front door, etc.). After they keep trying to talk to me and I keep repeating this, after a few times they get the drift and stop trying. :)

Answer 11

(Former outbound telephone market researcher - NOT telesales! - here).

Agreeing with several about 'fast "no, thanks"'. Adding "and leave/be consistent if they follow". Telephone equivalent: "and hang up".

The reason any response, including this one, feels rude is that it is rude - and the setup and query are carefully designed by the company to be that way. Anything that isn't "help your neighbour" will feel rude, so it's more likely that you'll listen/go along with them, at least a little bit. Yes, it's not the querier's fault that they're setting you up to be rude to them, it's the faceless policy creator in the office; even that is part of the design to get you to not do the rude thing to the person who is just doing their job.

If you're still talking, you're still willing to be convinced. We were told that on day 1 of training; and it proved true many times (sure, less than 1%; but much more than 0%). In a world where success in an easy survey is measured in 3-5 hits per hour, it's worth a few minutes on that 1-in-200 chance.

The other thing we were told on day 1 is that it's a numbers game; the more people you ask, the more likely you'll get a response. Take the (many, many!) "No"s in stride and go on to the next potential "Yes".

So, if you truly aren't interested, the politest thing you can do is "No thanks" and walk away. If they push, "no thanks" and walk away. As politely as you can. From message 2, it's the best response (even over "yes, I'll listen for a bit 'to be nice', but the answer's no" - as long as it really is a hard "no") for the querient - and, if they are a veteran (> 1 month on the job!), they'll be immune to the "rude", so you're not really "being rude". Message 1 means that if you try to "be polite", you might get sucked up in it (which you don't want), or you waste 2 or 3 approaches of their time (which might have hit).