Most annoying "upsell" stores

I've told the story here before about one of those places pushing new radiator caps on every customer.

They claimed the pop-off valve wasn't work properly on five consecutive cars and offered to "install" a new one for $15 plus labor. A new radiator cap costs about $5 at auto parts stores.

 

On a touch-tone phone, those are the numbers you punch in to spell "FUCKU" and "FUCKYOU"

 

One store asked me for my number, so I gave them, 867-5309.

It must have been flagged as a fake number, because the sales clerk says, "Please don't give fake numbers."



Haven't seen too many stores asking for phone numbers lately though, which is a good thing.

Even when stores like Best buy did it, they'd always stop doing it around the holidays, because apparently entering those numbers takes too long during christmas, but not during other times of year.

 

I went to Toys R Us to buy something for my kids, and the girl at the register asked me for my number.

I looked at her, and was like, "Um, what, why?" She explained it was for marketing purposes, and I declined.

Next time I go in, a creepy-looking guy was right in front of me in line. Girl at the register asks him for his number. Creep said his number then made some sexually suggestive comments. Girl's jaw dropped, then she called the manager, who escorted the guy out.

I came up next, and I told the girl that the last time I was asked the number, I had thought I was being asked for a date as well, and advised them that the way they were asking for it sounded like they wanted a date.

After that, whenever I went in, everyone would be asked their number, but with a "For marketing and coupon purposes" added at the end of the request. I still don't give out the number.

Oh, and don't get me started on timeshare property sales pitches. My wife dragged me to one for a free gift, and they nearly got us buying some condo in Florida.

 

No need to be passive-aggressive about it. Just tell them you refuse to disclose personal information. I never give out my number for any reason.

 

I hate the oil change places, especially if you're in there on a special deal or coupon.

When I had a Toyota truck it was easy to change the oil myself.

Unfortunately when it crapped put at 250,000 miles, I couldn't afford a new or resonably used Toyota and bought a used Dodge truck. It's not so easy to get to the filter, etc.

So, I take it in to some quick change place.

"Your air filter looks dirty." "Could we change your wiper blades?" "The Dodge service schedule says that you need your glove box flushed. We can hook it up to our machine and do it in 10 minutes for only $60."

Makes me nuts.

 

No question, the worst "upsell" comes from the United States Postal Service.

I hate them. Ask them for the basic rate, and they'll say, "oh, but you can go first class for only 61 cents more." If you don't go for it, they break out the scare tactics: "I can't promise it will get there by Tuesday."

It's a total scam. They all go out on the same shipment.

They're the worst around Christmas. F the postal service.

 

The U.S. Postal Service may be guilty of up-selling, but packages and mail don't always all go out on the same shipment.
If you send something bulk rate and somebody else sends a similar load first class and there's only room on the truck for one of them, your stuff gets taken off and the first-class stuff goes on.
The same is true with priority vs. parcel post.

 

No, you had a different type of conversation.

Selling isn't about pushing shit on people. It's about talking to people

 

In metro Detroit, it's ABC Warehouse... Salesmen are on you like flies on shit....

 

The thing that is great about ABC is that you can haggle them down on everything. If you're not prepared for that, well, then sorry to hear that.