TRYING TO BE ONE TOUGH CUSTOMER

Old Trunks is thinking about the door to door salespeople and parties

Fuller brushes
Vacuum cleaners
Jewel Tea
Stanley Home Products
Watkins
Tupperware
Jewelry
Mary Kay Cosmetics
Girl Scout cookies
Cutco Knives

I asked my sweet Thomas why his mother had so many pieces of Golden Harvest dishes. He laughed. The story is that his mother wouldn't buy an products from Watkins unless she got something else from them. In this case, dishes.

You would have to know Erna to understand she was one tough customer. She was not easily sold, there had to be a way to make her feel she got the best of the deal. Good for her!!!

Old Trunks wonders how annoyed people were when Girl Scouts banged on doors to see cookies, candy, or calendars. As a Scout, I didn't think much about it, it was for the cause! We didn't think about aged people being nearly forced to buy the product. And don't say, "They could have said no." These people didn't say no.

What about the kids selling candy bars for Boy Scouts, corsages for school, collecting money for UNICEF, and people going door to door for money for different illnesses? Where are you on that?

Tell me true.....did you really think you could go to a Tupperware party at Ronna's house and just be there for the socializing? Did you really think you would not feel guilty if you left without ordering a bacon keeper, even though the entire package of bacon was cooked and you didn't need one?

How many of you went to your best friends jewelry party and thought to keep the friendship in tact you must by something only to be scolded when you got home for spending grocery money on nonsense? Do you still have the jewelry? Do you remember what you bought?

Did you let that vacuum salesman in with the idea that you would let him pitch his wares and say no at the end even if your husband said he could buy it wholesale for much less? Did you buy and find you must, no matter what keep using that sweeper even if it was poorer quality than expected? Was it the husband that caught on and softly suggested putting in a vacuum system in the new house? Or did you keep it, even though you had to hand feed the sweeper to pick up the lightest of soil?

How about those Cutco salesman, you know, the guy you went to high school with that you must give the image that you are able to afford the product? Did you keep those knives from 1952 until death when someone else sent them into the company for replacement? Did you actually use those knives for 50 years? The answer in this case is, yes.

What are the standard answers? Are there any? Haven't we all been caught up at one time or another? Would I buy Girl Scout cookies from a door to door salesperson? Yes. But I will not buy from her mother who is circulating the list at work.

Recently I went to a office supply house to get paper for a project. They were collecting money for school supplies for a teacher. We know that teacher's spend a lot of money out of pocket for the bells and whistles not in the budget. Well, so does anyone working with young and old. But the point is this:

The first time I was there, the cashier said what they were doing and asked if I would like to give $5 while she looked at me in a charming way. I will tell you she was NOT charming to look at but had a way. Little Oggie in her, I am certain!

The second time I was at the store, she waited on me again. She remembered me and thanked me for the previous donation.

The third time I was at the store, in another section, doing something else, the salesperson asked if I would like to donate $1. She did not look up from what she was doing. I told her to take what was left of the $20 bill, which was about $1.50. What you need to understand is, I did not give again because she asked, but because the first salesperson remembered me--the charming one.

Have you bought something in the last five years where someone really pitched to you?

Have you bought something in the last five years that made you feel good?

Have you bought something in the last five years you told yourself you needed only to find you didn't?

Welcome to trying to be a tough customer.

e