Post #25752 by Kailuageoff on Sat, Mar 8, 2003 7:29 AM

Basement Kahuna,
I think you should consider that all of the "dreaded" lines you mentioned could also be interpreted as pleasant ways of saying "No, thanks".
I say that because I've used variations of all of them -- even when:

1. shadowed by the owner/vulture who follows you around the store until you finally leave without buying anything because you have the creeps,
   2)the owner/huckster who keeps asking if you have seen this or that even though you are trying your best to look completely bored and disinterested,
   3)the owner/gouger who announces everything is 20 percent off when you walk through the door, but also overprices their merchandise by 50 percent,
2. the owner/with no prices unless you ask about an item and they immediately announce it is three times what you would expect to pay because "the same thing just sold on e-bay at a higher price",
3. the owner/pack rat who has so much crap piled up in their store you can't move without breaking something (which is probably how they make most of their money).
4. the owner /trash picker who is selling -- you guessed it.
   Maybe someday I'll summon enough nerve to just look one of these guys or gals in the eye and say "I drove all the way over here because I thought you might have something I'd like at a fair price, but after looking around I see all you have is a collection of over-priced junk. You know, it's amazing you can stay in business. No thanks."
   Of course, I also encounter many sellers -- of which I am sure you are one -- that have well-lighted stores with things clearly in view, prices on them and merchandise semi-organized by category. These people usually let you walk through the store unmolested and have at least a few things that are of interest. Even if I don't buy something, they seemed satisfied with a "thank you" as I walk out the door, knowing a well-run business doesn't need to brow-beat or attempt to trick customers into buying merchandise. In fact, these are the businesses I usually go back to repeatedly and buy things from.

Aloha from the Sunshine State!

[ Edited by: Kailuageoff on 2003-03-08 07:31 ]

[ Edited by: Kailuageoff on 2003-03-08 07:33 ]