All too often (at least once or twice a week), i come into work to be harrassed and bothered by another coworker to buy something. One week it’s some kid’s school trip, or a sports team, the next it’s your stupid avon crap that NOONE needs, or would possibly want to buy if you weren’t pressuring them. What the fuck? I come here to make money so that i can live a somewhat comfortable life, not spend it to make yours better. I’ll probably get reamed for being a cheap ass, but when you work for next to nothing, and you have little left for yourself after the bills are paid, you have to be somewhat frugal to enjoy what you have. Fuck all those pushers, and fuck you too if you’re one of them.
This article appears in Feb 7-13, 2008.
‘Sorry, can’t help you’ or ‘No’ generally works. It’s all in the delivery. Try to be nice about it.
I wouldn’t call you cheap for not buying the stuff your co-workers are hawking, but why can’t you just say “no thank you”. And the co-workers should just leave the candy or whatever in the breakroom with a collection box or post a sign saying “come see me if you want such and such”. It is much less intrusive that way.
I would just tell them assertively that you don’t wish their solicitations. tell them to leave their catalogue or something in the lunch room and if you want to you’ll preview it at your leisure!
While you can say no politely, it still galls me that people ask and that they consider you cheap if you don’t. I don’t have kids in school or sports, I don’t sell Partylite or Avon, and I never ask anyone for money at work…it’s just not cool. I agree with the idea of leaving it in the lunch room so people can make their own choice whether or not to buy or donate…I just might if I’m not directly approached!