I have to say I was put off by the first couple of paragraphs do cannot be sure if this whole post is about some market structure imperfection or just a rant about hard sell tactics. I think a better term is needed than sale as that is a pretty loaded word in some cases but very neutral and descriptive of a simple market exchange. One would be consistent with the 101 econ theory of perfect information while the other is not. But the 101 econ world of perfect information has never existed and I don’t thing any operates on that premise they are operating in such a world.
As for the starting lie, I simple tell the sales person I just looking now and will not buy today. If they want to spend some time explaining things to me and answering questions I might want to ask, that’s good. If they try pushing for a decision I’ll once more tell them I am not buying anything today. If they persist I’ll tell them to stop being rude and leave.
I suppose, not having read the full post but looking at the first couple of comments, part of the issue here has nothing to do with economics or market transactions/interaction but more about peoples sense of courtesy and recognition that they choose to enter a location where people have a job of interacting with the customers, often with income based on sales, and where the expectation is that customers are interested in buying products that are sold there. So when sales staff approach the customer expects some attempt to sell. So I see it more as a form of negotiation communications at something of a civil level. Is that really a problem?
I have to say I was put off by the first couple of paragraphs do cannot be sure if this whole post is about some market structure imperfection or just a rant about hard sell tactics. I think a better term is needed than sale as that is a pretty loaded word in some cases but very neutral and descriptive of a simple market exchange. One would be consistent with the 101 econ theory of perfect information while the other is not. But the 101 econ world of perfect information has never existed and I don’t thing any operates on that premise they are operating in such a world.
As for the starting lie, I simple tell the sales person I just looking now and will not buy today. If they want to spend some time explaining things to me and answering questions I might want to ask, that’s good. If they try pushing for a decision I’ll once more tell them I am not buying anything today. If they persist I’ll tell them to stop being rude and leave.
I suppose, not having read the full post but looking at the first couple of comments, part of the issue here has nothing to do with economics or market transactions/interaction but more about peoples sense of courtesy and recognition that they choose to enter a location where people have a job of interacting with the customers, often with income based on sales, and where the expectation is that customers are interested in buying products that are sold there. So when sales staff approach the customer expects some attempt to sell. So I see it more as a form of negotiation communications at something of a civil level. Is that really a problem?