Don't Be Bullied By Tough Salesmen!

Once upon a time, we began to look at siding for a house.

We got a few guesstimates, I mean estimates by phone, just giving the size of our home. Most wanted to come out and naturally give us a more exact $ amount. Which is usually a great idea so you will know exactly what you are going to be in for!

Well, one company sends out a fellow, he takes measurements for the 'boss' and says that he'll get 'back with us'. Ok, that's good. Well, the next thing I know, there's a great big truck pulling up loaded down with supplies and piling them up beside my house!

Out I go to find out who they are and why they are dumping all this in my yard. They were from that company that was supposed to get back with me. I told him to stop everything, I had not approved this deal and had never been given a price. He started with "my boss said..." I ended with, "may I have your bosses number?" Then kindly reminded him that he didn't really want to have to load it all back up so he may as well sit a spell.

I went in to call 'the boss' and told him that I had not even gotten a price quote. It turned into a phone tag game with a few of them (I don't know how many 'bosses' there actually was) and they finally gave me a price that was TWICE AS MUCH as the lowest one that I had gotten from other companies and I told him so. He was not happy but I said, "if you can give me that kind of deal, you may have the job". He then sent 'the boss' to my house who pulled up in a very nice Mercedes, expensive clothes, and gold rings on. I said, "Hello, how are you?" And he just started right in with "my men have already got this much unloaded and I can cut you a bit of slack on the price but..." I said, "Well, I thank you for your time and for considering that but we won't be interested in a deal at that price." He was mad and even got a bit sassy. The whole while the fellow that I told to sit a spell sat trying not to grin and kept turning his head away. I then reminded him that we were never told a price before those supplies arrived and he acted as though that shouldn't matter. I told him to "have a nice day" and told the other sitting fellow to go ahead and load it back up. He was very kind and did so. The other man in the Mercedes just kept right on.

Funny story, but true!
He just didn't know that he was messing with such a frugal Mom I guess! ;-)