A Thirty Dollar Lesson.

[dubya]

I went to the mall to get a tab book I'd been looking at. I've been trying to teach myself how to play a guitar. I walk past this kiosk and some girl stops me.

Her: Why don't you take care of your skin?
Me: What?

The question didn't make since. It was out of context. I was thinking about guitars, the mall and if a certain book store was still around. And here is this girl asking me why I don't take care of my skin. By the time I realized she was trying to sell me something she had grabbed my arm and led me around the other side of the kiosk. She then smeared this stuff on my arm and started talking. She just kept talking. Only occationally did she stop to ask me a question and as soon as I said anything she was off again talking ninty to nothing. She had an accent and she said that she was from Isreal. She then started talking about the Dead Sea. This stuff she was rubbing into my arm she claimed was made from the salt in the Dead Sea.


Her: This is good it comes from the Dead Sea.
Me: Whats so good about that? Its the Dead Sea everythings Dead there.

Her: No, it's because of the salt... blah blah blah.
Me: Yeah salt. Makes everything Dead, So why would I want to put something dead on my face. It's just Dead, thats not good.
Her: You are... how you say, you are making fun of me.
Me: Yep just busting your balls.
Her: What? Anyway....

And on she went, not understanding the euphinism she launched back into her lecture about skincare. After all this she puts this tiny bottle in my hand and explains that it's usually $70 and blah blah blah. She then (Without asking me if I wanted it) leads me by the hand over to the registar and ask me how I want to pay. I resist at first. She ask why and gives me this look that says, "you either don't understand what I've been telling you or you're a dumbass."

5 minutes later I'm walking away confused, holding a bottle of Dead Sea goop that I don't want and missing $30 that I did want.

As I walked away I asked myself, "What just happened?"

And the answer comes. She sarged me.

I had spent the night before in Barnes and Nobles reading a book by Seth Goddin, All Marketers are Liars. Goddin describes a trend in marketing is to tell an authentic story to the customer that matches a lie the customer tells himself. In the back of my mind I can hear Goddin describing perfectly what happened. She told me two stories. One about the Dead Sea. The other about her being Isreali. Then she led me where she wanted, asuming not asking if I wanted to go.

By the time I got to my car I had remembered Caldini in his book talking about how it felt when the boy scout sold him a chocholate bar he didn't want. It's like my brain keeps trying to make me feel better by referancing the expeirence to things I've read or heard about.

Now that I have this stuff I guess I have to use it, right? Otherwise it's just a waste.
And I keep thinking maybe it actually works and will make my skin more clear.

Yet every time I think that I can see Goddin with his bald little head smiling at me saying, "Sure Wes, Just keep telling yourself the story. Because it's the story after all that you bought, not the product."

[Mojo]

I had a pleasure of meeting these folks at the mall too. I make brief mention of it in the thread:

http://dallaspua.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=86




When talking to the sales girl, I found the company that sells that stuff actually flies these Isrealis into America to sell it. Not a bad marketing ploy. People do place higher value on the exotic/imported.

One of the things I did was test out my shiney nails on girls that were walking by... to see if they could tell the difference. Most couldn't. So it gave me a reason not to buy it.

Also, the book: Influence, the Pschology of Persuasion... is an excellent read for PUA's. The salesperson you met were using pschological triggers that make you feel you must buy the product. For example, by 1) giving you a free sample [reciprocation], 2) being likeable, 3) being Isreali and thus seeming to be the authority on the product.

[rm99]

I've seen the Israeli girls selling lotion at the mall where I live too (Youngstown, OH)! I had an interesting experience with them this past sunday.

I was walking through the mall when the first Israeli girl practically dragged me over to her little kiosk. She was 'flirting' heavily with me (I use the term 'flirting' loosely because it was very transparent and fake, definitely part of the sales pitch). She asked me if I had a girlfriend or wife, and the whole time she had her arm intertwined with mine (at the very least I was getting some free social proof).

After rubbing this stuff on my hands that looked like road salt mixed with tanning lotion, she started with the sales pitch. I pretty much kept bargaining with her, eventually getting her down to $20 (it started out at $80). In the end I didn't buy anything, though, and it was fun watching her feined enthusiasm turn into frustration.

After that I started walking through the mall again and I saw another kiosk with two Israelis selling the same exact thing. This time it was a man and a woman. The woman did the same exact thing, flagged me over and started running the exact same sales pitch. I figured I'd have some more fun and played along like she really did like me. We were talking on a first name basis by this time when I decided I'd throw her a curve ball. I intentionally slipped up and called her by the name of the girl at the first kiosk, but I kept talking like I didn't even notice I had done it. Instantly her state changed from energetic to disdain as she realized I was playing with her. I thanked her for the hand washing and went on my way.

Now I know what HB10's feel like when they go to a club and have AFCs make clumsy passes at them. Had those girls practiced some of the PUA methods discussed here, I'd be going home with about a dozen bottles of lotion

[rez]

sorry to drudge this topic back up to life but I'm new to this whole PUA scene and I wonder why you didn't try to do a "reverse sarge"(dont know what else to call it). For example say she grabs your hand or asks to see your nails, kind of smile doing the whole maintain eye contact thing. Then sort of joke with her asking some proding questions like "Do you sell this stuff to your boyfriend?" so either you can shift the conversation to find out if she has a boyfriend and if she does then move in for a steal or duck out. All the while eliciting the responses that your interstead in the product so that shell continue to try to sell you. Also if she thinks your going to buy she tell you just about anything. You should be able to at least number close depending on your reactions to her pitch. Me personally I look at any female as a target even if your not trying to "sarge" them for a number or a date you can atleast try to get something like a discount on whatever. I dunno an input on my ideas would be extremely helpfull. I'm always looking for ways to better myself.

[Westfall]

Me personally I look at any female as a target even if your not trying to "sarge" them for a number or a date you can atleast try to get something like a discount on whatever. I dunno an input on my ideas would be extremely helpfull. I'm always looking for ways to better myself.

I do the same thing. I think thats a good idea.

It gives you practice
It creates complaince--she gives you a discount
You get something cheaper.
You can then easily roll into a routine such as e.g.

Wow, I didn't know you were such a break-the-rules-kinda gal... You're like my lil sister, always getting into mischief....I'm going to have to keep an eye on you--you NEED to be supervised.

Westfall

[Westfall]

Oh, and about those Dead Sea assholes.

I told one...

WF: I can't afford it, I'm sending all my money to Hamas.

I really am an ass.

Westfall

[brad p.]

I'd say return that crap next time you're at the mall.

You got frame controlled 100%, so try to learn as much as you can from it.
See how she talked about what SHE wanted to talk about and didn't really let you get a word in? That'swhat you gotta learn to do. See how she looked at you like you were nuts when you resisted? You have to learn that too. Sales people have awesome frame control. Good to learn from.

Brad P.