Monday, January 8, 2018

A SALESMAN'S DREAM


Are you a salesman's dream?  I think I am.
Sunday I was in Walmart when an announcement came over the intercom about a free give away taking place. Well I do like free and was born curious so I followed the directions to the demonstration. There was a modest group who had also responded to "free".

At a table was a really thin, high energy middle aged man. He quickly proceeded with the show. Yes it was a show and performance.  You would have thought he was doing stand up for a sold out house.

Yes he made me laugh and yes he wowed me with his product.  He was touting a man made  chamois.  Now I am not a really big car washing person and definitely not a car drying person.  I usually just drive really fast for a while to dry off the car after I wash it.  However the household uses he demonstrated were very impressive.

The faux chamois was made of a really, really absorbent material. I mean really. It literally sucked half a liter of Coke out of a 10 inch by 5 inch carpet remnant, leaving the patch of rug, table under it and around it quite dry. No dripping.

He kept handing out small samples to the group (that was the free part) and I figured that was all I would get. Then he said the magic words that it was really useful in drying off your pets.  Ooh, ooh, now I was listening.

I hate washing Callie for I can never get her dry enough with towels to allow her to stay in the house. She will try to finish the job of drying by rolling on the couch or bed. No thanks.

Blow drying a dog is a long process and one she is miserable with. To let her go outside--weather permitting--means she will come back in dirtier than before the bath as she rolls and rolls picking up dirt and leaves.

Needless to say, except when she gets to go to the doggy beauty parlor, she isn't the cleanest pooch. Lucky for us both, she is short haired.  If these magic cloths could get her as dry as that Coke soaked carpet remnant, then I was sold.

The deal was for three giant towels and a magic mop which I have no idea even works for $29.98.  Yes, I walked out with the package.

The mop is in the corner and may or may not ever get used.  However if the temperatures warm up a bunch, I will try the magic cloths on Callie. Hoping it will work as advertised.  If it doesn't, I have 30 square feet of mop up cloths I need to find storage space for.  I am so weak.

Are you a salesman's dream or can you resist?

49 comments :

  1. I find it really easy to resist those salesmen. Was the product "Shamwow"? That was advertised quite heavily here on TV a couple of years ago and my daughter bought some online. She gave me one of the pieces. I found it dried things about as well as a wet towel would and threw it away. As far as I know my daughter still has hers, but it never gets used.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. River,
      Somehow I missed Shamwow when it was big here but now that you mentioned it, it is probably pretty much the same thing. We will see.

      Delete
  2. Patti, it's open minded folk like you that help the economy by circulating the cash. When I go shopping, I just want to get back home as fast as possible. Except for nice looking fruit and veg, if it ain't on my shopping list, I ain't interested! I even mute my remote when a TV commercial comes on. I'm definitely a salesperson's nightmare.

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    Replies
    1. Out to Pasture,
      Ha ha. "Open minded" is the nice way to call gullible:) I'll try to remember that. I envy you your strength.

      Delete
  3. I had one of those cloths years ago. I liked it, sort of, but when it dries out after use, it's like a board and hard to store anywhere. Let me know if you do end up using it or not. You are definitely a salesman's dream. :-)

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    Replies
    1. Djan,
      Hum, never got to see it dry out in the demo. Now you have me curious. And yep, I am easy:)

      Delete
  4. I hope it works as advertised. We keep on hoping against hope, don't we? I have learned to take things back but I don't know what Walmart policy is like in that regard. If nothing else, they look like they would make good wrapping/packing material.

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    Replies
    1. Olga,
      Walmart usually has an excellent return policy but since he didn't work for them--I don't know. I did check out with their cashier so maybe I'll have a case. Thanks for the plan B if I can't:)

      Delete
  5. I am definitely not a salesman's dream. I would shop with my eyes closed if I could with a magnet pre-programmed to direct to what I came for. That being said, I'd love to hear how that magic cloth works out!

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    Replies
    1. robin,
      Oh how I envy you determination and single mindedness. Maybe I should work on that for 2018:)

      Delete
  6. I can resist most of the sales pitches I hear, but as you know free is free even if it costs you 29.98.

    I sure hope those towels dry Callie as advertised.

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    Replies
    1. Jimmy,
      If they dry Callie, it was worth it. Otherwise, I am thinking plan B usages.

      Delete
  7. I'm quite focused when I shop and wouldn't be swayed by a salesman, but my partner is. I really hope the cloth works on Callie.

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    1. Joey,
      Ah ha, but what if he was selling a cool hat or shirt with some bling?
      Me too on hoping for the best for Callie.

      Delete
  8. HA---we'e been there/done that... Free doesn't turn out FREE does it???? The sales people who are GOOD can surely sell something to us gullible people... Sometimes it works; sometimes NOT.... Hope your new special towels work!!!!! Keep us posted.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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    Replies
    1. Betsy,
      Ha,ha well the small samples were free but I have checked and found I could have gotten the towels a lot cheaper on the Internet. Ah--live and learn.

      Delete
  9. I am pretty resistant only because I am very cheap. He had you with a potential solution to a real problem...hope it works, and is worth a shot. When I see demonstrations that seem too good to be true think of magic acts where impossible stuff is made to look real, don't know how they do it, but i'm pretty sure it is a trick that I can't duplicate.

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    Replies
    1. joeh,
      Yep, I told him he had me at "pets". Had it been a TV ad, I wouldn't have bought for they can edit what you see. I did witness the so called "Magic" first hand but as Djan said, they get stiff once used. He didn't show us that. We will see I guess.

      Delete
  10. I always fall for "free" magazines. They cost $2.00 for various periods, then they charge you the full amount and you have to cancel if you are tired of them. I'm so tired of the latest avalanche of magazines in my mailbox. But I guess I just can't say NO!

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    Replies
    1. Inger,
      Welcome to the club. You and I put bread on a lot of peoples tables. I use to be a magazine junkie but the Internet broke me of that thank goodness.

      Delete
  11. The chamois cloth is nothing new. My husband used to buy them for his classic car. I never would have thought to use them on the dog. I hope it works for you!

    I'm not a sucker for in-store salesmen like that but they are fun and if you can use what they sell, why not?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jean R,
      Now that you mention it, I have one of those car detail cloths in my garage. It is a lot thinner. Well at least now I have a lot of them. If it works on Callie, I am good.

      Delete
  12. Unfortunately, I never respond to advertisements or demonstrations. Sometimes those "sold on TV only" items look interesting, but I know that Walmart will eventually carry them, so I never order. Good luck with your towels!

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    Replies
    1. Rian,
      Me too on the TV ads. I don't trust them for I know they can edit the film. I am a sucker though for the personal touch. And you are right, Walmart will eventually carry them.

      Delete
  13. I bet they work on Callie. And why not try the mop? :)

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  14. Mage,
    I am hoping for that. I will probably try the mop, It just doesn't look like it could handle any more than light mopping.

    ReplyDelete
  15. It should dry Callie. It dries Olympic athletes after they dive!!

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    Replies
    1. Fran,
      He did mention that very fact. Glad to have someone else verify it. Thanks.

      Delete
  16. I am not a salesman's dream. I can resist. But at least you have a good reason for buying this product.

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  17. I am not a salesman's dream, but you definitely are, Patti! I sure hope Callie comes out super-dry, and you love your purchase!

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    Replies
    1. Barb,
      Yep, I sure am. If it will dry Callie, than I will feel vindicated. Otherwise I will chalk it up to lesson learned--maybe.

      Delete
  18. I tend to be quite dismissive but only because I've been sucked in by a persuasive salesman several times in my life.

    Hope the chamois work...you'll have to let us know.

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    Replies
    1. Eileen,
      At least you learned. I am still gullible after all these years.

      Delete
  19. Well I too hope it works BUT if it doesn't, but don't feel bad, just think of the line that a snake oil scammer was able to sell millions of Americans who then elected him President....:(

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    Replies
    1. I'm still reeling from the snake oil salesman before him!

      Delete
    2. Ray,
      Isn't it interesting how all these things are $29. Too little to get angry over. At least I didn't buy the snake oil.

      Delete
  20. Oh my gosh! I did the same thing in Canada twice when we were on a trip. The chamois somehow did not work as well at home. Sigh... I don't know why. The fancy ruler also bombed out on me and was eventually thrown away. I'll bet yours will work well though. I bought mine on the street. Yours was at Walmart so they must have checked it out first.

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    Replies
    1. Kay,
      Ha ha. Do you think it takes a special touch to make it do what his did? I may have the same problem for he sure made it look like magic. We will see.

      Delete
  21. Well, there was the time my husband and I went into a pool place to buy some chemicals and came out with a hot tub. True story. And this year at the state fair when I watched a guy use a really amazing floor steam cleaner and came home with it and havee used it once. Or the time I allowed a man to demonstrate cookware in my home to me and a few other people and I ended up spending four thousand dollars on cookware. Yes, I am a salesman's best dream.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Buttons and Quilts,
      Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
      Laughing as I am so the same, well almost. I don't have the cookware. But I do have an unused steam cleaner. wonder if there is a 12 step program for this.

      Delete
  22. Hahaha. Yes, I can be talked into a buy but I am also the Queen of Returns so I think it evens out. If you saw it soak up the coke then I think it probably will be a good deal but be sure and let us know before I get asked to watch a free demo.

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    Replies
    1. Barbara,
      You just gave me a great tool for this disease. Returns. Why not ask if they will take it back? Smart.

      Delete
  23. I can resist. I am not a salesman’s dream. Now, my husband on the other hand would have bought the same things you did. He would love to know that such a cloth exists. He would love to use it on our dog. I hope it works for you.

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    Replies
    1. Sally,
      Good to know he has you to put the brakes on for him. It would really be cool if it does dry Callie like promised.

      Delete
  24. I got suckered into buying a set of creams that was guaranteed to make my skin look younger a couple of years ago in Branson. I won't tell what obscene price I paid for the stuff. Don't ask if it works because it's like many other things I've bought, I used it for awhile and gave it up. It took a good deal of time to apply all that stuff and let it set, wipe it off and apply something else. I'm a slap on a little makeup and go kinda girl and wash my face with soap and water. I think that'll be the last time I let a salesman talk me into a purchase like that! Hope you like your purchase!

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    Replies
    1. Cheryl,
      I know what you mean. You see the results and think why not? Then you get home and find it is a ton of work. I'm like you and would not like all that prep work. As long as most of my friends have vision issues, why bother?

      Delete
  25. I’m cheating and commenting here since you suspended comments. Just wanted to wish you good luck and rest, Patti.

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  26. Dear Patti, I can usually resist a "free" item and a sales' pitch. But I seldom am able to resist a new book title that gets a good review from someone whose opinion I respect. I have so many--and I'm talking about maybe 200--books I haven't read but I keep thinking I will one day.

    As to that chamois. I would have bought it because of its uses! Peace.

    ReplyDelete

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