If you’ve ever gone shopping, I’m sure you’ve experienced something called the ‘upsell’: the wonderfully irritating efforts of sales clerks to offer you every useless bell and whistle imaginable at the checkout.
According to a recent article in the Globe and Mail, those harmless extras can really do a lot of damage to your expenses. The article points out how much money one can waste buying items such as a discount card at Chapters, a breakfast food with a morning coffee, an extra DVD rental for “only a dollar more” and of course those ever-popular “extended warranties” for every piece of technology in existence.
What’s the big deal with getting sucked into spending a couple of extra dollars here and there? I, for example, am a sales clerk’s dream customer: the mention of a muffin with my latte from the friendly Starbucks barista gets me every time and “a dollar more” for an extra item I don’t really need is basically something for nothing, right?
Don’t even get me started on extended warranties—besides having the technological knowledge of a carrot, I’m always worried I’ll do something stupid to my computer like step on it (guilty) or mysteriously cause the “blue screen of death” (also guilty). Needless to say, I never hesitate to drop money on a warranty.
After looking through my bank statements each month, I’m always shocked to find out where my money goes—all those supposedly harmless add-ons add up!
So why, exactly, do I have such a hard time saying no?
Maybe it’s because I realize that many sales clerks aren’t a bunch of secret schemers trying to steal all my money.
Trust me; I’ve been on the other side of the counter. Having worked in retail, I know what it’s like to receive an ominous glare from a manager when my sales pitch doesn’t work out. I’ve also experienced the equally ominous glare from customers clearly telling me to get out of their face. The memories of shamefully slinking away are all too fresh.
Despite being able to sympathize with sales clerks, there’s no way I can continue going through life falling for sales pitch after sales pitch. If you’re like me, how can we steer clear of careless spending?
Although it seems obvious, what really helps me is asking the question “do I really, really need this extra?” During my semi-annual trip to Chapters, should I drop 20 bucks on that 10% discount card? Probably not. When I buy a new iPod, should I shell out the cash for those gimmicky warranties? Well, considering my history, probably.
It’s also often difficult for me to toe the line between assertive politeness and ive acceptance that gives sales clerks the green light to keep offering me stuff. Maybe I smile too much. Or maybe … I just don’t say ‘no’ enough. What a novel concept!
There’s nothing wrong with niceness, as long as it doesn’t control your wallet.
By saying no, you’re doing yourself a favour at the end of the day.
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