Walk down any street in most towns, cities or countries and there will be someone that wants your opinion or will try and sell you something. For example; take a walk through Staines in the UK and more than likely one of the many guys in army camo’s will try and get you to sign up for a game of paintball. Likewise, Croydon and Kingston there will be people asking for you to help out on a survey, you’ve met them all I expect.
Well I have a tip for you that will enable your swift escape; guaranteed – I’ve tried it many times and it’s worked every single time. Of course you could use the approach “No!”, “too busy”, “Je ne parle pas Anglais” (yes, I’ve used that one), but I have a more sympathetic approach.
The approach
You see there is one thing that all canvassers have in common; a spot. They have been assigned a particular location and can only engage in a conversation in that area. They need you to stop and talk with them, sure they are polite but they need the numbers on the clipboard, and what starts as a couple of minutes can extend into a lot more.
The trick
As they start to talk to you, probably introducing themselves, apologise to them and tell them you are in a hurry; some will let you go but others will persist. Here’s the killer, tell them you are happy to answer their questions with a smile providing they walk with you. This is the crunch, it will take them out of their assigned location – they will not walk with you.
Give it a try next time you’re approached and let me know how it went – it’s never failed for me.