How Do You Feel When This Happens?

Updated on March 31, 2011
S.G. asks from Fort Eustis, VA
24 answers

Do you like it, not like it, or don't care when people seem to pitching their products in a response? Do you carefully read the pro-Total Money Makeover responses or skip to the next one? Are you more confident in someone's Mary Kay makeup or vitamin supplement recommendation if you can tell from their response that they are obviously a representative of the company? Let's see if this question gets pulled!
full dislosure: I don't particularly care, but lean toward feeling negatively about sales pitches on this site. I generally pass on by those responses that are selling something.

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Featured Answers

T.K.

answers from Dallas on

I take a reccomendation more seriously if I know the person is not going to profit from it. If someone tells me "MK Timwise is great, I've been using it and I love it" That carries weight with me. If someone says "I sell MK and they have a great product called Timewise" that carries no weight at all. It doesn't bother me, it just doesn't impress me.

6 moms found this helpful
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S.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Hate it - it makes me disregard anything they say and I ususally assume they ar a rep or a false poster. Unless, I ask for a product recommendaiton, then I don't mind a sales pitch too much.

You aren't a marketing firm asking this question, are you?

6 moms found this helpful

M.J.

answers from Dover on

Yep, I'm with you. I don't like it when someone has a question about what type of body wash they should try & get a million responses of people trying to sell them stuff. Just makes me feel like I'm reading a post by a used car salesman, like I need to take a shower & wash the ookiness off of me just for reading.

5 moms found this helpful

More Answers

L.G.

answers from Austin on

We have a NO SOLICITING sign on our door, I'd like to have one on here too. ;)

7 moms found this helpful

H.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

I loathe those answers, and yes, I skip right over responses that urge you to try something that is working for them....
The Dave Ramsey thing is on the top of my list. People will tell someone who doesn't have $5 to their name for gas in their car, or their next sandwich, to pay off all of their debt first. Really? Lets see how that works for someone who can't pay their bills to begin with.

I have received private messages in response to my posts. Someone wants me to go to their site and see how they can help me. People even wanting me to call them at this...number. No thank you. It's not appropriate for this site.

5 moms found this helpful
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B.T.

answers from Detroit on

I am a huge dave ramsey fan, and yes, I have responded to somene who has asked for some advice on how to set up a budget. It's worked for me, I am simply passing on the information.

I am also a MaryKay consultant, but don't shove it down someone's throat on this site, unless someone is looking for a MK product, I will usually just private message them tho.

I do agree with not soliciting on this site.

4 moms found this helpful
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R.K.

answers from New York on

I can't stand it! WE are not here to be sold stuff. Just wait someone who works for Arbonne or something else will say something.
Hehe

4 moms found this helpful
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S.E.

answers from La Crosse on

I report sales plugs...that isn't what the site is for. I think it is deplorable that people use the site for anything more than questions, comments, answers, venting, and chat. You want to throw your product out there - use ebay or craigslist.

3 moms found this helpful

A.S.

answers from Detroit on

If I didn't ask for a product or service recommendation, I don't want to see it. If the poster didn't ask for a product or service recommendation, I don't want to see it. I pass right by em.

3 moms found this helpful
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A.F.

answers from St. Cloud on

I can't stand it! The worst is when someone is asking a question that has NOTHING to do with the product being pushed.
A couple of examples:
1. A woman was asking how to cope with giving birth while her husband was deployed and one woman responded, telling her that she needed to invest in her home based business.
2. A mom was asking for advice on what she could possibly do to stay pregnant. She had experienced multiple miscarriages and was heartbroken. Again, a woman responded, saying that investing in such and such "work at home" business would keep her busy, and using the products would make her body carry a baby to full term.

I am inundated with people pushing their businesses on me in "real life", and it's annoying to find it on this site as well.

3 moms found this helpful

L.M.

answers from Dover on

I don't read all the responses (except to my own questions) but I do browse them and see if something catches my attention. I don't mind if someone gives a legitimate answer in a response even if they are a representative but I do hope they are being genuine and not just giving a "sales pitch".

I am a marketing representative (not necessarily the same as a "sales" person although many don't realize that) for Work At Home United and Melaleuca but I will not be dishonest in what I say just because I am a rep. In some cases, I will respond with what I use and will sometimes get a message asking where to get it. In other cases, I may state what I use and if you want more info just ask...I don't want to shove anything down anyone's throat. Additionally, I only provide FREE information and IF you are interested I help you get started but I don't sell anything nor do I force anyone to join me.

3 moms found this helpful

C.F.

answers from Boston on

I, personally, dont care for 'sales people' BUT hey we all gotta make a living right???

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J.B.

answers from Boston on

Well if the question is about a problem where the solution is a product, I don't mind if someone mentions something by name or has info because they sell it. For example, I was going to post a question about mascara and searched first for related questions and naturally there were responses from folks who sell Avon, Mary Kay etc. Also on the finance questions, I see nothing wrong with people recommending that someone look into Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, just like if someone asks a discipline question you'll always get someone in the love and logic camp to speak up. In those cases I assume that it's someone who has applied what they learned and is sharing her experience with others in the same boat. I never considered Dave Ramsey as something to "sell" but I'm not familiar with it either other than hearing people say that the approach works for them. I haven't seen many responses where I felt that someone was trying to "sell" something and I think most of the ones I have seen have been pretty respectful in the "I happen to sell this product/work in this field and this is what I've learned feel free to PM me if you have other questions" sense.

2 moms found this helpful

N.G.

answers from Dallas on

If I am asking specifically for a product recommendation, which I do occasionally, I definitely don't mind it. But if, however, it is not relevant to my question, I hate it. Also, if I can definitely tell that someone is "plugging" a product that they themselves are representing, it's annoying as all get out. So, I agree with you.

2 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

I really don't care.
It does not bother me.
Unless they are so... in your face about it.
If they want to pitch something, just say so.
I prefer direct pitches, rather than people trying to pretend and 'appear' that they are not pitching something.

I have an online store. Its on my profile.
But I don't go around inserting my link everywhere nor whenever I respond to a post.

2 moms found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Kansas City on

I don't like it personally, I think that people shouldn't try to sell their products in a response. I dont mind when people mention a product but aren't trying to sell it

2 moms found this helpful
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B.

answers from Augusta on

if it's relative to the question asked , nope don't mind
but just a sales pitch yes it irritates the hell out of me.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.K.

answers from Phoenix on

I hate it when someone uses a persons emotions to pitch a product / service. These people should b ashamed of themselves. I believe you can usually distinguish these people from others that may honestly believe in their product.

1 mom found this helpful

A.M.

answers from Kansas City on

My parents own their own fitness company...I have on occasion given their website information out to ppl requesting fitness details...but I don't work for or make money of of any sales that come from my post. I believe in their product and know for a fact it works.

However, on occasion can tell when it's a representative of a company and if it starts out heartfelt and I can see they are giving the information because they truly believe it then I keep reading. But if I feel it's a sales pitch...I skip...

1 mom found this helpful

P.M.

answers from Tampa on

Doesn't bother me one way or the other. Most ppl will not sell things they don't believe in - especially in a fellow community of Moms.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.H.

answers from Detroit on

I think if someone is asking for recommendations about a particaular product/service then I think it is absolutely fine for someone else to pitch their product/service in response.
I don't like it though when the person posting the question has some sort of problem and is not actually asking for a recommendation and someone finds a way to pitch a product/service in response to that persons problem.

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H.W.

answers from Portland on

Stuff is pitched at us, all the time. I've learned to turn a blind eye. Esp. with all the ads on the right side of this site... If I couldn't tune it out, I wouldn't be able to be on here.

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

S.:

I don't care too much for "pitches" as I do about the product....if someone has feedback - either way - I'd like to hear it.

If it's a product I don't use - then I just skip it.

I don't try and get stuck on a product - but the issue at hand.

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M.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I am neutral on this one. If I don't like someone's post or response, I move on. Simple as that. Everyone has the right to voice their opinion even if it isn't the same as mine-Also, some people feel the products they sell help people so some I think are just trying to help when they list that they sell ___products.

M

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