How to say no to street sellers

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Tell them about the special baby steak you've got in the fridge for tonight's dinner.

Last edited by Tequila on 09 Dec 2011, 8:33 am, edited 1 time in total.

Ha, I would so do it.

Hehe, how about "I no speak Enrish", or even with a fluen british accent. You just don't. Or better yet you're deaf and mute

Okay, how about if you just walk away, they won't stop you, will they.

Some can get quite aggressive about it.

Is this not a big problem for you in the land of currywurst? I must admit, it does sound quite peaceful there.

Well I got my education in UK and spent quite some time in London.. I actually got to stand with that bucket for a few days myself.. But yeah comparing now I'm in heaven. But there is always someone to avoid on the streets.

This might sound silly, but do you ever pray? When one of these people starts on you, focus all of your attention on God in a prayer for them. Realize how desperate they must be for an income to take a job like that. Know that everybody treats them like garbage all day. Do *not* communicate these thoughts to them, just say one prayer to God. You don't even have to decide what you're praying for, God will figure it out. I hope I don't sound like a fanatic.

Repeat after me: "No!"

There now, that wasn't so hard, was it?

These people purposely walk right in front of you and won't leave you alone. "No" isn't enough to stop them doing that. They're not allowed to do it, but they still do.

You get them in the US as well but they aren't nearly as prevalent. The best ways to deal with them here if they don't bugger off is to either tall them you already donate to them or if they happen to keep getting in front of ya to hold ya up, barrel right on through them. (Can't get in trouble for it, and if they do fall on their ass I just continue onwards. I always do what I can to keep my identity in the dark as well.)

The barrel right on through them also works for those obnoxious hawkers in the mall as well.

Thanks for the great suggestions!

I guess that my individual problem is that I smile involunteraly when I am embarassed, or somebody shows me any kind of attention which creates a "connection" that I find hard to break - this includes returned eye contact when I accidentely do it.

I regularly do the "act as though I don't even see them" thing where I pretend to be looking closely at the upper storey of a building in the street as I walk, but if I do accidentely catch their eye I feel kind of like a nuclear chain reaction of awkwardness is about to happen, and they notice that and sort of "home in" and make it more difficult to avoid. I really get mad at myself for letting that happen because I know that all I need to do is ignore them, but sometimes I make those mistakes, hehe.

If you feel you need to say anything at all, how about "GET THE f**k OUT OF MY WAY!"

Well I either go to the other side of the street so they don't see me, or just quickly walk by like I'm so busy I did not even notice them. That usually seems to work ok I'm in the U.S though so I don't know if that makes any difference.

But yeah I have no problem with helping people out and such but I do not have enough income to sign up for such things as the way they do it is usually set up automatic payments so the amount is taken out of your account automatically which I cannot afford to risk.

You can also play this at them:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yss2sUtAgmY[/youtube]

Other than the high streets often being quite narrow here, I don't think there is a difference - their training has to be universal because all accounts I hear of them are the same.

I am impressed at how... blunt a lot of you are able to be in your dealings with them. I try to put on a cold front sometimes but it always falls apart immediately.

I just don't like to be made to feel akward by them.......they are more pushy then the people trying to sell drugs, at least with them you can say no and then they leave you alone(though I cannot garantee I would always say no, depending on what it is).