For only X dollars a month ...

Do you know your own mind?

I’d like to think I do, but being subjected to the full-force of high pressure sales tactics I wonder.

I telephoned to order a consumer product I saw and thought might be useful.

I expected it to be a simple transaction. I would tell the operator what I wanted, provide credit and delivery information and hang up.

Simple.

As the old TV ads used to say, “Wait, there’s more.”

The high-pressure sales pitch followed.

“You’re spending W dollars. Do you want this handy-dandy add-on that will cost you only X dollars a month more for three months (and doubles the price of the transaction)?

“No? Well, you’re breathing right? You care about things? Right? We’ll send you this other amazing little item and it will cost you only Y dollars a month, but, of course, you can always send it back if you don’t like it. There’s a 30-day return privilege.

“No? Well, we will send you these free gifts to try out. Then next month we will send you more for only Z dollars a month.

“And if you don’t like them, you can always send them back for a full refund.”

After fast talk and the clock ticking away I finally said that I was no longer comfortable dealing with the firm, please cancel my order.

“Why?

“You called us, didn’t you?

“You wanted our handy-dandy product, didn’t you?

“For just W dollars we can get what you called us to order delivered to you in three to five days.”

I repeated, “No, please cancel the order.”

Over and over and over again.

That turned into a half hour I will never get back.

But I learned a valuable lesson.

And naturally I will be watching my credit card statement to make sure there is no funny business.

Because the question, “You called us, didn’t you?” is still ricocheting around my brain.

Yes I did. What a mistake it was.

But then I have grown used to the courteous and efficient service of U.S. Mint telephone operators and apparently forgot that there is another kind.

Buzz blogger Dave Harper is editor of the weekly newspaper "Numismatic News."

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