Several weeks ago I was doing my grocery shopping at a local Wal Mart not far from my home. As I left, with my cart full of bags, and my mackerdoodle happily chewing my car keys, I was politely accosted by a ripped gentleman in a yellow t-shirt.
“How would you like to enter to win a year’s membership at Gold’s Gym?”
Here is where I should tell you that normally I am VERY good at saying “No thank you” politely but firmly. The key is to have a very good reason for saying no, while continuing to move away from the marketer. Here I was stuck in both counts, because I would LOVE to have a gym membership and because my beautiful, but unaware daughter dropped my keys at that very moment, forcing me to halt my resolved walk.
And then, I was shamelessly hustled by a very well built, muscular man. This is what he said to me:
“You have a beautiful daughter! She has great eyes. It looks like you’ve done well dropping those baby pounds. Just a little toning and you’ll feel up to those toddler years. Let me sign you up girl, what do you have to lose?”
And before I knew it, I was giving him my name, and phone number and my husband’s name and phone number. Then I promptly forgot all about it, and went on with my pudgy, untoned life.
Tuesday evening I got a phone call from Gold’s Gym telling me that I had won a $100 gift certificate and 3 free sessions with a personal trainer. Sweet right? I was a little guarded, but scheduled an appointment to tour the facility, thinking that $100 had to get me SOMETHING!
But turns out, not so much. Gold’s Gym has an annual fee AND a monthly fee. What I won was the choice of giving Gold’s Gym $50.00 per month or $60.00 per month. Or I could ride the exercise bike at home for free.
So if a well built, muscular man from Gold’s Gym asks you if you would like to enter to win something, tell him “No thank you.” firmly but politely. And DON’T DROP YOUR CAR KEYS.
