Here's How to Deal with a Pressuring Salesperson

Your HVAC salesperson should be someone you can rely on for thorough, honest information. A few salespeople forget this, however, and try to pressure their clients into buying. Some simple skills will help you avoid these high-pressure tactics.

Direct the Conversation

When you come to an HVAC salesperson with questions about a particular service or piece of equipment, you may find they try to sell you on some additional product. Maybe you only want an annual air conditioner inspection, but the salesperson repeatedly pushes a duct system inspection on you. When this happens, tell the salesperson you’ll let them know if you have any questions about the other recommended product, and continue discussing the topic that interests you.

Some salespeople adopt the role of a friend just to appeal to emotions or get their clients to let their guard down. Avoid this by sticking to the topic and steering clear of any personal matters.

Refuse to be Rushed

Don’t buy a product or service the first time you hear about it. Research the subject by consulting a variety of sources. Investigate any promised energy savings or other benefits and weigh the pros and cons. Unscrupulous salespeople sometimes exaggerate the benefits of certain equipment or services, such as air cleaners or duct cleaning. Additional research is the only way you can be sure you have all the facts.

Be wary of deadlines such as “one time only” and limited-time offers. While there are sometimes legitimate reasons for these, they shouldn’t strongly influence your decisions.

When you do buy, get everything in writing and carefully read all related contracts, guarantees, and other documents. Take them somewhere you can read them without feeling rushed.

For a salesperson who just won’t quit, there are polite ways to cut the conversation off. Explain that you never buy on impulse, that you want to research the subject on your own, or that you want your partner’s input before deciding.

If you prefer to deal with an HVAC salesperson you can trust, get in touch with us at CCAC in the Coastal Bend area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.

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