Stage 1: Listen to what the street vendors have to say to you..answer their questions and even look at their merchandise.
Stage 2: Acknowledge the vendor’s inquiries and politely say “No, thank you” repeatedlty until they get the point.
Stage 3: Politely say “No, thank you” and keep walking.
Stage 4: Just shake your head, making brief eye contact, and keep walking.
Stage5: Completely ignore the street vendor’s audible and visual existence. Act is if you don’t know they are there. Do not make eye contact or change facial exressions.
Stage 6: Continue Stage 5, but when in the mood for a laugh, use the street vendor as the axis of your humor.
EXAMPLES:
- If they say “Watch for you“, take the watch saying “Thanks” and keep walking.
- If they ask you a question, simply repeat the question back to them…stare into their eyes and play the copycat game until they give up.
- If they ask you where you are from (typical gem scam and fashion suit scam intro), tell them New York City and ask them if they know where you can get a deal on any Gems or High Fashion Suits. When their eyes light up, pretend to follow them…then once they’re not looking book-it in the opposite direction.
Stage 7: Punch them in the face. We haven’t reached this stage…but I can’t say I’d be surprised if it happened.
January 29th, 2006 at 2:29 pm
haha. I shouldn’t laugh - these guys are just trying to make a living but you are *so* right.
Initally I was very polite, but a few days of getting pestered constantly it didn’t take long before I just stared right through them.
Next time I am away I might try stage 6. you’re on your own with stage 7 though - try that and I doubt you would be able to leave the area without being dragged into an alley, sliced, diced and sold on a noodle stall in small chunks :O)