My coworker belives in magic! :(

qpmomma1
qpmomma1 Posts: 220 Member
edited November 29 in Health and Weight Loss
I accepted a FB friend request by a coworker. I don't normally do it, but I went ahead. Every post this person makes is about selling some magic weight loss supplement. I'm pretty sure I was only friended to be marketed to. This person also brought in samples of a product into the office yesterday. I obviously declined. I have unfollowed them so I don't see the annoying posts, but now they are constantly wanting to talk about these "amazing" weight loss products. I am going to go off sooner or later. I have made it clear that I am not interested at all in these products. How do you deal with the pushy people in your life who try to sell you crap?????
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Replies

  • jkal1979
    jkal1979 Posts: 1,896 Member
    If they are not taking no for an answer then I would talk to my supervisor or HR.
  • qpmomma1
    qpmomma1 Posts: 220 Member
    I'm not being harassed, they are just being annoying...
  • Sarahb29
    Sarahb29 Posts: 952 Member
    Before you go off on them tell your supervisor they are distracting you from your work trying to sell you weight loss products (which is implying you need them and therefore implying you're overweight). It absolutely could turn into an HR issue if it continues.
  • QueenofHearts023
    QueenofHearts023 Posts: 421 Member
    My co workers comment on my eating habits DAILY. No matter how much I shut them up. I try to mostly just let it slide off my back.
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    Sarahb29 wrote: »
    Before you go off on them tell your supervisor they are distracting you from your work trying to sell you weight loss products (which is implying you need them and therefore implying you're overweight). It absolutely could turn into an HR issue if it continues.

    I would guess it is against company policy to sell stuff on company time.
  • qpmomma1
    qpmomma1 Posts: 220 Member
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    Sarahb29 wrote: »
    Before you go off on them tell your supervisor they are distracting you from your work trying to sell you weight loss products (which is implying you need them and therefore implying you're overweight). It absolutely could turn into an HR issue if it continues.

    I would guess it is against company policy to sell stuff on company time.

    We are a small company of less than 10 people. People sell girl scout cookies and fundraiser stuff. There is no policy on it. I may talk it over with the owner though.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,030 Member
    edited February 2016
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    Sarahb29 wrote: »
    Before you go off on them tell your supervisor they are distracting you from your work trying to sell you weight loss products (which is implying you need them and therefore implying you're overweight). It absolutely could turn into an HR issue if it continues.

    I would guess it is against company policy to sell stuff on company time.
    Yeah, but people sell things like Girl Scout cookies, charity tickets, etc. without much grievance or objection too. It's likely more irritating though if it's something one doesn't like or believe in.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

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  • MommyL2015
    MommyL2015 Posts: 1,411 Member
    Tell her you've got your health and weight perfectly under control and thanks for her offer, but you aren't in need of any help. If she continues, tell her to shove her crap where the sun don't shine.
  • SparklySarah412
    SparklySarah412 Posts: 74 Member
    edited February 2016
    I'm so sick of being harassed by acquaintances on Facebook and instagram about "magic" weightloss products too. I don't want to cause a fuss by un-friending people so I usually just un-follow but they keep sending me invites and messages etc. It's so annoying. I definitely agree that they only send friend requests so they can try and sell you their crap.

    A few months ago I posted my before and after pics on instagram and immediately got a private message from a herbalife "friend" wanting to know if I was interested in taking part in a 30 weight loss challenge. Clearly she wanted to steal my results and make it look like her product did that.
  • Azercord
    Azercord Posts: 573 Member
    That and most companies don't allow soliciting which they are doing. Take it to your supervisor and HR, your coworker should get shutdown pretty fast.
  • pondee629
    pondee629 Posts: 2,469 Member
    qpmomma1 wrote: »
    I'm not being harassed, they are just being annoying...

    Gee, an annoying co-worker. How so very odd. Whenever you see this person coming just tell him/her that you're not interested and get back to your work.
  • JoshuaMcAllister
    JoshuaMcAllister Posts: 500 Member
    Had a similar thing happen when Juice+ thing was all the rage, I can understand your frustration. It used to drive me mad listening them talk to other who obviously had no idea about health and well being.
    My way of dealing with it was slightly harsh, I did a bit of research and basically made a note of the real facts regarding the "magical" qualities she claimed the product had. Every time from there onwards, when I'd hear them trying to sell the product with false info, I would intervene and give them both the correct fact/info.
    Soon the whole office knew it was all nonsense and eventually she gave up trying to sell around the office.

  • jessicarobinson00
    jessicarobinson00 Posts: 414 Member
    Sometimes a simple: "Calorie deficit works fine for me" suffices...Thank you, but no Thank you.
  • besaro
    besaro Posts: 1,858 Member
    mine do too! mostly about jesus magic though.
  • Ohwhynot
    Ohwhynot Posts: 356 Member
    LOL my standard answer is "Oooh, I tried that and got the trots for days..."
  • tara_means_star
    tara_means_star Posts: 957 Member
    If they don't have a policy about selling stuff at work, they may have a problem with how much time she's using trying to sell her own product while on their company time. If I were a manager I would. And if you have declined and she's still trying to sell to you that is harassment, even if she's nice about it. If none of that works and she keeps doing it, you could always tell her you don't have money to spend on things that don't work.
  • Soccerdawg71
    Soccerdawg71 Posts: 32 Member
    besaro wrote: »
    mine do too! mostly about jesus magic though.

    Ha! Nice. That can also be an HR complaint.
  • qpmomma1
    qpmomma1 Posts: 220 Member
    pondee629 wrote: »
    qpmomma1 wrote: »
    I'm not being harassed, they are just being annoying...

    Gee, an annoying co-worker. How so very odd. Whenever you see this person coming just tell him/her that you're not interested and get back to your work.

    I know, right?!? Seriously odd! ;) Trust me, I take your "advice" daily.
  • qpmomma1
    qpmomma1 Posts: 220 Member
    Ohwhynot wrote: »
    LOL my standard answer is "Oooh, I tried that and got the trots for days..."

    Hahaha! I may try it!
  • tara_means_star
    tara_means_star Posts: 957 Member
    qpmomma1 wrote: »
    pondee629 wrote: »
    qpmomma1 wrote: »
    I'm not being harassed, they are just being annoying...

    Gee, an annoying co-worker. How so very odd. Whenever you see this person coming just tell him/her that you're not interested and get back to your work.

    I know, right?!? Seriously odd! ;) Trust me, I take your "advice" daily.

    If you tell her daily that you aren't interested, she's harassing you.
  • qpmomma1
    qpmomma1 Posts: 220 Member
    I just get frustrated by how pushy these "sales reps" are with BS products.
  • qpmomma1
    qpmomma1 Posts: 220 Member
    qpmomma1 wrote: »
    pondee629 wrote: »
    qpmomma1 wrote: »
    I'm not being harassed, they are just being annoying...

    Gee, an annoying co-worker. How so very odd. Whenever you see this person coming just tell him/her that you're not interested and get back to your work.

    I know, right?!? Seriously odd! ;) Trust me, I take your "advice" daily.

    If you tell her daily that you aren't interested, she's harassing you.

    Yes, every day this person is in the office. I may have a talk with my boss about it.
  • Of_Monsters_and_Meat
    Of_Monsters_and_Meat Posts: 1,022 Member
    Please remove this thread. It is highly offensive to the Magicians Alliance.

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  • Soccerdawg71
    Soccerdawg71 Posts: 32 Member
    I'd argue that selling Girl Scout cookies is different. It's a charity fundraiser, and it's only once a year. Generally, people don't pressure you to buy them. If they do, you could complain about that, too.

    What your co-worker is essentially doing is bringing her second job into her first job, and any HR department would frown upon that. I have a co-worker who sells Mary Kay, but she's very careful not to do it on company time or on company e-mail or IM.

    When your co-worker talks about her product, you could say, "Sorry, but I don't believe in miracles." Or, "If it works so great, why are you still fat?" (Maybe she's not, but I thought it was funny.)
  • LHWhite903
    LHWhite903 Posts: 208 Member
    My Doctor told me not to take diet pills.
  • scottish_laura_13
    scottish_laura_13 Posts: 69 Member
    i would just say outright - 'sorry but I don't believe in magic'
    I know too many sellers who have contacted people I know who have lost weight in a healthy way so they can use their results - its all a lie
    or explain that you are on the blue virgin mermaid pee diet only as that's the only magic you believe in (or something similarly sarcastic)
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    edited February 2016
    Sarahb29 wrote: »
    Before you go off on them tell your supervisor they are distracting you from your work trying to sell you weight loss products (which is implying you need them and therefore implying you're overweight). It absolutely could turn into an HR issue if it continues.

    It's also a conflict of interest since they should NOT be promoting their own business at a different employer's company. That's not what their salary/wage is for.

    And it's not the same as Girl Guide cookies, which people tend to send out 1 - 2 company wide emails and then leave the boxes sitting on their desk with an envelope for money. That's usually where it stops.

    If I were you, I'd give one more VERY clear "No I do not want your product and I would appreciate if you do not ask me ever again". You have to tell her VERY clearly to STOP before it's considered harassment. If she asked once more, report her to HR.
  • tara_means_star
    tara_means_star Posts: 957 Member
    I once had a lady constantly trying to sell me spa products. I wasn't interested. I tried for a couple month with the nice, easy, "not right now." "I just don't have time for a party" blah blah blah. She never took the hint. Finally, one day she asked and I'd had it so I gave her every single reason I was not interested. I wasn't rude but I was bluntly honest. I told her I had no intrest whatsoever in any of the products she was selling and likely never would, I do not WANT to host a party and subject all my friends to sales of products that are too expensive for them to afford and that if she talked me into having a party it would be highly unlikely to be worth her time because I had zero money and my friends were all in the same boat. I told her I had no intention of hosting a party or buying any of her products because there wasn't a single one that appealed to me. I haven't heard a sales pitch from her since.
  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    qpmomma1 wrote: »
    I accepted a FB friend request by a coworker. I don't normally do it, but I went ahead. Every post this person makes is about selling some magic weight loss supplement. I'm pretty sure I was only friended to be marketed to. This person also brought in samples of a product into the office yesterday. I obviously declined. I have unfollowed them so I don't see the annoying posts, but now they are constantly wanting to talk about these "amazing" weight loss products. I am going to go off sooner or later. I have made it clear that I am not interested at all in these products. How do you deal with the pushy people in your life who try to sell you crap?????

    I don't accept them as friends on Facebook.
  • mweckler
    mweckler Posts: 623 Member
    I am terribly saddened by the misleading title of your post. I was hoping your co-worker thought they were a wizard of some kind.
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