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Just Say No to the Office Peddler

I know people who have been pounced on in the office to buy cookies, candies, vitamins, kitchen utensils, make-up, and even beef, the later from a former co-worker who retired to a farm.

In an office setting the pressure to buy from the office peddler can be great. If others are buying you may fear being labeled the office miser if you don’t bite. The same guidelines for responsible shopping should apply to buying in the office. If you don’t need or want what a coworker is selling, then don’t buy.

If you buy under pressure you will feel resentful if that colleague later declines to buy Girl Scout cookies from your daughter.

To take the pressure off, ask the hawker to let you read over any materials the person has. And tell him or her you’ll let them know if you’re interested.