You see, I have a gripe about the tire foam people.

Sure, they probably pay you a lot so they can erect their tent of "Buy Now! Magical! Oooooooh, TIRE FOAM!" decorated glory. After all, you are prime real-estate: close to schools, the downtown, the freeway, and to a large residential area. Even people not intending to gas up their cars will at least see the Oooooooh, TIRE FOAM! advertisement.

But you better watch out, because the tire foam people are going to cost you customers.

The first time I gassed up while the tire foam people were there, a young woman approached me with a smile and a can.

"Hey, can I interest you in a demo of our awesomeness of tire foam?"

Oh, no thanks! I said with a smile.

"Okay! Just know that we're happy to do a free demo at any time!"

Okay, thanks!

Smile, smile. No problem.

The second time I filled my tank while the tire foam people were there, a man approached, shaking his can of foam.

"Hey, can I interest you in a demo of our awesomeness of tire foam?"

Oh, no thanks! I said with a smile.

"No, really. It is a free demo," and he began to spray the foam on my car.

No! No, I don't need to see the demo right now I said, still polite, but a bit panicked that the guy had sprayed my tire without my permission.

"I'll just wipe it right off in a few minutes, and you'll see it shine!"

I turned to process the end of my transaction, and started to get in the car. I need to leave now I told the guy, because after all, I didn't want to run over him if he was fondling my tire.

"No! We need to let it sit a little longer before I wipe it off."

No thank you; I need to go. I was no longer smiling, but still tried to stay pleasant as I got in my van, and left.

The third time I filled my tank while the tire foam people were there, a different man approached.

"Hey, can I interest you in a demo of our awesomeness of tire foam?"

Oh, no thanks! I said with a smile, but it was less of a smile than before.

"No, really. It is a free demo"

Yeah, I know. No thanks. I've seen it.

"You've seen the WHOLE demo?"

I don't have time today. I still tried to be pleasant.

"Let me do the demo."

No! I don't want the demo. My ever-decreasing smile faded even more.

"It will just take a few minutes."

No, THANK YOU. I tried to be as firm as I could without being rude.

He started to shake the can again.

NO!

He huffed, "No need to get pissy." He walked away, shaking his head.

The next time I saw the tire foam people, I drove to your competitor's station to fill up my tank.

But unfortunately, a few days ago, the needle was on "E." I saw the tire foam people were visiting you, and wished I had filled my tank much, much earlier, but I had no choice. I had to stop.

Three men stood nearly in the middle of the concrete. I had to slow considerably to make sure I wouldn't run into them en route to the pump. One man barely moved to let me pass. They were laughing, chests out, arms above their heads. We totally rule the world.

One man kept snapping his towel and whirling it around, effectively spreading both foam and water on the side of my van. My kindergartner moaned, "My window is dirty now! And wet!"

I hopped out of the van and quickly started the pump. Thankfully, the men were still amused by each other, so I thought I had evaded them as I hopped back in the van, locked my doors, and started talking to the boys while the pump filled the tank.

The man rapped on the window.

I waited a few seconds, because I was still asking the boys about their day.

He rapped harder, shaking his can of foam. He yelled, "I need to do a tire foam demo for you!"

I shook my head no.

He repeated, "TIRE FOAM DEMO!"

I opened my window, "I went into my car to avoid your demo. No thank you."

"Well GOD BLESS YOU," he snorted, "I am JUST doing MY JOB!"

He muttered something to the other men and they laughed, "F-in crazy!" "Stupid woman!"

So, Corner 76 Station. You are no longer convenient. I can't count on a quick fill of the gas tank, because if the tire foam people are there, they will try to delay me. They will mock me if I decline their demo, even if I am polite. They will push, and push, and push. I'm guessing the polite female I had encountered no longer has a job because she didn't meet the abrasive, rude standards of the tire foam company.

Not everyone wants to be heckled to try a product. While "pressure" might work for some people, it most certainly won't for someone who specifically locks herself in the van to avoid it. Body language, anyone?

Most of the time people will be turned off by a product if the salespeople are too pushy. I've walked out of stores well before I would have wanted to otherwise (and of course without making a purchase, even if I had originally intended to) because of salespeople trailing me.

In this case, I will avoid your gas station in order to avoid the tire foam people.

It is lose-lose. You lose a customer (and perhaps more than just me, given all the people I've been telling about my tire foam people encounter) and I lose the convenience of using a station that is near my home.

I hope those tire foam people are paying you well, because if they continue harassing your customers, you aren't going to be making money selling gas.

Sincerely,
Karianna