For example, when a cashier asks you to sign up for a store credit card you don’t want, try saying “I don’t use store credit cards” instead of a passive “Not today,
but thank you,” which implies your decision is up for debate.
“We live in a ‘yes’ culture, where it’s expected that the person who is going to get ahead is the go-getter who says yes to everything
that comes their way,” said Dara Blaine, a career counselor and coach in Los Angeles.
When subjects said “I don’t” versus “I can’t,” they were more effective in getting their point across,
and the sellers were more willing to accept their refusal.
A study in the Journal of Consumer Research by Professor Patrick and Henrik Hagtvedt found
that saying “I don’t” as opposed to “I can’t” allowed participants to extract themselves from unwanted commitments.
While “I can’t” sounds like an excuse that’s up for debate, “I don’t” implies you’ve
established certain rules for yourself, suggesting conviction and stability.
“We actually used the pushy salesperson scenario: selling magazine subscriptions,” Professor Patrick said.