hard sell

hard sell

1. An aggressive sales technique in which the salesperson applies a significant amount of pressure on the prospective buyer. I hate coming into these shops when I'm just browsing, because someone always comes over trying to give me the hard sell.
2. Someone who is resistant to sales pitches or proposals or reluctant to make a purchase or accept or agree to something. Boy, that guy was a hard sell. I had to spend nearly an hour pitching all the features of the car before he finally agreed. Because I know I don't need anything when I go into these shops to have a look around, I'm usually a hard sell for the employees there. Feel free to pitch your idea to the board, but know beforehand that they're going to be a hard sell for anything that requires additional funding.
See also: hard, sell
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*the hard sell

high-pressure selling techniques. (*Typically: get ~ give someone ~.) They gave me the hard sell, but I still wouldn't buy the car. The clerk gave the customer the hard sell.
See also: hard, sell
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

hard sell

1. An aggressive, high-pressure sales practice or promotion, as in Used-car salesmen tend to give you a hard sell. This expression gave rise to the antonym soft sell, a low-key sales approach that relies on gentle persuasion. [Colloquial; c. 1950]
2. A difficult sales prospect, one who resists sales pressure. For example, Those brokers who call us at dinnertime find me a hard sell-I usually just hang up on them . [Late 1900s]
See also: hard, sell
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

hard sell

n. a high-pressure attempt to sell something. I’m afraid I’m very susceptible to the hard sell.
See also: hard, sell
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • the hard sell
  • give (one) the hard sell
  • get the/a hard sell
  • lumber
  • sawdust
  • (someone) could sell an icebox to an Eskimo
  • (someone) could sell sawdust to a lumber mill
  • Eskimo
  • (someone) could sell ice to Eskimos
  • foot-in-the-door
References in periodicals archive
"It works well for a cost effective,quality installtion, without the hard sell of stereo typical double glazing companies.''
Window wise....door discerning at CWS Home Improvements; ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Robert Scanlan, Glasgow READER Karen Park who complained about the NSPCC'S hard sell should know that any money given to them is spent in England.
Your texts
Blimey, HS2 must be a ruddy hard sell if the best positive you can offer Coventrians is an away-day aboard a cross-country rattler to the home of concrete cows.
Bite the bullet... and visit concrete cow country; 'THE WAY Russell Youll I SEE IT...'
CULTURE Club members have the chance to win a pair of tickets to see The Hard Sell, the new work by highly rated North East company Surface Area Dance Theatre.
WIN tickets to see dance premiere
You'd think a gospel, honky-tonk folk ensemble would be a bit of a hard sell in Worcester's rock scene, but when that band consists of veterans from such bands as Guns of Navarone, the Numbskulls and the Swaggerin' Growlers ...
... sticking with the Union
When a company representative calls to the house they subject the householder to a hard sell for an overpriced system costing between pounds 3,500 and pounds 9,000.
Scam alert is issued; NEWSBRIEF
Increases in pay in private firms will be driven by improving company performance, the report said, adding that a second year of freezing pay will be a "very hard sell".
Pay to rise 1.6%
"They're very pushy in the hard sell that they do and they're advertising something which doesn't have the background of credibility," said Bary.
Kiwis condemn promotion of anti-impotence drug
The broadcaster has asked Liverpool council if it can film an episode of Hard Sell in the city later this year.
TV show asks for trading licence
Adapted from Alan Bennett's Tony award-winning play, The History Boys eventually overcomes its stagy feel with Oscar-caliber performances and powerful moments late in the game, but it's going to be a hard sell for its studio, Fox Searchlight.
Wanting answers
A TELL your boss that your record speaks for itself and that it is not always necessary to go for the hard sell when you can win people over by being genuine with them.
Give me a break, boss; DR. JOBS CAREER CLINIC
POLICE have warned people to be on their guard against hard sell sales representatives who are targeting vulnerable people.
Warning after hard sell of beds; WORCESTERSHIRE
The program will discuss producing extraordinary business development results without hard sell tactics.
Business development book camp
But at least Vasconi's inventively remodelled building has some link with Renault's past, while providing a forum and forcing house for the hard sell upon which its corporate future depends.
Ideas factory: Renault's new communications centre is an inventive remodelling and recolonisation of a former car factory
But the festive shopping season seems to be getting longer and longer as stores put their decorations up and start the hard sell almost as soon as the summer holiday period has ended.
Birmingham Post Comment: Merry too soon