the 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:
  • 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
| Be ready for the hard sell I ARRIVED at the desk, and immediately gave them my booking reference, passport, driving licence and credit card.
How to drive down the cost of car hire abroad
THE HARD SELL - They were a huge draw at this year's Electric Picnic, even for a band playing early on the Sunday.
WHO HAS THEIR EYE ON THE PRIZE? Strong list of nominee's make for a hard decision
"The Hard Sell," by Boston's Gumbo Diablo, may well be my first music crush of 2012.
An easy sell
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
While we want to give and receive gifts, and enjoy doing so, we are also aware of being manipulated into it by the hard sell on TV, and expectations of those around us.
thought for the day
"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
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
The 46-year-old offshore facilities manager, from Carnoustie in Angus, says: "I originally went to Alliance & Leicester but they gave me the hard sell. When I said I didn't want the policy they tried to sell me a lesser one that didn't cost as much, so I decided to go elsewhere." He approached Northern Rock and was relieved to find they didn't pressurise him to take their insurance.
CASE STUDY..
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 J&J's approach is a definite improvement over the hard sell we've been getting from other pharmaceutical companies.
Now you can actually understand the disclaimer
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
At a glitzy New York launch party, J-Lo, 33, did her best to give the product the hard sell.
Hot People: J-Lo finds a fresh way to make mint
Secret filming reveals the hard sell of some sales reps, and the programme explores surgery on the cheap, going undercover to Poland to reveal the inadequate facilities there.
Facelifts from Hell
However, the hard sell is often difficult to pass up--so advise your clients to seek expert advice before subscribing to any scheme that offers instant wealth or exemption from paying taxes.
TAX FRAUD ALERTS
His significant contribution to yachting goes back many years, of course, as a past Commodore of the RSYS and significant involvement in the Yachting Association of NSW and the Australia Day Regatta, not to mention the hard sell to have the sailing of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games held on Sydney Harbour.
Bruce Dickson stands down as AYF President