Decline a Sales Pitch Politely: 10 "Not Interested" Email Templates

Receiving unsolicited sales pitches is common, but knowing how to decline them politely is a valuable skill. These templates help you write a decline sales pitch email that sets boundaries while maintaining professionalism. Learn when and how to decline sales pitches effectively.

Principles for declining sales pitches

When declining a sales pitch, keep these principles in mind:

Be respectful but clear:

• Acknowledge their effort (they took time to reach out)
• Be direct about your decision
• Don't leave room for interpretation if you're certain

Set boundaries:

• If you don't want follow-ups, say so
• Request removal from lists if needed
• Be firm if they persist after you've declined

Maintain relationships:

• Even if you're declining, you might work together in the future
• A polite decline preserves the relationship
• Consider referrals if appropriate

Be honest but brief:

• You don't need to explain in detail
• A simple reason (budget, not a priority) is enough
• Don't feel obligated to justify your decision

When to use each template

Standard Polite Decline: Use for most situations - professional and respectful.

Not Now, But Maybe Later: Use when you might be interested in the future but not now.

Budget Constraints: Use when the product/service is too expensive or not in budget.

Already Have a Solution: Use when you're satisfied with your current provider.

Not a Priority Right Now: Use when it's not urgent or important to your current goals.

Short and Direct: Use when you want to be brief and don't need to maintain the relationship.

Referral Instead: Use when you know someone else who might be interested.

Request to Remove from List: Use when you want to stop receiving emails from this sender.

Firm Boundary Setter: Use when you've already declined and they keep following up.

Appreciative but Clear: Use when you want to be friendly but firm about declining.

Setting boundaries

If someone continues to email after you've declined:

1. Be more direct: Use a firmer template that clearly states you don't want further emails
2. Request removal: Ask to be removed from their mailing list
3. Block if necessary: If they persist, block them or mark their emails as spam
4. Use email filters: Set up filters to automatically route their emails to a label or archive

Best Practices

• Respond promptly: A quick response is better than ignoring (sets clear boundaries)
• Be honest: Don't make up excuses - a brief, honest reason is better
• Keep it brief: You don't need to write a long explanation
• Stay professional: Even if you're frustrated, maintain a professional tone
• Use filters: For persistent senders, use email filters or tools like Email Ferret to automatically route their emails

Related Resources

For more guidance on handling unwanted emails:

• Not Interested Email - Templates for declining offers
• Please Remove Me Email - Templates for unsubscribing
• Block Cold Emails - Learn how to block unwanted emails
• Email Blocklist - Set up email blocklists
• Gmail Filters & Labels - Organize and filter your emails