How do I get rid of tire-kickers without being rude?
Short answer
Move the next step earlier and harder. A real buyer schedules. A tire-kicker won't.
The qualifier
'Happy to walk through this further. Can we book a 20-minute call Thursday at 10?' or 'Want to get a deposit down to hold the slot?' Real buyers say yes. Tire-kickers go quiet, which is the answer.
Don't be precious
You're not losing business by qualifying hard, you're saving 15 hours a month chasing people who never close. Use those hours on real leads.
Ask your version of this question
This is one business owner-tested take. Your shop size, trade, and team change the answer. Ask the exact version inside Ask a Shop Owner and get a response grounded in how owners like you actually handled it.