It is to strongly “persuade” your friend to BUY your book!
It was a close call for me last week. I got 200 copies of my book delivered to me last Tuesday. Out of over-excitement, I contacted a good friend of mine who had promised to buy a copy from me (she will remain anonymous till I have obtained a clearance from her). She told me that she was actually preparing for her trip to New York this weekend and had no time to purchase my book. In reply, I suggested that she could buy a few more copies of my book and use them as gifts for her American friends. I added that my book is actually quite light so it would not a problem fitting it into her luggage. It would make a good read on the plane! I even offered hand-delivery by my very self over lunch time or after work whenever she got a few free minutes.
I did not think it was that much of a hard-sell, right? But I did not hear from her for 2 days. I was wondering why!!! Fortunately, she came around (not physically) and agreed to let me drop off 3 copies for her :> However, with my sense of direction (or rather the lack of it), I was late for 20 minutes. She was furious – not sure of my “excellent” salesmanship or my tardiness. Will find out if she still talks to me after her New York trip!