Are you trying to figure out how to say “not interested” politely in an email?
Perhaps you’re worried the phrase itself is rude or informal.
Well, it’s a good thing you came across this article, then!
After all, we will teach you how to say “not interested” professionally to ensure you use the right tone.
Is It Rude to Say “Not Interested”?
It is not rude to say “not interested.”
As long as you elaborate on it, it’s professional and clear.
Of course, the phrase on its own can be quite rude. However, most people include more information to explain why they’re not interested when something like this comes up.
For instance, you can review this email sample to learn more:
Dear Miss Duck,
I’m afraid I’m not interested at the moment, but I appreciate you reaching out.
Please let me know if anything else comes up.
All the best,
Rosie Cheeks
Pros
- It’s professional.
- It’s a clear way to get your point across and let someone know you don’t want something.
Cons
- It’s a bit generic.
- It can seem rude if it’s the only thing you say.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with writing “not interested.” However, you might want to explore some alternatives to see if anything else works well in your emails.
So, keep reading to learn how to tell a business you’re not interested in something. We’ve touched on plenty of contexts to help you see what might work.
What to Say Instead of “Not Interested”
- I’m afraid I must decline
- I’m currently unable to pursue this
- I am afraid this doesn’t appeal to me
- I’m not available for this at the moment
- I’m grateful for the offer, but I must pass
- I am unable to commit to this
- I’m respectfully declining your proposal
- I’ll have to turn you down
- I’m not in a position to move forward
1. I’m Afraid I Must Decline
You can start by using “I’m afraid I must decline.”
This allows you to show you’re not interested in the position when someone offers you a job.
It works well to reject a recruiter in a polite way.
Generally, the phrase itself is professional and sincere. So, it works wonders in most email formats.
While you’re clearly turning someone’s offer down, this phrase allows you to keep things positive. That’s what makes it such a good choice.
You can also review this sample email to learn a bit more:
Dear Ms. Weiss,
I’m afraid I must decline the job offer.
However, I’d appreciate it if you could stay in touch if something else comes up.
My best,
Harry Porter
2. I’m Currently Unable to Pursue This
Next, you can write “I’m currently unable to pursue this.”
This is a great chance to show you’re not interested in an offer.
It works well when turning down an opportunity. It’s polite and respectful, which goes a long way in most business settings.
For instance, you can use this when writing to your boss. If they’ve offered you a promotion, but you can’t take it, something like this will be a great way to tell them you’re uninterested.
Also, you might want to review this example to learn a bit more about using it:
Dear Mr. Greene,
I’m currently unable to pursue this promotion.
I thoroughly appreciate the offer, but it’s not a good time for me.
Yours,
Elliot Sinclair
3. I Am Afraid This Doesn’t Appeal to Me
Feel free to use “I am afraid this doesn’t appeal to me” as another way to say you’re not interested.
It works best when saying you’re not interested in buying the product someone offers to you.
You can use it when replying to a company representative. It keeps things respectful and formal when rejecting their product.
Of course, not every product is going to appeal to everyone. So, there’s no reason to avoid using something like this if it will ensure that someone will stop emailing you.
You can also review the following sample email to learn a bit more about it:
Dear Miss Tucker,
I am afraid this doesn’t appeal to me, so I’d appreciate it if you could take me off your mailing list.
I’ll be in touch if I change my mind.
Yours,
Carla Banks
4. I’m Not Available for This at the Moment
You can also say something like “I’m not available for this at the moment.”
This is a great way to suggest you’re not interested in something straight away.
Also, including “at the moment” suggests you’re not currently interested, but you might be in the future.
So, it lets someone down gently when you don’t want to cause offense.
Try using this when writing to a client. It’s honest and direct and suggests that you’re not interested in doing business with them just yet.
Of course, things might change in the future. But it’s still worth using this to turn them down.
Here’s a helpful sample email to give you a better idea of what works:
Dear Ms. Hall,
I’m not available for this at the moment, so I’ll have to turn you down.
However, I will let you know if anything changes or if someone else can step in.
Yours,
Taylor Standards
5. I’m Grateful for the Offer, But I Must Pass
Next, you can write “I’m grateful for the offer, but I must pass.”
This shows you’re not interested in a job anymore, even if you’ve only applied to it recently.
Generally, it’s an excellent way to be honest and clear. It gets your point across quickly without leaving anything to chance or doubt.
Therefore, this is a useful choice when contacting a recruiter. It will tell them that you’re not going to accept a job offer, so it’s in their interest to find someone else to fill it.
Feel free to review the following email sample if you still need help with it:
Dear Mrs. White,
I’m grateful for the offer, but I must pass at this time.
I’m not interested in the job offer now, so I’m looking for other options.
Best,
Bethany Kayla
6. I Am Unable to Commit to This
You can also write “I am unable to commit to this” as an honest way to say you’re not interested.
It’s clear and direct, making it one of the best ways to turn someone down when you don’t want to work with them.
This works best when writing to a company. If they’ve reached out to talk about a new product, something like this is a good way to turn down their advances if you don’t care.
We also think you should review this example to learn more about it:
Dear Mr. Vitch,
I am unable to commit to this, so I don’t need further information.
I still appreciate your reaching out to discuss this further with me, though.
Thank you,
Mary Bennett
7. I’m Respectfully Declining Your Proposal
It’s good to use something like “I’m respectfully declining your proposal” in formal cases.
It works well when rejecting an offer from your boss. For instance, you could use it to show you’re not interested in a job change.
It shows you’ve considered their offer, but you don’t think it’s for you.
The phrase itself is respectful and genuine, which will go a long way when trying to keep the peace in the workplace.
You can also review the following example to learn a bit more about it:
Dear Ms. Turner,
I’m respectfully declining your proposal at this time.
I don’t believe this will be a good fit for me.
Yours,
Ronson Sweeney
8. I’ll Have to Turn You Down
You can also use “I’ll have to turn you down” as another way to show you’re not interested in something.
This suggests that you’ve thought long and hard about something, but you’ve realized it isn’t for you.
It can work well when contacting a client. If they’ve come to you with a business proposal, something like this might be a good way to shut it down.
After all, it’s still polite and formal. You can just use it to make yourself appear more diplomatic when refusing someone’s offer.
Here’s a helpful sample email to give you a better idea of how it works:
Dear Ms. Rose,
I’ll have to turn you down.
I’m afraid this isn’t something I’m able to invest in right now.
Yours,
Joseph Quinn
9. I’m Not in a Position to Move Forward
The last synonym we want to go through is “I’m not in a position to move forward.”
This is a great way to be formal and sincere.
So, you can use it when you’re trying to respectfully turn down a recruiter.
It shows you appreciate them for reaching out to offer you a job, but you don’t think it’s the right fit for you.
After all, they reject people all the time! There’s no reason you can’t reject them here and there.
You should also review this sample email to learn a bit more about it:
Dear Miss Rivers,
I’m not in a position to move forward with this opportunity.
However, I hope you find someone soon who might be more interested.
Best wishes,
Steven Anthony