How to Politely Decline a LinkedIn Invitation

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified)
in
BLUF: How does one politely decline a LinkedIn invitation? For example, *vendors* with whom I do not do business contact me via LinkedIn and asked to be linked. To me, this is an inappropriate request.
Submitted by Chuck Tomasi on Thursday November 6th, 2008 12:34 pm

I like clicking the button that says "I don't know unnamed-vendor". I have no idea what sort of response they get, but I like pressing it.

Submitted by Jason Wyckoff on Thursday November 6th, 2008 3:33 pm

I heard that if someone sends out too many invite that get declines, something bad happens to them (I don't know what happens to them, but supposedly there is some "punishment").

If it's someone I *really* don't know, I decline. If it's someone I have met once, and I don't want to connect with them, I just ignore it.

Submitted by Krzysztof Orzedowski on Thursday November 6th, 2008 3:53 pm

Ok and is there a way to make it "invisible" ? I like to update my profile from time to time as I manage to complete projects/goals, but I don't want to be perceived as a "bounty hunter" on a run or a "head hunters cannon fodder". I am starting to have some second thoughts regarding LinkedIn vs Loyality topic... not like anybody cares about my profile - just for future reference.

Submitted by Steve Sherry on Thursday November 6th, 2008 6:28 pm

[quote="connick"]I heard that if someone sends out too many invite that get declines, something bad happens to them (I don't know what happens to them, but supposedly there is some "punishment").
[/quote]

If a user gets more than a couple of "I Don't Know's" (IDK's) their account gets locked down so that they are restricted and cannot send anymore invitations to connet without knowing the person's email address.

Rather than damage someone's account for reaching out, you can simply accept the invitation then click on remove connection.
That way they cannot reissue the invitation to you, therefore getting around the problem for you (and not penalising them)
Also, you could just hit archive.....