Disappointing and disappointed are both adjectives, but they are used differently. (Similar to boring/bored, surprising/surprised, etc.) ***** Disappointed describes how a person feels. I am disappointed means that I *feel* disappointed. (It is from the passive voice: to be disappointed by something.) ***** Disappointing describes something that makes people feel disappointed. X is disappointing means that X *makes people feel* disappointed. ***** So: The sales are disappointing (to us) = We are disappointed by the sales. The sales are disappointed is not correct because the sales are not a person, so they can’t feel disappointed.