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Marketing calls

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by jamesrl 1 view

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As a manager, I get all kinds of calls. Sometimes switchboard puts them through to me, though why I am so lucky I don't know. I don't have a gatekeeper, I'm not important enought for an admin.

The one today though took the cake.

First off she started off a little too familiar; "James, you are a hard man to reach, harder to get to than George Bush". Now one of the things that raised a flag was that it sounded like a pickup line. And her accent was distinctively southern US, when most of our offices in the US I deal with are in Oregon or Illinois.

So it was clear she was trying to imply she knew me or I knew her. Big mistake, as my first reaction is to try and place her.

Then she introduces herself and her company(which I've never heard of). She proceeds to thank me for filling in a customer responce card from "the magazine".

Well red lights go off. I do NOT fill in those cards. I have done the occasional online survey, but I avoid those cards as the address gathering spamming tools they are. I haven't filled in one of those cards in 5 years.

I suggest there must be a mistake, I haven't filled in a card. She cuts me off and insists I did.

This is where I lose it. I don't normally hang up on telemarketers, I did the job myself once, but this woman was clearly trying to deceive me.

I hung up the phone, without saying goodbye.

Does anyone think these tricky tactics work on IT executives? Do they think we are stupid?

James

21 replies

by jc2it

I figure these guys are wolves. I get a call like you have described at least twice a month. The other big one is the guys trying to sell me toner at ten times the going rate. For this reason I only buy items from vendors that I have a long-standing relationship with.

Before I was in IT management I was a Purchasing Agent and these types of calls were constant, like 2-3 per week. The one I hate the most is where they act like they are your long lost brother and they are going to send you a fishing pole for dealing with them in the future.

I hang up on them, because they are crooks.

If you want my business then don't start out by lying to me! :0

by charliespencer

Most of the ones I get have NY / NJ accents and are trying to sell me toner, screen wipes, keyboard cleaner; well, you know the type of stuff.

One company had it's leech, uh, employee tell me, "I'm going to be in your area next week visiting some other companies, and I'd like to send you a dozen toner cartridges to try. If you don't like them, I'll pick them up next week." I went into a routine the tourism board would have loved. Flying or driving? Yeah, that Charlotte airport is mutha. Where are you staying? Oh, that's a great hotel, try the restaurant. Do you know how to get to my workplace from there? Let me give you directions. (Ten minutes worth of directions that will result in her being at a Lake Murray boat ramp.) Have you ever been to (insert local tourist attraction here)? Oh, you'd love it. Who's the other company you're coming to see? Maybe I know someone over there.

Ask a bunch of BS questions just to listen to them try to hold up their end of the conversation. Insert phony information and see if they bite on it. Ask if they'd like to meet for lunch. Nicely ask to speak to their supervisor and jerk his chain some too. At some point, tell them you have to go but you'd like their number so you can call them right back. Then point out the errors in the conversation and see if you can hang up before they do. If they were dumb enough to give their number, call back and make their life a living hell.

I realize they're trying to make a living. So are puppy mills, drug pushers, and child pornographers.

by captbilly1eye

Too perfect!
I love the ones that have a "FREE gift to bring you" and want your home address to send it to. I'll use your tactic next time.

I typically respond that all purchasing is done by our corporate headquarters and then hang up ('cause we don't have one).

It amazes me that unscrupulous sales tactics like this continue. They must get enough takers to make it profitable. Are there that many doofuses in charge of purchasing? Wait... don't answer dat... I know a few.

by charliespencer

I answer the phone and the bimbo goes into her spiel. She's telling me the great price I can get on ribbons and toner for my HP LJ 4Vs, my C. Itoh CI 5000s, my Printronics P300, etc. All of these are printer models that we had in house at the time.

Like you, I referred her to a non-existant corporate purchasing office. I went to ask the new receptionist not to transfer calls to me unless they asked for me by name. She said she would do that, but thought it odd that the same person had called several different departments that morning. I asked around, and it turned out the scab had called most departments and asked what model of printer they had, then hung up.

by rob_annable

I normally humour them for about 30 seconds and sound interested then say "uh hang on just a sec will you..." and put the phone on the desk without muting or holding and then leave it till they hang up. Bizarrely I don't get many calls like this at home or work anymore...

by shellbot

i'm lucky enough that i don't have to take any of those type of calls.

but at home...now thats a different story.
used to get 3-4 calls a night sometimes..

surveys..long distance call, internet providers..and the list goes on...

at first i was polite..after a month or 2, i just started hanging up immediatly.

i thought it was less rude to hang up..this way your not wasting thier time and they can get onto the next call :)

by shellbot

you can tell them not to call you again, and it stops them for like 6 months..then they call back..

well i've sorted it now though..we moved and i don't have a landline now :)

by jack-m

My SOP is to listen respectfully till they get to a point where it seems I should write something down. I ask them to hold while I get a pencil and paper and then I set the phone down for as long as I want. Usually 15-20 minutes is enough for them to get the message. One mistake I make was shown me some time ago. I listened to the recorded pitch and at the end I got the message to press 9 if I wanted to be taken from their csall list. If this option was available more often I'd listen to the pitch all the way to the end.

by dspeacock

my handling differs.

At work, I'll string them along for as long as I can, wasting their time, and finally I'll tell them that I/we are not interested as we're happy with the current provider. Then I'll ask them to not clal me any more, but if in the remote chance we're looking for a new provider, I'll be sure NOT to call them.

At home my response is very simple. I ask for their phone number. When they ask why, I tell them that I'm busy right now, but I'll call them tomorrow when they're having supper/lunch/breakfast so we can discuss the piece of crap or subscription they're trying to sell me.

by shellbot

i have my ways Palmetto...
:)

Nah, thats my baby!!!

Levi, 2 yrs old..he's a wee sweetheart :)

I presume you have a similar one?

by charliespencer

Sundance, the world's whiniest cat. He's got to be at least ten. Apparently nothing we do in the household is up to his standards. He doesn't get fed enough, he doesn't get rubbed enough, people won't sit still while he's in their laps, he's not allowed to sit on the keyboard, the dog next door looked at him sideways, etc.

"Dogs have an owner, cats have a staff."

by gmedlin00011

I don't know about the rest of you, but my job consumes enough of my time to have sales people cold call me. If I need their product, I will let them know.

by shellbot

he's similar..
"What, your not giving me more food"
"where's the tuna..i'm not eating this stuff"

he likes to be held all the time, and then he purrs..then he drools..nasty!

our other cat is the IT expert..she won't go near you untill you get within 3 feet of the computer...then she's your best friend..

by wolfticket2003

Bear with me on this; I do understand and even agree with some of ya'll, but I've always wondered why there is so much instant resistance to telemarketers as a whole...

Cold-callers are without a doubt the most-hated work-force group ever to come along.

What exactly are they doing wrong by calling you/us?

Some of these people are genuine marketers with products we all use, and their calls are part of a thouroughly-researched marketing plan, while others are just hapless salespeople just trying to make a living like the rest of us.

These folk have family and needs like us, and many were hired simply because they have 'the gift of gab', or are just good on the phone. (and just as many are not-there are really some true dips out there that should never call anyone, at anytime, ever-)

And then there's the ones we all dislike: the crooks, scammers, liers, and so on.

But when did the general idea of using the phone as a tool cease to be a free enterprise sales method and morph into a total taboo, with all the terrified, torch-bearing villagers chasing Franken-caller away from the populace, and deep into the countryside?
Help me understand...Q&A?

Is it the caller or the call itself?

Is it the presentation or the presenter?

Is it when they call, or sales calls as a whole?

Is it really true that ALL inbound calls you get are from dishonest scammers solely after your wallet or credit card?

Is it because of the general incompetence of the person calling who's never done any pre-call homework regarding either your dept or your co.?

Would it make any difference if you received a call from a knowledegeable, polite, professional consultant who knew who he was calling, and was straight-forward, honest, brief, had the ability to listen, and possessed enough insight to know when to ask questions and when to volunteer information; knew when to ask for an appt, and when to request a referral to another dept for the correct party, and most of all, knew intuitively how to gauge what you're feeling and responsed to that; whether it meant asking to be of service or simply getting off the phone; would any of that really make any difference?

No offense intended by any means, ya'll.
just wondering...
wolfe~

by shellbot

Normally I just don't require thier services, and I say so.
I think I have 2 problems with it:

1. I have been treated rudely by some. For example a while ago..
Them: "Do you want to save money on your long distance"
Me: "No, I'm happy with my current provider"
Them: "What, are you stupid, your telling me you don't want to save money?"
Me: hang up

2. Up untill recently I commuted 3-3.5 hours a day..anyone who calls my house at 6:50 pm when I'm trying to make my dinner gets a rude answer, or no answer at all from me.

I know they trying to make a living, I'm just not going to take part in the excercise. Most are nice enough people, but i have never bought anything over the phone form these guys...i use the phone book, word of mouth or internet.

:)

by charliespencer

"Some of these people are genuine marketers with products we all use..."

If we're already using them, why are you calling me? I subscribe to the local newspaper. They have my phone number on record; that's how they reference delivery problems. When they start a new round of calls asking people to subscribe, can't they leave my number off the list? This wastes my time and the caller's.

"But when did the general idea of using the phone as a tool cease to be a free enterprise sales method and morph into a total taboo..."

It didn't morph. Many of us never regarded it as acceptable and have always held the process in contempt.

"Is it the caller or the call itself?"

It's the call itself. The telephone I bought and the service I pay for are for my convenience, not anyone else's.

"Is it the presentation or the presenter?"

Most often it's the presentation. I've heard too many calls that begin with, "Now don't hang up because I'm not selling anything.", when they are. Too many, "We're not asking for donations." when eventually they do. Too many flat-out lies about how the pool service / lawn service / window washer will be in my area to visit my neighbors next week, but they can't tell me where my area is or even name the neighbors as a reference. Occasionally it's the presenter. Too many times I hear the callers talking in the background because they don't notice when the autodialer gets a connection. Too many seconds waiting while the caller puts down her word search and fumbles for the script. If I don't hear a human voice in three seconds, it's "Too slow. Thank you and good evening."

"Is it when they call, or sales calls as a whole?"

Yes, it is when they call and sales calls as whole. It is interrupting my personal time, even if it's only the interruption of the phone repeatedly ringing when I choose not to answer it. It's the arrogance and rudeness of not giving me your home phone number so I can call you back and discuss this on your time while you're eating dinner or playing with the kids. It's getting hung up on when I'm trying to end the call politely, without a "Good bye." or even a "Kiss my @ss!"

"Is it really true that ALL inbound calls you get are from dishonest scammers solely after your wallet or credit card?"

No, most of them are honest. Yes, all of them are after my wallet or credit card. Not one has called solely to chat about the NASCAR race or ask about my Aunt Petunia's gall bladder.

"Is it because of the general incompetence of the person calling who's never done any pre-call homework regarding either your dept or your co.?"

No. It's the assumption that I'm too incompetent to research product or service providers on my own in the event that I need what they're selling. It's expecting me to make a decision based on the limited information read from a script by someone who knows nothing else about the product. It's often an inability to provide additional information by mail or web.

"Would it make any difference if you received a call ..."

No. First, I suspect you'll be unable to find that caliber of employee for what cold callers get paid. Second, if I want information, I'll go looking for it. Instead of a room full of cold callers, spend the money on a domain name, a content developer, and a web site designer who knows something besides bloated multimedia front pages and code that's only viewable with Internet Explorer.

No offense taken.

by rob_annable

Hey Wolfe, its the volume of calls that annoy people- i used to get 20+ per day and I only work for a little engineering company! I usually ignore the phone now and only reply to voicemails left on my machine. Cold callers rarely leave voicemails you see...

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