Forum Moderators: LifeinAsia
I believe that if someone uses deception to steal my time then I am entitled to be rude.
I rather abruptly tell him that the only place he could have found my number was on my web site which clearly shows that I provide this service. Then I calmly ask him why I would ever want to buy a service that I sell. After he starts stammering I hang up.
I know some sales school out there is teaching people this crap so people call them back. Maybe they should be teaching them how to read or maybe use some common sense instead.
The lady who called me was very plausible and she seemed quite knowledgeable about NHS procurement and asked all the right questions. She outlined the requirement and "interviewed" me about the services that I offered, could I show her case studies, etc. I asked her to confirm who she was representing and again she said the NHS procurement service.
I spoke to her for about thirty minutes and as I had to go out I asked her to email me her details and requirements and I would get back to her. At this point she said, "OK, but you realise that there is a charge for this".
Turns out she was from some dubious company that sold leads for NHS contracts. I was *%^&*"* livid with myself for falling for her spiel and because I had wasted a half hour of my time.
I slammed the phone down on her then, thinking that what she was doing was verging on the illegal, I checked my incoming calls list. Needless to say her number had been withheld. I am praying that I get this call again so that I can investigate it further and report them to the NHS.
The lady who called me was very plausible and she seemed quite knowledgeable about NHS procurement and asked all the right questions.
I don't understand why these companies believe that being deceptive and tricking you into talking is somehow building trust or mean you are interested in their product, it means you have been fooled, which is going to piss you off, not put you in a buying mood. that is just stupid sales training plain and simple.
'Hi Mr Hudson, we just wanted to say thank you so much for supporting us last year, it really makes a difference.' They continue on brown nosing for a while and then ask you to buy some calender advertising.
I once had a guy who introduced himself as a manager of some marketing company that could refer work to us. 'How much work could you take on?' he asks, 'are you a available now?', 'what services do you offer'?. Of course, it turned out he was selling leads.
I couldn't imagine approaching a potential client in this way. It shows utter contempt for professionalism and a complete lack of respect for their clients.
I don't actually mind cold calls and would consider telemarketing myself. I'd want to be a little more careful with my reputation than some of the jokers around though.
"I visited your web site and found some great information regarding Furniture."
Now why would a web design business want to link to a furniture company? These people infuriate me. They have no business ethics and don't give a **** about wasting people's time.
(rant over - Monday morning!)
I had the time to play games that day and I made up a story that I didn't believe the caller was genuine because I could not see their Caller ID and I had heard on the radio that crooks were using this charity's name to fleece good citizens. This wasn't in his script and I used the silence to repeat his sarcasm and how the crooks were saying exactly the same thing... He hung up on me.
I think the best way to handle a misleading telemarketer is to put them on hold and go for a coffee.
