Telephone sales...WTF???

jspchief · 08-03-2005, 03:52 PM

On occasion I get phone calls to my business line trying to sell me various things. I've gotten to the point where I firmly but politely tell them I'm not interested and to take me off their call list. The reactions I've been getting of late are ridiculous.

Here's a general transcript of my latest call:

Caller: Hi Jeff, this is so and so from such and such corporation in Arizona. It's been a while since we last spoke, how are things down there? (no pause for answer) Anyways, I just wanted to take a few seconds to tell you about some of the deals we have this week....

Me: (interrupting) Thank you but I'm not interested, please remove me from your calling list.

Caller: Calling list? What calling list? I'm looking at an invoice from a previous purchase from you, you are already a customer.

Me: I doubt it. What did I buy from you?

Caller: Right here in front of me is a previous order for pens with your comapny name sent to (my address)....

Me: (interuppting) I've never bought pens from anyone, so you're wrong.

Caller: Don't lie to me. I have the invoice right in front of....

Me: What crazy type of reasoning did you use that makes you think that lying to me would make we want to do business with you? I...

Caller: (interrupting, angry) I don't have to take this from you. You're lucky I don't come over there and give you the business!!!

Me: Very frightening. On second thought, I'd like to buy some more pens.

Caller: listen pal, I'll come to (my address)...

Me: I thought you were in Arizona. You're coming to Iowa?

Caller: (click)

This is just an average transcript from the type of calls I get maybe twice a month. Most of them start out by acting like we are old pals. As many past customers as I have, I normally have to ask "who is this?" before I determine it's (randome name) from (random southwest city), trying to sell me something. Everytime I try and reason with them, or explain that I buy locally, they start lying to me about past business transactions we've had.

Who in their right fucking mind would think that telling me something that I will clearly recognize as a lie will make me want to do business with them? It's absurd, and it appears to be the sop for all of these guys.

"Oh, you got me me! I guess I will buy a pallet of saw blades like I did last time, even though I only use about ten blades per year"

teedubya · 08-03-2005, 04:00 PM

what if Phil or Pink call you?

vailpass · 08-03-2005, 04:02 PM

"Everytime I try and reason with them, or explain that I buy locally, they start lying to me about past business transactions we've had"

One possible explanation:
There is one loophole in the no-call law (although it may apply to residences only). If you have done any sort of business with the telemarketing company they have the legal right to call you as an existing customer.Perhaps this claim to have done business with you in the past is a CYA move on their part?

jspchief · 08-03-2005, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

"Everytime I try and reason with them, or explain that I buy locally, they start lying to me about past business transactions we've had"

One possible explanation:
There is one loophole in the no-call law (although it may apply to residences only). If you have done any sort of business with the telemarketing company they have the legal right to call you as an existing customer.Perhaps this claim to have done business with you in the past is a CYA move on their part?

Yea, but it's not so much that they are trying to skirt the "no call" thing. It's more like they are trying to convince me that we've done business before, so I won't think they are just telemarketers. Besides, I've never bought that crap from anyone, so even so they are just lying.

I can live with getting the calls. Part of owning a business it getting a lot of calls you don't want. Heck, I normally have fun with them, like this last guy.

I'm just blown away by the methods they use. How can this guy possibly believe that he's going to trick me into thinking I've done business with him before? Whatever miniscule chance he had at getting my business is going to be shot to hell the minute I catch him lying to me.

jspchief · 08-03-2005, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ali Chi3fs

what if Phil or Pink call you?

Are they telemarketers?

Pants · 08-03-2005, 04:24 PM

Some poeple are pretty impressionable. If you tell them something happened in the past, they might just think they don't remember it and believe you. That's just my guess, though.

**Rain Man** · 08-03-2005, 04:25 PM

I have some scam outfit out of Oklahoma that calls up every month to see if I want to buy a share of an oil well over the phone. I hate those people, and they just keep calling. They do everything possible to get through our people who answer the phones, but they're stupid enough to keep saying the name of their company. They don't get through any more.

I had some chipper little 20-something call up the other day, and she said, "I was referred to you by an acquaintance of yours because they said you're a person who enjoys a glass of fine wine. Am I right?"

Me: No. I don't drink.

Her: Oh.....Uh......uh.......do you like to go to wine tastings?

Me: I don't drink. Who gave you my name?

Her: Uh...I don't know. I've just got a list.

Me: Bye.

**Rain Man** · 08-03-2005, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jspchief

Are they telemarketers?

[Inside joke]Phil tried to sell me some pens a while back, but his sales technique was awful. [/inside joke]

08-03-2005, 03:52 PM
jspchief BAMF Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Your Face Casino cash: $9998710	Telephone sales...WTF??? On occasion I get phone calls to my business line trying to sell me various things. I've gotten to the point where I firmly but politely tell them I'm not interested and to take me off their call list. The reactions I've been getting of late are ridiculous. Here's a general transcript of my latest call: Caller: Hi Jeff, this is so and so from such and such corporation in Arizona. It's been a while since we last spoke, how are things down there? (no pause for answer) Anyways, I just wanted to take a few seconds to tell you about some of the deals we have this week.... Me: (interrupting) Thank you but I'm not interested, please remove me from your calling list. Caller: Calling list? What calling list? I'm looking at an invoice from a previous purchase from you, you are already a customer. Me: I doubt it. What did I buy from you? Caller: Right here in front of me is a previous order for pens with your comapny name sent to (my address).... Me: (interuppting) I've never bought pens from anyone, so you're wrong. Caller: Don't lie to me. I have the invoice right in front of.... Me: What crazy type of reasoning did you use that makes you think that lying to me would make we want to do business with you? I... Caller: (interrupting, angry) I don't have to take this from you. You're lucky I don't come over there and give you the business!!! Me: Very frightening. On second thought, I'd like to buy some more pens. Caller: listen pal, I'll come to (my address)... Me: I thought you were in Arizona. You're coming to Iowa? Caller: (click) This is just an average transcript from the type of calls I get maybe twice a month. Most of them start out by acting like we are old pals. As many past customers as I have, I normally have to ask "who is this?" before I determine it's (randome name) from (random southwest city), trying to sell me something. Everytime I try and reason with them, or explain that I buy locally, they start lying to me about past business transactions we've had. Who in their right fucking mind would think that telling me something that I will clearly recognize as a lie will make me want to do business with them? It's absurd, and it appears to be the sop for all of these guys. "Oh, you got me me! I guess I will buy a pallet of saw blades like I did last time, even though I only use about ten blades per year"
Posts: 27,207

08-03-2005, 04:00 PM	#2
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $9490002	what if Phil or Pink call you?
Posts: 36,651

08-03-2005, 04:02 PM	#3
vailpass Psycho Bag Of Squanch Join Date: Sep 2001 Casino cash: $9594244	"Everytime I try and reason with them, or explain that I buy locally, they start lying to me about past business transactions we've had" One possible explanation: There is one loophole in the no-call law (although it may apply to residences only). If you have done any sort of business with the telemarketing company they have the legal right to call you as an existing customer.Perhaps this claim to have done business with you in the past is a CYA move on their part? __________________ “Education is a weapon whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed.” Joseph Stalin
Posts: 69,591

08-03-2005, 04:24 PM	#6
Pants Time Keeps On Slipping Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $5719900	Some poeple are pretty impressionable. If you tell them something happened in the past, they might just think they don't remember it and believe you. That's just my guess, though. __________________ "Turn the channel to 26!"
Posts: 27,294

08-03-2005, 04:25 PM	#7
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3338491 VARSITY	I have some scam outfit out of Oklahoma that calls up every month to see if I want to buy a share of an oil well over the phone. I hate those people, and they just keep calling. They do everything possible to get through our people who answer the phones, but they're stupid enough to keep saying the name of their company. They don't get through any more. I had some chipper little 20-something call up the other day, and she said, "I was referred to you by an acquaintance of yours because they said you're a person who enjoys a glass of fine wine. Am I right?" Me: No. I don't drink. Her: Oh.....Uh......uh.......do you like to go to wine tastings? Me: I don't drink. Who gave you my name? Her: Uh...I don't know. I've just got a list. Me: Bye. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,345