Sales Calls

[EcclesCake]

I'm quite patient and tolerant to sales calls but one today irritated me.

The caller rang to explain that he was the agent responsible for my postcode area and had on record that we had fibre loft insulation. I told him that we recently replaced our insulation with Brand X and he promptly told me that he had never heard of it and we had made a big mistake.

Now if he's never heard of it how does he know we've made a mistake and secondly aggressively questioning our choice is not a winning way to secure any business from me/us.

For the record we've used Celotex, it is not an obscure form of insulation and quite suited to our requirements.

I'm left wondering which calls are more tiresome the script led ones or the free form spiel :-/

[chrissa1]

I wouldn't know, Ecclescake. I never pick up unless I recognise the number.

[ethandron]

I prefer the script led ones as its more fun diverting them off script, allowing them back on script for a question or two, then taking them off script again.
I particularly enjoyed speaking to Edward from India last week when he told me he couldn't believe I was retired as I scounded so young. This was after I told him I already had a man who sorted out my windows so didn't need his services.

[EcclesCake]

Working from home I have to answer the phone.

I'm not bothered by the calls, more this shoddy sales technique.

[Dee Sa]

isn't it funny peculiar that all these people who ring from India have suddenly got "English" names eg Edward and I had a lady the other day who insisted her name was Margaret ! which bright spark decided they would sell more with names we are used to !

[EcclesCake]

Aah yes Eth, you've reminded me of the chap who rang from Windows advising me of a problem with my computer.

Having repeatedly asking him which one, I finally asked him if it was the one in the study? 'Yes, yes, that is the one' he replied.

I nearly choked on my G&T :-)

[boxtops]

I'd have told him to whistle before he's got past the first sentence. I never tell them anything.

[ladyalex]

I have been known to tell them to get a proper job.
But that's all. I'd never give out any other information, no matter how innocent sounding.

[gness]

Eccles.....I posted the other day about the man who.....when I pretended to hear...computer as cooker.....promised to fix my cooker after I'd paid.....

Chatting to my brother about it I discovered he does the same......on the last one he had about compensation he pretended to hear...compensation as... constipation......if you're in the mood it can be fun....x

[ethandron]

Edward asked me how old I actually was so I told him it was rude to ask a lady her age.
He apologised then asked was I 50s, 60s or 70s. I said I wasn't going to tell him, he said he needed to know so he could complete his questionnaire to see if I was entitled to compensation for some (unknown to me)problem.
He asked, and I refused, very pleasantly, four times. I then told him, again very pleasantly, that I knew all about what he was trying to do and that he should be ashamed of himself and asked him did he want to continue. He hung up.
It passed a mildly interesting ten minutes.

[Robinia]

I try to avoid answering but occasionally get caught out. The best name I was been given by a male with a foreign accent was Kevin Beckham. :)

[boxtops]

why do you respond to them at all? If I answer and it's one of these, I repeat that I am not interested, and ask them to remove my number from their calling list. Don't engage with them!

[novalis]

I never answer if I do not recognise the number unless it shows up as "international". Then I either answer in German or explain that they are through to the police fraud squad. For some strange reason they terminate the call rather quickly. What I find really annoying are the barely out of their teens people who stand in places like the Arndale Market in Manchester and greet you in the case of Squawk, Squawk with "Do you have broadband mate?" or in the case of Visa with "Do you know your credit score mate?" I have explained to several of them that good manners cost nothing.

[Retrochic]

I've always found a pleasant, thanks for calling but I'm not interested and will you please take me off your data base works. Contrary to what some people may think these people have got 'proper jobs' and often will be the main bread winner in a family. The only time I've had a really aggressive salesman was from Sky TV and obviously Native English. He was incredibly condescending and rude but as you can imagine he got more than he bargained for.

[gness]

Boxy.....you have Nibble to annoy....some of us just like a giggle after a wintery day alone..........☺

[BlackadderV]

In a way I feel sorry for these people; it's the only job they can get. I was a supervisor for a national enquiry line (inbound calls only) and you wouldn't believe the abuse operators get for things over which they have no control. The phone is the first line of contact.

[ethandron]

The ones who tell you you have a problem with windows, and the ones who tell you you are owed compensation and require your bank details aren't 'proper jobs', they're scammers and don't deserve any polite responses. If I can have a bit of fun with them, on my terms, then at least I've got something out of it, rather than having my bank account emptied or my computer taken over remotely.
Likewise, unsolicited calls trying to sell me something shouldn't be surprised if they get a short, shirty response. If people knock at my door they get the same treatment.
Asking to be taken of their database, in many cases, is completely futile.

[Retrochic]

Taking the scammers out of the equation, some people have to do these jobs, cold calling,trying to flog you things. Would you rather have them sitting on their backsides on Benefits?One of my daughters had a job while at Uni knocking on doors trying to get people to sign up for a charity. The abuse she got was uncalled for as she was polite and not pushy. Next time you vent your spleen on some poor beggar trying to earn a crust think they may be trying to finance themselves through college or have a family to look after.

[novalis]

I find the people representing charities a lot more polite and pleasant than those representing companies. I always explain to them that we cannot support every charity and that I choose to represent cancer ones. They accept that. People representing companies seem to regard "no" or "I am not interested." as a starting point for negotiation rather than a finality.

[Psybbo]

I am polite to the local businesses calling but the others I just say 'Not now'
as I worry about receiving bad news so keep the phone line clear in case I'm needed

[maggiebee]

Had a call from a "gentleman" informing me I had a dangerous virus on my computer. After stringing him along for a bit I told him that I worked for the UK Government and would check my computer when I went back to work.
End of call.......