Jim Pemberton
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- Joined
- Oct 7, 2006
- Messages
- 12,575
- Name
- Jim Pemberton
A salesman dropped by today.
Let me premise this by saying that I am usually impatient with phone or drop in cold calls from salespeople. I control that feeling by remembering when I had to do it in my teens and 20s, and try to show a measure of patience and courtesy.
But this guy today....
1. He comes in, and asks my shipper (she is the first person encountered when most people arrive) "where's the restroom?" He immediately walked into the Ladies Room (unoccupied at least) and proceeded to devastate the interior, based on the noise and miasma that crept out from under the doors and had my staff considering evacuating the place.
2. He then came to my desk and offered his hand. I also couldn't hear the sink running when he was done, so I avoided that contamination by keeping my distance.
3. He introduced himself and the company he represented (a legitimate concern that has my respect), and then pulled out his phone and asked if our meeting could be recorded. I asked him why this was necessary, and he replied (just like the recordings you always hear on the phone) "For quality assurance and training purposes".
So I asked him: "Have you ever listened to these recordings as a part of your training?" He confessed that he hadn't. So I told him I don't want to be recorded, and if that is really necessary, he could leave.
Unfortunately, he turned the phone off and didn't leave. It was worth a try at least....
4. He then said he wasn't here to sell me anything. I hate it when I hear that. So I asked:
"Look, its ok to be here selling. I grew up selling. I think sales is an honorable profession. So its ok, just tell me the truth: Are you a salesman?
No, he replied that he was a marketing representative here to save me money.
I gave him one last chance:
"Look, I told you its ok. So let me ask you this: If I like what you have to offer, will I receive something from your company as a result of this conversation that I will need to pay for?"
He made the mistake of smirking and and saying:
"Duh...well of course"
"Well then, you weren't telling me the truth" I said.
I escorted him out of my building.
So Marty...am I becoming a pissy old man?
Let me premise this by saying that I am usually impatient with phone or drop in cold calls from salespeople. I control that feeling by remembering when I had to do it in my teens and 20s, and try to show a measure of patience and courtesy.
But this guy today....
1. He comes in, and asks my shipper (she is the first person encountered when most people arrive) "where's the restroom?" He immediately walked into the Ladies Room (unoccupied at least) and proceeded to devastate the interior, based on the noise and miasma that crept out from under the doors and had my staff considering evacuating the place.
2. He then came to my desk and offered his hand. I also couldn't hear the sink running when he was done, so I avoided that contamination by keeping my distance.
3. He introduced himself and the company he represented (a legitimate concern that has my respect), and then pulled out his phone and asked if our meeting could be recorded. I asked him why this was necessary, and he replied (just like the recordings you always hear on the phone) "For quality assurance and training purposes".
So I asked him: "Have you ever listened to these recordings as a part of your training?" He confessed that he hadn't. So I told him I don't want to be recorded, and if that is really necessary, he could leave.
Unfortunately, he turned the phone off and didn't leave. It was worth a try at least....
4. He then said he wasn't here to sell me anything. I hate it when I hear that. So I asked:
"Look, its ok to be here selling. I grew up selling. I think sales is an honorable profession. So its ok, just tell me the truth: Are you a salesman?
No, he replied that he was a marketing representative here to save me money.
I gave him one last chance:
"Look, I told you its ok. So let me ask you this: If I like what you have to offer, will I receive something from your company as a result of this conversation that I will need to pay for?"
He made the mistake of smirking and and saying:
"Duh...well of course"
"Well then, you weren't telling me the truth" I said.
I escorted him out of my building.
So Marty...am I becoming a pissy old man?
