On the flip side, I feel sorry for the poor people that have to do the cold calling as well! They invariably are under pressure and need to make these sales/calls to pay their mortgages, albeit selling unwanted goods and products they don't believe in to people who don't really need them anyway!
Don't get me wrong! I still rank these calls up there with the plague and goat flu (HTML-51 is a virulent strain)
My favourite approaches to handling these calls is one of either:
1. Immediately asking them if it is a sales call before they have finished "hello......", and once they say yes, I say "Thanks, but no thanks" and hang up. If they say no I then question them for 60 seconds until they have to admit its a sales call and then say "Thanks, but no thanks"
2. Answer every question of theirs with an equally annoying question of my own. e.g. "Sir, we are undertaking a survey to identify the next Space Kitchens Show home and wondered if you would like a new kitched worth £50,000?" , me - to sales person, "Thanks for your interest in my kitchen. For how long have you had this strange affection for other peoples kitchens? What does yours look like? How much is yours worth?" etc etc
3. (Dependant on mood and time to waste)
I play them at their own game. If they are going to phone me up uninvited and waste my time, then I am going to waste theirs. A bit vindictive I know but it can give you satisfaction especially as it is their cost for the call.
My favourite was keeping a guy talking about new patio doors for 45 minutes. He had models, pricing plans, dates and all sorts of information ready. Positively salivating at the thought of a sale. Until he asked me for my address.
The first line was
"2nd Floor, Flat G, ..........."
Took him a second, then he hung up!
Ah well, you try and be friendly ........
Don't get me wrong! I still rank these calls up there with the plague and goat flu (HTML-51 is a virulent strain)
My favourite approaches to handling these calls is one of either:
1. Immediately asking them if it is a sales call before they have finished "hello......", and once they say yes, I say "Thanks, but no thanks" and hang up. If they say no I then question them for 60 seconds until they have to admit its a sales call and then say "Thanks, but no thanks"
2. Answer every question of theirs with an equally annoying question of my own. e.g. "Sir, we are undertaking a survey to identify the next Space Kitchens Show home and wondered if you would like a new kitched worth £50,000?" , me - to sales person, "Thanks for your interest in my kitchen. For how long have you had this strange affection for other peoples kitchens? What does yours look like? How much is yours worth?" etc etc
3. (Dependant on mood and time to waste)
I play them at their own game. If they are going to phone me up uninvited and waste my time, then I am going to waste theirs. A bit vindictive I know but it can give you satisfaction especially as it is their cost for the call.
My favourite was keeping a guy talking about new patio doors for 45 minutes. He had models, pricing plans, dates and all sorts of information ready. Positively salivating at the thought of a sale. Until he asked me for my address.
The first line was
"2nd Floor, Flat G, ..........."
Took him a second, then he hung up!
Ah well, you try and be friendly ........
)
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