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sobriquetnic
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« on: October 01, 2004, 04:15:42 pm » |
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I am constantly getting calls which go as follows:-
"Hi there (very cheerful, haven't I known you all my life type voice?") - Can I speak to whoever is responsible for the franking machine?"
"Yes, that's me"
"Just restocking your labels for the next year, can I take your order?"
"Actually, we don't purchase our supplies from you"
"Oh, well who then?"
"None of your business!" (that's what I'd like to say anyway).
This form of sales/marketing really gets on my nerves! Staff who are unsure have in the past ordered supplies from these people because they make themselves sound so convincing and then you end up with the products but also a bill that is much higher than usual. The lady that just rang me was really rude when I refused to say who I actually got my supplies from.
Not to worry......TGIF!
All the best,
Nicola.
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chris68
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« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2004, 04:58:56 pm » |
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We get those all the time for toner for the copiers. They ask for serial numbers and that's my first clue to NOT give out that information. They should HAVE that on file and they NEVER call and ask for an order.
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mlm668
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« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2004, 06:02:41 pm » |
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I get the ones asking who purchases our computer stuff - which is me. When they start their spiel, I always interrupt and ask them where they are located. It's always a call center in California. That's three time zones away from us (I'm in Virginia). I tell them I only deal with local vendors, thank you for calling. As I'm hanging up, I can still hear them talking. I hate to be rude, but for about a year everytime one of them called from CA I asked we be taken off their call list. When I asked one why they hadn't, they tried to tell me they weren't the same company. Possible, but c'mon...just how many of these companies could there possibly be? Now I don't even give them time to make their spiel. As for the copier company calling to confirm the serial number, when my co-worker first started working here, she almost got caught on that one. Luckily, she was going to let me handle it. I told her what the scam was and Andrea's infamous poodle story. She got a good laugh out of that. Michelle  |
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Jackie G
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« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2004, 09:37:15 pm » |
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Why not tell them it's none of their business if they're asking about information that is none of their business. If you don't want the call, you can be as blunt as that, while still being polite. Jackie, Peer Moderator www.iqps.org |
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sobriquetnic
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« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2004, 10:12:09 pm » |
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Hi Jackie
My boss always tells me I'm too soft! Sometimes he listens to my calls and says "why don't you just tell them where to go?"
I was a bit off with this one today but then made the mistake of staying on the line! The phone is going straight down next time!
I have registered the company line with TPS so hopefully these calls should die down in the next month or so.
All the best,
Nicola.
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Jackie G
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« Reply #5 on: October 02, 2004, 11:09:03 am » |
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Yes, I registered all the phone lines I have in the house ( a few!!!) with TPS and the amount of calls has drastically reduced. Now you can just tell anyone bothering you that you're registered with TPS and they usually hang up pretty fast! Jackie, Peer Moderator www.iqps.org |
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potofgold
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« Reply #6 on: October 04, 2004, 09:27:27 am » |
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I missed Andrea's poodle story - can someone tell me where to find it or post me a quick summary?? Need cheering up - it's Monday morning and it's dark, wet and windy!!
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If you're using dc please visit - potofgold.utb420.net:420
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raindance
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« Reply #7 on: October 04, 2004, 10:05:06 am » |
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I usually say, if pressed for details of who supplies us with whatever product, that this is confidential company information - which works most of the time.
My real grouse, though, is when the caller asks to speak to "the person in charge" or the "person who makes decisions" or "I don't want to speak to a SECRETARY". Time to put on the rottweiler act!
Raindance
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uberpa
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« Reply #8 on: October 04, 2004, 05:20:47 pm » |
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Ah yes, the bain of existence these slick or trying to be slick sales guys. I have found though they are very easy to get rid of though for instance Marketer: Hi this is the company that supplies your toner, can you just tell me the model of your copier? Me: What company did you say you were calling from? Marketer: :::hangs up::: I agree it's even more annoying when they call you up and ask to speak to "the person in charge of such-and-such" in my experience unless you are calling an extremely large organisation and calling the main switchboard 9 times out of 10 the person who answers the phone is generally responsible for ordering of various supplies or the first point of contact for whatever it is. To piss that person off is obviously not a good idea. It's even worse though when they try to pretend that they might know you by starting off "hi, how are you?" before stating who they are etc. I never answer I always say "whom did you wish to speak to?" which always throws them off becuase it puts them on the defensive instead of the offensive so you've flipped it on them  I love it when they get upset if you are in any way rude to them. I am always careful never to say anything verbally abusive or angry but I can be quite cold and always willing to hang-up on a salesman without further discussion if they are wasting my time which they usually are. They get very irate and I've had them call back and yell at me which I just laugh at because I've thwarted them so thoroughly they can't take it, like I am supposed to play their game or something. Not! |
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mlm668
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« Reply #9 on: October 04, 2004, 06:38:15 pm » |
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I agree, it is funny when they get upset if you're even the least bit off with them. One thing I try not to do though is answer yes to any of their questions, I always state they are correct. I remember something from years ago that some of the more unscrupulous folks were editing the recordings so that your yes answer had you agreeing to buy what they were selling. Don't know if anyone still does that, but I'd rather not take the chance. Not a telemarketer story, but similar...............I had one guy call me a nasty name one day because I wouldn't give him the info he wanted. He was a bill collector trying to get up with an employee who didn't work in the office. After he hung up on me, I dug out his number from where he'd left a message a few days before (my policy is to take one message only for an employee from a collector - if they don't return the call, tough) and called his company and let his supervisor have an earful. I wish I could do that with some of these telemarketers. I'm glad these folks are actually working and not living off my tax dollars, but its a shame this is the best job they can get. Someone asked about the poodle/copier story......I don't know exactly where, but its somewhere here in the archives of DD's Forums. I tried a quick search this morning, but didn't have the time to troll through the results. Maybe if Angela is lurking, she can help us out by reposting it or sending us a link to the old post. Michelle |
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dedlered
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« Reply #10 on: October 04, 2004, 07:48:41 pm » |
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Copied from Old Post
Written by Andrea
Okay, okay, here's my personal way of dealing with copierscam, people it goes like this:
Hello?
"uhhh Hi there, I just need to get the model number off your copier so that we can get you the new pricing on toner"
"OH THANK GOD You've called, do you have the schematics on the copier?"
"uhhh schematics?"
{make faint dog sounding whining noises in the background muffle the phone so they sound possibly realistic}
"Why yes, Mr.{insert name of Boss} Prize Teacup poodle has crawled into the drum and we can't get her out! Please you have to help us!"
{make pathetic whimpering noises, holding the phone away from your face as you do so}
They usually hang up by this time, but if you have one who's REALLY persistant it can go like this:
{more faint whimpering noises}
"can you send someone over right away? Oh Dear LORD, please hurry! she's... Oh I think she's hurt in there!"
"uh sure, if you'll just give me the model number"
"NO Dave Don't turn on the copier DAVE! NOOOOOOOOOOO"
{more pathetic barking/whimpering noises}
By now they've hung up, though I did have one selfless soul honestly try to help the poor little pooch out by telling me to unplug the copier....
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chris68
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« Reply #11 on: October 04, 2004, 07:50:10 pm » |
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Beat me too it dedlered! I found it and went to post it, and it was already there. Boy that was a great laugh and much needed on a Monday.
Enjoy!
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potofgold
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« Reply #12 on: October 05, 2004, 08:19:47 am » |
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Brightened up my morning that did... another dreary miserable one so far!!
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If you're using dc please visit - potofgold.utb420.net:420
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andream
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« Reply #13 on: October 05, 2004, 10:26:36 am » |
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Why yeeees. I'd be happy to. If you'lljust give me the name of your copier so I can send you some toner...Bwhahahaha! I Actually DID do this to a couple of telesales people and it got to a point where when one would call, I would give a hand signal and people would gather around my desk in hysterics. Hey a girl's gotta have some fun!
Andrea
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shellyb
Newbie
Posts: 13
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« Reply #14 on: October 05, 2004, 11:52:52 am » |
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Andrea,
I think you are extremely warped and I bet working in your office was loads of fun! I printed out the poodle thinggie to share with our receptionist and now everytime the phone rings we are actually hopeful that it will be a toner sales company!
Shel
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