I rather suspect that around about now two very unfortunate telephone cold-callers are equating me with the demonic. At least, I rather hope that they are. Like almost everyone I know, I cannot stand it when I busy doing something only to be interrupted by someone trying to sell me something. Can anyone explain to me why they start off by asking me how I am today, then leaving a pause for me to answer? I have tried experimenting with different answers and no matter what I say, I almost always receive an answer of "Good."
When the phone went for the second time in five minutes I answered, heard the standard (scripted) opening and responded with "No, I am in absolute agony and have been for the last eleven years." I said this is happy tones just to see whether the person on the other end was listening or too busy reading the script to really do so. The reply came; "Good." Really? It's good that I've spent over a decade in pain? Hmm, that's a little insulting and makes it unlikely that I will be contacting your company, should I ever need the product you have just described to me.
I know. I know it is cruel and I know that if I were able to, I would take any job going, including telephone cold-calling, if it put food on the table and paid the bills. But please, come one, at least listen to the person you are calling! It may improve your chances of making a sale.
As to the first phone call, well, yes I was mean there too. I am having a bad week and while I shouldn't take it out on strangers who annoy me by making unwanted telephone calls to my number, it is one of the only forms of entertainment I have at times. The first guy was trying to flog me solar panels through the Government scheme which essentially makes sure that any excess electricity generated goes to the grid and the Government have the money it generates. Plus you still have to pay for night-time electricity. He didn't get far enough to explain that to me because I am genuinely in a lot of pain today. I asked him to put it in writing, to which he replied they don't do that. So I bought up the Equality Act and reasonable adjustments, as I figured sending the details to my home via a leaflet or - better still - sending an email fall under that. He got off the phone very quickly at that point. I wonder if I will receive anything...
How does everyone else deal with telephone sales calls?
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