Sales Reps ringing my phone off the hook.

[MikeH]

Man, my phone won't stop ringing. I've got numerous sales reps trying to sell me their service. It's funny because I tell them "I don't even have any costumers yet." But they still want to do business. I understand the game. I was contacted by Comodo this morning. Sent me a link to there software demo page. States everything I want to offer they have for free, WHAT! I kinda doubt that. Even if it's free now, it won't be when they get their customer base up. I have an appointment with Max Focus tomorrow. I told him no customers. But I want to try their software. If for anything I want to try the software to familiarize myself with this. What do you guys think? I have some other suggestions I am going to look at. Are these type of services beneficial to really small companies or for the home user? Right now that's all I'm really trying to get. I was also thinking, where is a good place to buy and sell good antivirus packages. I would like to buy some licenses, maybe, and try to make a few bucks.

 

[cypress]

Yup just part of the business, some will keep blowing up your phone until you get real blunt with them. I can attest to Comodo, they called me a couple times and sent some e-mails until they got the hint.

 

[PBComputer]

I have started to tell firms, not to ring me. I will ring them, and if they do they are more than likely won't get an order. but they can email me the offers they have. works great.

 

[altrenda]

This is one technique for landing new business. Use it as a learning experience. These are people who sell for a living, so they should know what they are doing.

Make note of the pitches that you find effective and copy them when you do your own prospecting.

Make note of the ones that turn you off and avoid using those techniques when contacting prospective clients.

Cold calling is the most basic and cheapest selling technique, and its a numbers game. You call lots of people and hope to get a few new customers.

 

[Moltuae]

Man, my phone won't stop ringing. I've got numerous sales reps trying to sell me their service.

Yup. Really hate that too. I block calls from companies who repeatedly make unsolicited calls, then I stop doing business with them.

Max Focus

One of the main reasons I ended their trial was the incessant calls and emails. Told them not to bother me and that I would be in touch once I had evaluated the product, but they wouldn't go away.

 

[MikeH]

This is one technique for landing new business. Use it as a learning experience. These are people who sell for a living, so they should know what they are doing.

Make note of the pitches that you find effective and copy them when you do your own prospecting.

Make note of the ones that turn you off and avoid using those techniques when contacting prospective clients.

Cold calling is the most basic and cheapest selling technique, and its a numbers game. You call lots of people and hope to get a few new customers.

I like your reply. It shows you that you can use about everything as a learning experience. So instead of getting annoyed, take what I can and dump the rest. I like it.

 

[Markverhyden]

One thing I do to limit calls to numbers I use regularly is to get a separate number. Like one from Google. I have Vonage and use that phone number, which I do not use, for ALL online signups for vendors. I'll call them back if/when I am interested. Once I sign up I'll update the account to another number I do answer.

 

[sapphirescales]

These nag calls are just part of a business owner's life. ANY business owner, not just computer repair. Chances are if they're having to seek you out, they have nothing you need and the thing they're selling is crap. I have NEVER purchased anything as the result of a cold call, and I doubt I ever will. If I need something, I'm the one that goes and finds it. I don't need beggars coming to my doorstep trying to sell me crap I don't need. I understand you want money. Doesn't everybody? But if you're having to cold call, you need to rethink what it is you're offering and ask yourself "why am I having to cold call people to try to sell this?"

 

[Mike McCall]

Caller ID. Don't know you, or from out of state? Don't answer the phone. Most leave me alone now, but for awhile there I was getting schooled on the sleazier side of this business. I swear, one literally had me attend an online Amway presentation under the guise of being a legitimate data storage company. Part of the learning curve I guess, but yeah, it sucks.

 

[sapphirescales]

^I wish that worked. But all too often I get calls from out of state cell phones. I'd say I get a good 20 calls from out of state a month. That's money on the table, man. It probably wouldn't be so prevalent in rural areas, but a lot of people don't bother to change their phone numbers they move. I mean, let's be honest here. Area codes and long distance are so 20th century.

 

[Moltuae]

Chances are if they're having to seek you out, they have nothing you need and the thing they're selling is crap.

Exactly how I see it. If the products/services are any good, they'll sell themselves through word-of-mouth.

I have never made cold calls myself, nor would I consider doing so. In fact I've never really advertised either, yet I always have more work than I can handle. If you have an established business/product and you need to cold call, I think you're probably doing something wrong.

One thing I do to limit calls to numbers I use regularly is to get a separate number. Like one from Google. I have Vonage and use that phone number, which I do not use, for ALL online signups for vendors. I'll call them back if/when I am interested. Once I sign up I'll update the account to another number I do answer.

I used to do that too. You can get free, disposable 'non-geographic' numbers in the uk (0870, 0845, etc) which you can divert to your real number for free. I use a call blocker now though, which allows me to either block specific callers completely with an 'unobtainable' tone or require them to jump through a couple of hoops to make my phone ring. It also provides me with a telephone number that I can use when registering for sites that insist I provide a telephone number. If called, the number plays a simple recorded message that politely asks the caller to email me instead.

 

[Mike McCall]

^I wish that worked. But all too often I get calls from out of state cell phones. I'd say I get a good 20 calls from out of state a month. That's money on the table, man. It probably wouldn't be so prevalent in rural areas, but a lot of people don't bother to change their phone numbers they move. I mean, let's be honest here. Area codes and long distance are so 20th century.

One of the salesmen who called me early on came up as a relatively (within 25-miles) local number, when he was actually on east coast time. When I asked him about it he freely admitted that his company did that so people would be more likely to answer their phone. Sorry, but to me if you have to resort to playing such games to trick me into answering the phone you're likely not someone I want to do business with.

The majority of sales calls I've received have been from companies who show a valid caller ID. Few play the types of games this guy did. If I visit a web site it's because I'm looking for information. I'm not looking to find a salesperson. I find that many companies today are enticing people by offering something that may appeal to me (pricing for example), but I'm required to fill out some form first providing information about my company such as email address and phone number. I immediately know that I will get multiple phone calls and emails if I complete the form. Sometimes, that's all I want to know, the price. I don't want to talk to anyone, just give me the cost and I'll decide if it's what I need at what I want to pay. I don't want to waste my time (or theirs) if I know right away it won't work for me. If it might, then I'll pursue it from there and actually speak with someone if need be.

I do live in a relatively small rural area. I'm also not well established as I'm guessing you are in comparison. I do answer my phone if there's even an off chance it may be a customer. Decent numbers of customer calls are just not likely the case when you're starting out like the OP. My very first call came in less than 2-hours after my business phone went live online. It was some scam company wanting to sell me some $400 business promotion scheme. Seriously!

 

[Moltuae]

On a related note ...

Don't you just hate it when you send an email to a sales rep to ask a simple question and their reply is "would you like to phone me to discuss it?" ...... NO, that's why I ####ing emailed you!

Like when you text someone and they immediately phone you .... Grrrrr!

Or is that just me?

Admittedly, I'm not one for phone conversations. Most of the day I'm usually 'in the zone', programming, designing/fixing stuff or whatnot, so interruptions never seem to come at a good time.

I just think there should be some sort of communications etiquette here: If I email you, email me; if I text you, text me. And, if I don't ask you to phone me, don't friggin phone!


Yeah, now I think about it, it's probably just me lol

 

[cypress]

Nope happened with me too recently, just wanted to know the price of a product we had discussed previously and he wanted to call me instead. Told him just tell me the price and if I plan on purchasing I will call you. LOL

 

[Markverhyden]

On a related note ...

Don't you just hate it when you send an email to a sales rep to ask a simple question and their reply is "would you like to phone me to discuss it?" ...... NO, that's why I ####ing emailed you!

Like when you text someone and they immediately phone you .... Grrrrr!

Or is that just me?

Admittedly, I'm not one for phone conversations. Most of the day I'm usually 'in the zone', programming, designing/fixing stuff or whatnot, so interruptions never seem to come at a good time.

I just think there should be some sort of communications etiquette here: If I email you, email me; if I text you, text me. And, if I don't ask you to phone me, don't friggin phone!


Yeah, now I think about it, it's probably just me lol

LOL!!! I'm the opposite. I really hate texting. I can accomplish what I need in a 45 second phone call versus minutes for texting. Email is ok but I still like phone calls.

 

[Mike McCall]

LOL!!! I'm the opposite. I really hate texting. I can accomplish what I need in a 45 second phone call versus minutes for texting. Email is ok but I still like phone calls.

When I'm dealing with a salesperson I'm very upfront about my being difficult to reach by phone, and that email is preferred. Yet, every one of them insist on calling me instead. Look, if a potential client says they don't want me to call and prefer email, I email. If they prefer calls, I call. If texts, I text. I'm the one who wants their business after all. Why shouldn't it work the same way for those who want my business?

 

[Moltuae]

Nope happened with me too recently, just wanted to know the price of a product we had discussed previously and he wanted to call me instead. Told him just tell me the price and if I plan on purchasing I will call you. LOL

Yeah, that's exactly the sort of thing I mean. "Can I call you to discuss it?" .... No, just give me the damn price (please)!

I often wonder how it must be for hearing-impaired people, or anyone physically incapable of holding a telephone conversation. They must find it really annoying when people insist on phoning. I've actually been tempted to pretend .... Perhaps I should add "Don't call me, I'm deaf" to the end of my emails. And if they STILL call, I could just pick up the phone and keep saying "Hello, is there anyone there?"

LOL!!! I'm the opposite. I really hate texting. I can accomplish what I need in a 45 second phone call versus minutes for texting. Email is ok but I still like phone calls.

Ah! So you're to blame! lol

Don't you find that when you call someone who just sent you a text, when they eventually pick up, rather than the "Hey Mark, how are you doing pal!?" that you may have been expecting, they answer the phone with a fairly abrupt "yep?"? .... Now that's the clue you broke the etiquette

To be honest, I don't like texting much either. I usually text from my computer (via bluetooth connection to my phone) whenever possible. I avoid long texts when I'm away from the computer.

 

[Porthos]

My number is a google voice number. I just block them.

 

[Mike McCall]

Phone just now rang from Lisbon OH. I answered it (knowing better), and sure enough after a moment of silence the call was transferred to a gal who asked for me by name. I asked who she was, and she said she was an SEO analyst from...<click>. That's another number the just got blocked. I need customers not salespeople!

 

[PBComputer]

If you are using voipfone remember to transfer to ext 166.