unsolicited sales calls...does anyone actually buy from them?

[gabagoo]

I cant count on one hand how many of these calls we get each day. It usually results in me hanging up on them and thinking....just who does actually buy whatever product or service they are selling in this manner.

I guess enough to make it worth while to have some 18 year old call me fumbling over a unrehearsed shpeel. First off, don't ask to speak to the owner of the company....I'm halfway hanging up on you.
There are enough services available that you should know who you are calling.

Now if you say you are the owner, they start dribbling on and on about something that you have little or no interest in and then I say... There has to be a more efficient way to tell me about your product or service without wasting my time on your terms...click

It seems lately that everybody wants to sell me a better web site by first asking if I have one, and then asking for the address if I tell them I already have one, so that they can be critical how bad my site is, or how I paid to much.
Give me a break. This type of sales can't possibly work!!

Rant for a Monday!!!
thank you

 

[Gino]

No, but I can see where the NHB conversations might take place...........

 

[oldgoatroper]

The only kind of cold call that I consider worthwhile on the part of the caller is when I am called and the caller simply wants to introduce themselves and their services to see if there may be a fit between themselves and myself -- and, if so, then they request to meet with me. Very business-like.

But those pushy ones that call with the goal of getting your credit card number within 5 minutes... rrrrrRRRRRRr!

 

[iSign]

never buy, always try to end quickly and professionally... if that doesn't work, I end quickly & rudely

 

[thinksigns]

I normally give them the "I'm not going to be interested." is as mean a tone as I can without being rude.

Then one day the salesperson sounded like an 80 year old grandmother. I didn't have the heart to just hang up. She was calling about a new CPA firm in town. I was looking for a new CPA, so I made an appointment for him to come by. I've been with the new guy for almost three years.

 

[Circleville Signs]

I think it depends on how it is conducted. If they are actually trying to SELL me something via telephone, I just hang up. i don't have the time or the inclination to deal with them.

If they are doing what another poster stated though, which is introducing themselves and trying to set an appointment if i have any interest in their services, i will often meet with them.

 

[Mike_Koval]

This is a nice great thread that i am going to subscribe. As a salesperson, like most, it is a requirement to make cold calls. I don't think any person like to make a cold call.

As buyers, in what way would you prefer to be contacted? Phone, email, not at all? What would make you continue to listen or give said person a chance at gaining some of your business?

In what way do you find new suppliers or products? Research on your own and call? Word of mouth? Trade show?

Thanks in advance for everyone's opinions. And all apologies if this has already turned into a cold call!

 

[Techman]

As buyers, in what way would you prefer to be contacted? Phone, email, not at all? What would make you continue to listen or give said person a chance at gaining some of your business?

I would never want to be called. You call me at 9 AM when I am still just waking up and in the middle of some private matter .. You can never call at the right time. You usually call when I am in the middle of an important money making conversation. I resent the intrusion.

You want a vindictive reaction.. Just use my fax system for your ads. Do not email me do not fax me do not call me.. Leave me the heck alone.

I never buy from a cold call.
Nothing will make me listen.
Nothing will encourage me to even consider the product.

I consider questions such as:
Let me speak to the present owner.
Is the current owner available?
We are the ones who supplied you with xyz gadget.

As a good reason to forever boycott any product issued by them ..

So you see. There is no recourse, no words or no action that will gain forgiveness for cold calling.

 

[Flame]

I would never want to be called. You call me at 9 AM when I am still just waking up and in the middle of some private matter .. You can never call at the right time. You usually call when I am in the middle of an important money making conversation. I resent the intrusion.

You want a vindictive reaction.. Just use my fax system for your ads. Do not email me do not fax me do not call me.. Leave me the heck alone.

I never buy from a cold call.
Nothing will make me listen.
Nothing will encourage me to even consider the product.

I consider questions such as:
Let me speak to the present owner.
Is the current owner available?
We are the ones who supplied you with xyz gadget.

As a good reason to forever boycott any product issued by them ..

So you see. There is no recourse, no words or no action that will gain forgiveness for cold calling.

I'm pretty much with Techman here.

 

[TyrantDesigner]

Never works, lately I've been trying to sell to those cold callers (i.e. "sorry, don't want it, but would you be interested in ...") or I just hit on the poor guy/girl. lately our phone has been pretty quiet.

 

[Mike_Koval]

you both have been removed from my call list! Thank you for your answers.

 

[Locals Find!]

I find it interesting that people in a business to business enterprise. Don't want people cold calling them.

As a salesperson cold calling is one of the most tried and true tactics to make an initial contact. How else will you introduce yourself to many businesses efficiently??

I also wonder how many of you are confused and are mixing up cold calls with solicitation calls. There is a big difference between the two.

 

[SignManiac]

Out of the last 2,856 calls I had and hung up on, I had one this morning that had something I was interested in. The guy was looking to sell Canadian western red cedar, vertical grain, and I happened to be interested in what he has. He's coming to my shop sometime this week so I can see the quality and get prices.

Looks like the next few thousand will get hung up on...

 

[gabagoo]

The best way to make a cold call is to come in professionaly and don't expect to talk to the person in charge....in fact don't expect to talk to anyone.
Bring me a free pad of paper with your company name and number on every page and leave a business card and even a sample of what you do....maybe, just maybe you will get a call one day.
Pens don't work to well and get tossed when the ink runs out. Rulers, letter openers are great items that sit around peoples desks with your name forever in their face.
Telephone solicitation just SUCKS!!!

 

[Locals Find!]

The best way to make a cold call is to come in professionaly and don't expect to talk to the person in charge....in fact don't expect to talk to anyone.
Bring me a free pad of paper with your company name and number on every page and leave a business card and even a sample of what you do....maybe, just maybe you will get a call one day.
Pens don't work to well and get tossed when the ink runs out. Rulers, letter openers are great items that sit around peoples desks with your name forever in their face.
Telephone solicitation just SUCKS!!!

I used to sell that stuff. Told everyone the same thing you just said. How its going to help their business. Only a few clients I ever sold that stuff too ever got B2B phone calls from any of it. Most just threw good money away.

One successful client printed his face, tagline, phone number & company name on rolls of toilet paper and gave them out to prospective clients. His tag line was "Tired of the Crap from your current supplier?" Worked like a charm he tripled his sales in 3 months.

 

[Flame]

you both have been removed from my call list! Thank you for your answers.

Now I will say if it's a company I purchase from frequently, a call every few months or so isn't bad at all. If it's just checking in, not being pushy, and quickly just seeing how I'm doing. That I call customer service.

Thought I should mention that. Just my take on it.

 

[TyrantDesigner]

As a salesperson cold calling is one of the most tried and true tactics to make an initial contact. How else will you introduce yourself to many businesses efficiently??

I just walk into the shop. I don't see how a cold call for a new credit processing company or telephone service is going to make for a good relationship if they never want to come in and shake my hand (let alone put anything in writing).

Cold calling is not the most tried and true, trying to convince yourself of that is akin to trying to paddle a boat with one of your feet.

 

[Locals Find!]

I just walk into the shop. I don't see how a cold call for a new credit processing company or telephone service is going to make for a good relationship if they never want to come in and shake my hand (let alone put anything in writing).

Cold calling is not the most tried and true, trying to convince yourself of that is akin to trying to paddle a boat with one of your feet.

What your describing sounds more like a solicitation than a true Cold Call. The point of the Cold Call is to make contact so that the next time you call or visit someone its on better terms.

 

[TyrantDesigner]

What your describing sounds more like a solicitation than a true Cold Call. The point of the Cold Call is to make contact so that the next time you call or visit someone its on better terms.

99.9% of cold calls ARE solicitation. Your end result is getting money from someone. Shake their hand in person. It's easier and THAT my felonious fraternizer IS a tried and true method.

 

[the graphics co]

Cold calling is effective, if it weren't we wouldn't get 10+ cold calls a day. I am sure there are hundreds of companies out there that are built on cold calling. Showing up unannounced at someones place of business is soliciting, cold calling is prospecting, and if you are good at it you will get meetings and customers as a result, that is a fact.

 

[signcrafters london]

I tell them I will buy what they are selling if they will buy signs from me. I never have to hang up, they always do it for me.