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chris_gerribSo, I'm sitting at my desk yesterday and the phone rings. I answer it (that's what you normally do when a phone rings, right?) On the other end, some guy in a loud and hearty voice (think "friendly carnival barker") asks me how I'm doing.
Me: Fine.
Him: Great! Every day closer to the weekend is a good one!
Me: Sure.
Him: I understand you order the printing and toner supplies there. Is that right?
Me: Well, yes.
Him: Great! For every order you place today you get your choice of a Kindle Fire or a camera. (empahsis and italics in his spiel)
Me: no thanks, we're not ordering today.
Him: Well, I understand that, and that's why I'm calling. For every order you place today, you get a Kindle Fire or a camera.
WTF, dude? Did you not hear me? I'm not ordering anything! I say so, nicely, and he repeats the same offer! I end up hanging up on him in mid-pitch.
Then, the same guy calls me again today! (Just now, in fact.) He launches the exact same spiel and I say "didn't we talk yesterday?"
"No, I don't think so," he replies, and makes the same "order and get a Kindle" pitch.
After we go through the same dialog above (I swear to God, the same!) I end up hanging up on him.
In what universe does this shit work?
Me: Fine.
Him: Great! Every day closer to the weekend is a good one!
Me: Sure.
Him: I understand you order the printing and toner supplies there. Is that right?
Me: Well, yes.
Him: Great! For every order you place today you get your choice of a Kindle Fire or a camera. (empahsis and italics in his spiel)
Me: no thanks, we're not ordering today.
Him: Well, I understand that, and that's why I'm calling. For every order you place today, you get a Kindle Fire or a camera.
WTF, dude? Did you not hear me? I'm not ordering anything! I say so, nicely, and he repeats the same offer! I end up hanging up on him in mid-pitch.
Then, the same guy calls me again today! (Just now, in fact.) He launches the exact same spiel and I say "didn't we talk yesterday?"
"No, I don't think so," he replies, and makes the same "order and get a Kindle" pitch.
After we go through the same dialog above (I swear to God, the same!) I end up hanging up on him.
In what universe does this shit work?
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Date: 2013-07-26 02:14 am (UTC)“We're not ordering” REALLY meant, “We weren't ordering, but gosh, this offer sounds swell!” In truth, it seldom means you absolutely couldn't, so in theory he could talk you into it.
You're much more polite than I am. The principle that Internet + Anonymity = Asshattery started with the phone.
Him: Hey, how ya doin'?
Me: May I help you?
Him: I understand you order the printing and toner supplies there. Is that right?
Me: I'm not sure I want to answer that. With whom am I speaking?
Him: &c., For every order you place today you get your choice of a Kindle Fire or a camera!
Me: Listen, pal, this line needs to stay clear. Get off the line!
<click>
My Dad taught me the essentials of it: Admit nothing. Deflect everything back. Assume “the call is being recorded for quality purposes,” so don't say anything actionable. (Note that I gave a reason that could not be construed as a rejection of him per se.)
He's calling you. You owe him nothing. Pay it.