This Is Why We Hate You.

Big0ne

Shared on Tue, 12/16/2008 - 12:37

At work I'm the guy who generally answers the phone first.  About 25% of those calls are sales calls, marketing calls, surveys, etc.  About 90% of the time I simply hang up on these people before they can even get through their first line of questioning.  For some reason today I decided to actually talk to one of them.  A supposed representative from AT&T called to offer me a discount on our current service.  At this point I know this is crap but I decided to be polite (after all I do represent this company I suppose) and explain why we don't need his service. 

"I'm sorry sir, but we do not make any changes to our phone accounts that we don't call to initiate first."

His response: "Well how would you know about the discount if I haven't called to tell you?"

Fair enough

"Actually, we just updated our account with AT&T about a month ago so we should already be in the most competitive deal now." -- This is 100% true btw.

His response: "Have you been drinking?" click.

That'll be the last time I'm polite to one of these worthless jackasses.

 

Comments

MikeTheKnife's picture
Submitted by MikeTheKnife on Tue, 12/16/2008 - 12:42
I love it when I answer and it's a recording: "Please hold for an important message!". They might as well just leave a recording that says, "Thanks for picking up, now hang up immediately."
Castlemonster's picture
Submitted by Castlemonster on Tue, 12/16/2008 - 12:43
Well....... were you?
YEM's picture
Submitted by YEM on Tue, 12/16/2008 - 12:44
well, were you drinking?
CMA's picture
Submitted by CMA on Tue, 12/16/2008 - 12:45
that is classic. That is when the fun begins and you ask for his supervisor.
FreynApThyr's picture
Submitted by FreynApThyr on Tue, 12/16/2008 - 12:47
I used to love these calls at work. I would put them on hold for two minutes a clip and see how long I could keep them on. "Oh wait! My manager had a question! I'll be right back!" *take a bathroom break, grab some joe, actually work* "He'll just be a minute he is on the phone right now with another phone company, can you hold?" Best defense is a good offense. Fuck up the call times of a phone rep and they will be the one pissed off instead of you.
Big0ne's picture
Submitted by Big0ne on Tue, 12/16/2008 - 12:49
Castle - you know I'm not a drinker. dork. lol
webmonkee's picture
Submitted by webmonkee on Tue, 12/16/2008 - 12:56
FTI, that was a vendor. We do not make outbound calls about promotions, but we hire vendors who do.
tait's picture
Submitted by tait on Tue, 12/16/2008 - 12:58
i ALWAYS drink before answering the phone.
Automan21k's picture
Submitted by Automan21k on Tue, 12/16/2008 - 13:03
my response, "why yes, I have been drinking, and I can still see that your deal is a load of crap"
JeepChick's picture
Submitted by JeepChick on Tue, 12/16/2008 - 13:13
Much better than the response I received from a vendor recently, "What are you smoking??"
Big0ne's picture
Submitted by Big0ne on Tue, 12/16/2008 - 13:38
So Monkee, what you're saying is, AT&T reaps whatever benefits come from shady practices the vendors are doing but can totally shield themselves from the crap that they spread. Nice.
Stryker927's picture
Submitted by Stryker927 on Tue, 12/16/2008 - 14:05
I like to surf the net while I am talking to them and tell them about all the better deals that I can find online. It really gets em going.
Castlemonster's picture
Submitted by Castlemonster on Tue, 12/16/2008 - 15:27
That totally makes it not AT&T's fault since they only hired them... lol. I've always thought it was dumb how they held people that hired hitmen accountable too. "Hey, I didn't kill the guy... the guy I hired did. It ain't my fault." :D
webmonkee's picture
Submitted by webmonkee on Tue, 12/16/2008 - 15:51
Not saying we are without blame for your dissatisfaction. Just saying that my org (Training) wouldn't have worked with whoever you spoke with, so I cannot take too much blame for how they acted. I wish we did not use vendors at all. Their service skills are generally VERY sub-par. But, they are empowered to say they are from AT&T because we did hire the company they work for. That part really irks me, that they can leave a wake of bad impressions behind without it affecting THEIR company at all.
BasBleu's picture
Submitted by BasBleu on Wed, 12/17/2008 - 07:22
I attempt to be honest and forthright with telemarketers. They always call asking to speak with the owner. I tell them straight out "he will not speak with you. He won't take your call." Why waste my time taking a message or waste their time?

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