I just got a call at work ...

[Jared_T]

I work as the office manager at a small ISP. Part of my job duties are to answer the phone, and provide tech support for the customers. We also run a PC repair shop in the back room.

Today I got a call. I could tell right away that it was some salesman and the thick foreign accent made him a little hard to understand.

Ring

Me: Hello (Company Name) this is (my name)

Salesman: Hello I am (name I didn't catch) from (Blah blah Remote Management company) is Mr. (my name) there?

Me: Speaking.

Salesman: What?

Me: This is (my name)

Salesman: Oh!. Hello. I provide remote management solutions.

(technical my company also provides remote management solutions)

Me: Ok.

Salesman: Are you connected to the internet at your office?

Me: Yes we have internet access. (wouldn't do well as an ISP without it)

Salesman: Yes. Ok. Good! What kind of connection do you have?

(usually about this time I hang up, but it was a slow day so I answered)

Me: T1 PRI (we actually have quite a few T1s)

Salesman: hmm. Would that be DSL, Cable, or a T1?

Me: ... T1

Salesman: And do you know who provides your T1?

Me: Yes.

Salesman: ... So you know your T1 provider?

Me: Yep.

(I think he was expecting more of an answer than “yes”)

Salesman: OK. Good. And you are using Microsoft correct?

Me: No.

Salesman: ... Your not using Microsoft? What ...?

Me: We use Linux.

Salesman: Oh! You use Linux. Well I'm sorry to hear that.

Me: ... (the “Well I'm sorry to hear that.” statement confused me a little)

Salesman: Are you not using Microsoft anywhere in your office?

Me: I have XP home on my laptop.

Salesman: Is that Microsoft?

Me: ... Windows XP home.

Salesman: Thats Microsoft?

Me: Microsoft – Windows – XP – Home – Edition

Salesman: Ah, Yes. I see Windows XP. And what kind of internet connection does your laptop have?

Me: It's on the same T1

Salesman: hmm. Would that be DSL, Cable, or a T1?

Me: ..?

Salesman: Oh, The same T1.

Me: yeah..

Salesman: Then we can help you. Have you noticed any pop ups, IMs, or viruses on your laptop?

Me: no. (what kind of tech would I be if I had spyware or viruses on my machine?)

Salesman: None?

Me: nope.

Salesman: um... can you hold please?

Me: sure.

I then hung up. Never did find out what he was trying to sell. But its kinda fun messing with people that are just reading a script off a monitor. And this time all I had to do was tell the truth.

[Banish]

Nice.

I find salespeople a pain too.

[HUnewearl_Meira]

That's awesome, Jared. I do wonder though, if you were talking to a computer? They have incredible new software now that can call people, sound convincingly like a person on the other end, and confuse and annoy you far more efficiently than a human telemarketter, for pennies a minute.

[UnderscoreX]

That sounds more like someone prank calling, but either way you handled it really well.

[Jared_T]

I doubt that it was a prank call or a computer, I could hear people in the background and typing on keyboards. And I deal with sales people all the time. I got to say the people that sell ink have got to be the pushiest i've run into. I'd post a call with them but I don't do much talking with them...

[SabZero]

It does sound like a bot lol. Well, if you pay crap for a job, you get crappy people with no motivation. Or something.

On my job, I only pick up the phone if noone else is around and then only to take messages. Usually the conversation is

Caller: hello, this is bblblbl (never get their names) i want to speak to X
Me: They are not in. Can I take a message?
Caller: No I'll call back <click>.

[Nidramag]

what my father used to do...
he;d pick up the phone and then immediatly say
" hello, this is 1,2,3, driving service, how may I help you?"
hang up on other end.
or, If it was a real person, generaly.
he would ask questions about the device that he himself knew, but would confuse the salesperson.
It was hilarious to listen to. and it would end up on my dad lecturing the salesperson.
pure gold.

[navci]

On 2007-01-11 15:20, Banish wrote:
Nice.

I find salespeople a pain too.

No, I find salespeople who don't know what they're talking about AND not listen a pain.

That made me chuckle. :>

[MaximusLight]

Wow, that's bad.
The next time something this bad comes along YOU should try to sell TO THEM.

[Firocket1690]

Oh, really?
As far as tech support goes..

is usually the end of it. Quite efficent, too.

Edit: Rehosted on photobucket. 'cause I don't steal others' bandwidth.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Firocket1690 on 2007-01-23 21:23 ]</font>