Don't Jump the Gun, Rudy.

When the phone rings at Scout, it is likely you will get me. I don't mind answering the phones, as I enjoy speaking with the various people that call. These people range from big wig clients to solicitors. At this point, I pretty much recognize every name/number that comes up on the caller ID and because of this, I sometimes answer my boss' or co-workers' calls in different accents (gangster, chinese, hispanic, etc.) And when that gets old, my next victims are solicitors who are identified as OUT OF AREA/OUT OF AREA always... or not?

Last week the phone rang with that caller ID tagged to it. If it had been any other day, I would have answered the phone in an impromptu english accent, but I guess I wasn't feeling the funny mood. Luck had it that the caller was actually a client, and a rather big one at that. Phew! Who knew that calling from your voicemail will ban you to the OUT OF AREA category?

I tell that story, because of the common perception of salespeople. "They suck! They are so annoying ! They have absolutely nothing to offer!" And on this, I'd like to share a story I recently heard from someone who experienced those exclamations indirectly first hand.

A good friend of mine works for a young environmental company called Green Building Focus here in Birmingham. His title is Project Representative and one of his main responsibilities is to sell profiles in their in-depth, business-to-business handbook to green companies. This involves a lot of phone calls, as the majority of these companies are outside Birmingham. He dialed the number...riiiiiiing.... and a girl answered the other end. The conversation went as follows:

*Let's call the girl Rudy.

Rudy: Hello?

Friend: Hi this is _________ from Green Building Focus—

Rudy:  How much?

Friend: Well we are offering profiles in our upcoming handbook starting at two thousand—

Rudy:  Too much.

click.

In response to 'too much' and the overall conversation, my friend simply decided to send the President an e-mail to spill all the information on the offer he was sure Rudy would not relay to him. He wasn't even e-mailing with any intention, other than to include the company on the great offer.

This is the part I love: Minutes after sending the e-mail, my friend got a call from that President who apologized on behalf of the girl's rudeness. He not only asked for forgiveness, but he made it clear that their company does not tolerate that type of attitude. Finally, he asked for all the details of the offer so he could hear it for himself.

Lessons learned here are:

1.  Don't jump the gun when it comes to sales people. They may actually have something of interest. And in the very least, you should listen to them respectfully and not hang up. Because if you do... it may come back to haunt you.

2.  And of course: Don't assume OUT OF AREA is a solicitor. Not all people will think your entertain your playful accents.

In conclusion, 'You suck, Rudy!'