I could have called this something else, but the fact remains, I hate Pushy Cold Calling Bimbos (and Male Bimbos). But I guess a Male Bimbo would be called something else? A Bambo? That’s for another day…

And the reason I hate them is because they get mad at YOU, for their ineptness. This is the year 2008, and with all of the technology available to salespeople, and the fact most people buy from people they actually LIKE, these are more reasons, you got it, I hate Pushy Cold Calling Bimbos.

People cold call you because they need to make quotas for their bosses, or they have to find another menial cold calling job. They call you and treat you like crap, and expect you to buy their product.

Case in point. This morning, I received a phone call from some chick at, well let’s just say it is an insurance company that has a beeked mascot that resembles a smew. (Quick - Google it.) The conversation went something like this:

Me: Good Morning! Genevate.
(Never changes, in the afternoon I say, “Good Afternoon! Genevate.”)

Sales Chick: Yes, I’d like to speak with the person who handles your company’s employee benefits.
(That’s it, no Good Morning! How Are you? With whom am I speaking? Leslie? Great, Hi Leslie, how are you today? Do you have a few minutes to let me know what your company plans on doing for employee benefits for the upcoming year, and perhaps I can have a moment to let you know what <my company> is doing for small businesses in technology like yours? Do you have a moment?)

Me: I’m sorry, who is this, please?
(She never even introduced herself first, which really bothers me. This is definitely a sales call I am not taking.)

Sales Chick: Oh, ah…(Someone) with <said company>.
(Like she had to think about what her name was before she gave it to me…plus I could not even hear her name, she talks as if she is holding the phone down to her chest, whilst shuffling papers - has bad posture, also - I can tell)

Me: Hi, Yes, we are all set - but thank you for thinking of us. Have a great da….(interruption…)
(Mind you - I am the CEO of my company, and the fact I answer every possible phone call personally when I am in the office, is testament to our transparency and customer service - in other words, I don’t hide. I have no gatekeeper. But my time is valuable, and the other line was ringing. I did not see the value of continuing a conversation, in which, my company really is “all set”.)

Sales Chick: What do you mean you’re all set? Just give me the person’s name who does the benefits.
(This would never get to this point if this person worked for me. They wouldn’t be able to find a job anywhere - except for maybe her company - if they spoke like that.)

Me: No seriously, we are all set. But, thank you!

Sales Chick: Wait. What do you mean you’re all set? What does THAT mean?

Me: It means we are all set, but thank you again for checking in on us.
(It means, we are all set. No need for you to have a Secret Decoder ring to figure that one out. And, I am really getting frustrated with you, so just hang up and you can go and harass the next person on your list after “Ge”…)

Sales Chick: I don’t mean to be..PUSHY, but what does that mean? What is your problem? Why won’t you just give me the person’s name?

Me: Because you’re pushy, and that’s the problem. Thank you and have a great day.
(I hang up before the viciousness ensues and then I will have to send a large hairy guy named Vinnie to break her knees)

What I am trying to say with this post is this:

• THIS salesperson called ME to sell me something. The onus was on THEM to engage me to be interested to buy.
• I answered my phone - like I always do with a nice greeting and cheeriness in my voice.
• The person on the phone did not first try to break the ice, by saying what I normally do when I call a new referral, or something business related. I use the same tone and tactic when calling the IRS, or NSTAR. Start off nice, it not only breaks the ice, but this customer service person on the other end has heard every nasty person in the world already, what makes you think they are going to be nice to you right off the bat?
• The person did not give me their name, until I asked. Very poor.
• The person grew angry, not inquisitive, about my answer. Again, very poor.
• This person’s cold calling list was just that, a list. If this person was smart, there are multitudes of online resources for companies where she could have subscribed to, or taken the time to Google our company name to see who is the person in charge. I bet she had no clue what industry we were in, nor did she care.

Cold Calling doesn’t work because the people behind it don’t want to do their homework. Cold calling done right, is actually a very effective way to ask people questions, if done right.

Tips for Cold Calling: Know the person you need to call. Get a subscription to Hoover’s, or find free industry Book of Lists and databases that list the info. If you are local, calling local businesses, then get involved locally and try to create a relationship locally. Google that company, or person. Chances are, all the information in the world is on their website, or subsequent links below. Do your research! I always research all my referrals/potential clients online before I call, and clients just LOVE the fact you spent time knowing more about their business! I know I do.

And don’t ever try arguing with someone you are trying to sell to - the only thing I am remembering from this phone call is how I will never do business with her, and possibly not with her company - because she just destroyed any hope for a relationship with her personal (lack of) customer service skills.

Really sad - because everyone loves the duck…OH! Did I just blow the name of the company?