Last week I was in in office for only one day. But on that day we were besieged with a local telephone directory salesperson who would not take no for an answer. I have been told by professional salespeople that know me that I am no one’s target market. I am thrifty (really cheap), I am cynical and do not believe the hype that I told. If I am not looking to buy something I typically will not buy it. But that did not stop this person.
So we have someone in the office that is telling me what a great product she has, it is so great the only positive examples she can quote are from trade’s people and there are not too many of those stories. She refers to the same person multiple times. She looks up accountants and finds that there is only one listed. She looks at this as an opportunity for me to grab half of the market share. I explain that I look at it as a waste of money, since all other avoid the publication as well.
So she pushed and pushed; I dug in my heels and tried to keep from physically throwing her out or being overly rude. Her partner had been edging towards the door when I first said that this was not a way I advertise my business, he got it. I informed them that I would never do this for my business, nor would I recommend and would actively discourage clients from this method as well. It is no longer 1950; small local phone books do not work. Who keeps phone books any longer? That is what the internet is for…
Once they had left, Amy stated that she wanted to throw them out. She was getting annoyed by the incessant pitching for something she would never use as well.
I do have to admire her perseverance, but not her methods.