Sneaky Sales Tactics

 
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Old 05-26-2006, 10:39 AM   #1
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Sneaky Sales Tactics


I received a call from a woman saying she is with property damage claims and she was wondering if my company would be willing to take on insurance claim work. Sounded good at first. She was asking questions about my company, number of employees, where licensed, etc, etc. She then continued to tell me my company would be on the list accessible to over 900 insurance companies. She then told me the price, almost a grand. Turns out she was just a salesperson trying to get me to run an ad in her book. She then tried some extremely pushy sales tactics to get me to make a commitment right over the phone and then got irritated when I told her I would need to think about it. Apparently, there was no time for thinking as these listings in her book are booked so fast it would make my head spin. If that's the case lady, why are you calling me and asking for my money? Just thought I would share this experience with the forum as a heads-up. If you get a call from a person asking if you would like some lucrative insurance claim work, it may not be what it seems at first. Could be just another salesperson looking for a sucker.

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Old 05-26-2006, 10:49 AM   #2
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Re: Sneaky Sales Tactics


Good tip ATS. I'm bombarded with cold calls and now I just say " sorry not interested, bye" and hang up. l really have a hard time with the girl guide cookie kids though. I can't say no and usually buy a couple of boxes and eat them within 3 hours then feel guilty
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Old 05-26-2006, 10:49 AM   #3
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Re: Sneaky Sales Tactics


I get calls from this company all the time. Probably the same lady.
Yes, its a scam. I shut it down immediately every time.
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Old 05-26-2006, 10:55 AM   #4
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Re: Sneaky Sales Tactics


We get a lot of these especially during the summer. They want to get them to press in time for the snowbirds return. I bit last year, now the season is over and not a single call.

This was not the ins. scam but the one that promises a 'coffee table' mag sent to every home in very exclusive communities. If they were delivered at all, they probably went straight from the mailbox to the trashbin.

Sometimes it seems that everybody AND their brother is in the publishing business.
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Old 05-26-2006, 11:00 AM   #5
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Re: Sneaky Sales Tactics


At the last company I workd for rather than saying "I need to think about it." We would say "Oh you need to speak to Bob about that." There was no bob. It was a name we made up to referr all the telemarketers.

As a company policy I do not accept calls from telemarketers, therefore no matter what they are pitching, they get cut off.
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Old 05-26-2006, 11:37 AM   #6
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Re: Sneaky Sales Tactics


i get the same exact calls! They sure know how to make it sound like a great deal. They told me over 90% of people who signed up last year are doing it again this year and the majority of them are going to go with larger advertising.

It seemed kinda funny, so I asked "with numbers like that why are you wasting your time on me?" She didn't have a very good answer, so i said "no thankyou". They still call everyt couple of months.
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Old 05-26-2006, 06:06 PM   #7
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Re: Sneaky Sales Tactics


It is funny how we are salespeople yet we hate other salespeople unless they sell similar products,,,,then we chat with them at contractor talk.
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Old 05-26-2006, 09:01 PM   #8
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Re: Sneaky Sales Tactics


Quote:
Originally Posted by dougchips
It is funny how we are salespeople yet we hate other salespeople unless they sell similar products,,,,then we chat with them at contractor talk.
That's funny, some truth to it I guess. With this call though, she really seemed like she wanted to make me think she was a big shot in the insurance industry, asking me questions as if to see if my company was qualified and all. She also asked if my company was big enough to handle the immense workload I would have . The whole thing seemed a little deceptive, criminal no, but deceptive.
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Old 05-26-2006, 10:03 PM   #9
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Re: Sneaky Sales Tactics


Quote:
Originally Posted by Teetorbilt

Sometimes it seems that everybody AND their brother is in the publishing business.
those that are not in the HD minstall bidness' anyway
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Old 05-27-2006, 09:33 AM   #10
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Re: Sneaky Sales Tactics


Quote:
Originally Posted by Grumpy
At the last company I workd for rather than saying "I need to think about it." We would say "Oh you need to speak to Bob about that." There was no bob. It was a name we made up to referr all the telemarketers.
Perfect!! I think we should all use this "Bob" person ... maybe then telemarketers will get the idea!

I've got my daughter answering the phones now, so it's easy for her to say that she is not a decision maker and that neither of the decision makers are ever in the office during work hours. A pain for her, but we never have to deal with telemarketers anymore!
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Old 05-27-2006, 09:59 AM   #11
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Re: Sneaky Sales Tactics


Quote:
Originally Posted by dougchips
It is funny how we are salespeople yet we hate other salespeople unless they sell similar products,,,,then we chat with them at contractor talk.
I would have to say there is a world of difference between a sales person and a telemarketer (especially one that uses these tactics.)

Plus, we are not all sales people
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Old 05-30-2006, 11:54 PM   #12
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Re: Sneaky Sales Tactics


Quote:
Originally Posted by copusbuilder
I would have to say there is a world of difference between a sales person and a telemarketer (especially one that uses these tactics.)

Plus, we are not all sales people
good point! When we receive money for our goods and services, we have made a sale. What do you do that you do not have to sell?
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Old 05-31-2006, 11:40 AM   #13
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Re: Sneaky Sales Tactics


Quote:
Originally Posted by dougchips
It is funny how we are salespeople yet we hate other salespeople unless they sell similar products,,,,then we chat with them at contractor talk.
The difference is I only sell to people who want me to sell to them. I don't waste people's time cold calling and I don't scam.

I don't consider myself to be a traditional "salesperson" because I don't use the tricks and scams we complain about here.
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Old 06-01-2006, 07:49 PM   #14
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Re: Sneaky Sales Tactics


tricks and scams make make consumers scared of legit salespeople, that is why I advocate the execution of all people that employ tricks and scams in their marketing plans. Actually I advocate execution for tons of reasons, but don't tell anyone.
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Old 06-05-2006, 09:39 AM   #15
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Re: Sneaky Sales Tactics


Now your talking! Get rid of the scum and we will all be happier

I consider myself an estimator more than a saleperson. I am fortunate that almost all new customers are referrals so selling is "usually" not needed.

I just hate playing the salesgames
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Old 06-05-2006, 10:28 PM   #16
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Re: Sneaky Sales Tactics


I tell my customers that i am their in-home project consultant, we I show up to the door the wife yells to the husband "the window salesman is here". I am never quick enough to correct them about my title, I come up with tons of clever comebacks when I leave.
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