The nerve of some dealers...

keithdagen

Names XX'd to protect the guilty:


1/6/2003
Cell phone rings, area code not recognized...

K: Hello?

X: Hi, this is XX with XXX Coins. We're updating our customer database and since you've done business with us in the past, I want to see if we can help you with some coins.

K: No thanks, I don't offer want lists and tend to buy material from a very small group of dealers because my tastes are very specialized.

X: Well Mr. Dagen, does price matter to you, because we have a great selection and can make you a great deal on prices.

K: Thanks, and I'm sure you can, but most of the material I buy is difficult to price, and you won't be able to offer me any "deals."

X: You sound like a very astute buyer Mr. Dagen, but I assure you that XX is an active buyer and our inventory is second to none.

K: As I said, I do not wish to do business with your firm at this time, please remove me from your mailing and phone lists. Good day.

1/7/2003
Cell phone rings, area code not recognized, but seems strangely familiar.

K: Hello?

X: Mr. Dagen, this is XX with XXX Coins again, I want to talk to you again about our discussion yesterday.

K: Nothing has changed and I'm pretty busy, you're starting to waste my time.

X: Mr. Dagen, are you the type of guy who likes to pick coins out on his own? Maybe you're uncomfortable doing sight-unseen business. XX has a great eye and we have an outstanding return policy.

K: No, actually, I won't do business with your firm because you screwed me in the past.

X: I assure you..

K: No, I bought some raw coins from you three years ago and sent them in for grading. The one that did grade came in several points lower, and the others were bodybagged for a bevy of problems. I lost money on the grading fees and XX had a poor attitude about the deal.

X: So you like to buy raw in person and then certify your coins yourself. We have an outstanding selection of raw...

K: Look, the last time I bought from your company, I lost a lot of money, and I would not do business with your firm again, ever. In fact, if your firm was the only coin dealer in America, I'd quit the hobby. Have I made myself clear yet?

X: Crystal. Thanks Mr. Dagen.

LucyBop

Hmmmprh! The nerve of them..... They didn't offer you a Frankie! What nerve!

cdmead

So did they call today yet?

cosmicdebris

Keith can you PM me the name so at least I know who not to deal with?

airplanenut

Here is a game you might like to try: Tormenting Telemarketers

Jeremy

agfox

You're obviously being irrational. They need to make money, so you should loose money. Come on, help out

DesertLizard

When people start getting calls like that I have to laugh when dealers claim the market is "hot"! Cold calling / email trolling / spaming is not necessary IF one has a reputable firm and has treated past customers well. Apparently they have not based on your past experience [which is probably typical] AND current way of trolling for new business.

shirohniichan

Just tell them the truth (that you're collecting New Zealand coins now) and they'll leave you alone.

keithdagen

Just tell them the truth (that you're collecting New Zealand coins now) and they'll leave you alone.

Just say NO to the Dark Side.

scher

shiro..i love that one...i will use it
bruce scher

MrKelso

What i do when tell marketers call is i say." i would really like to hear what you have to say. Can you hold on just one minute while i grab my portable phone? Then i put the phone down and never go back to it so a long time. Then when i do go back i hang it up.

shirohniichan

Bruce, feel free to use it as much as you want. Learn a little bit about obscure coins first. If the salesman tries to steer you back to US coins give him a lecture on how fascinating Canadian pre-Confederation tokens are and he'll hang up.

If he doesn't quit, ask him to look for a coin that doesn't exist. "No, I don't want ANY 1876-CC trade dollar, I want one with the crossed F type 2 reverse in PCGS MS-64, dammit!" If he protests that he doesn't specialize in those coins, reply, "I thought you were a professional dealer!"

nucklehead

Good story Keith.

Outhaul

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MrSunshine

Thanks for the memories. I once had a call for a years worth of vitamins for only $599.00. He called person to person, so I played.
He made three calls for approx. one hour each and ended with him screaming obscenities.

MadMarty

Oh Jeremy,
That is too funny...

GaCoinGuy

I ask em for their home number so that I might call back at a more convienent time for me(3:45AM). When they refuse to give it out, I ask why, they reply, and then I ask "well if you don't want to be bothered while you're at home, why would I?"

I am quite polite about it though, I always say No thanks, I'm not interested, then if they persist, I play with em.......had one poor girl on the phone for 45 mins then told her I changed my mind. I know they are just doing what they are being paid to do, but some of them are downright ignorant and rude when you say you're not interested.

matteproof

While "cold-callers" can be irksome, I try to remember that many of these folks are just trying to make a living. Yes, some (quite a few) are rude and often unscrupulous. But many are not. Rather than blaming the salesperson, I would put the heat directly on the COMPANY that employs him. You see, Cold Callers are often "bewildered" folks who cannot find decent gainful employment (for whatever reason). The cruel Companies exploit these circumstances (and the salesman) and place incredible burdens upon these folks to deliver (sell). Commissions are often VERY low. Turnover is often very high. Do you really think that any "cold caller" WANTS to be doing this for a living? I'm sure not. I'm always courteous to Cold Callers (even when they turn rude and aggressive). I try to sympathize with their plight. It must be extremely difficult to be cursed at, hung up on, rejected and insulted so much and on such a routine basis. I for one could never do it.

matteproof

Outhaul

Well, I flame the little peckerheads all the time. The industry has gotten completely out of hand. When they call and I tell them I'm not interested and they persist I tell them to piss off (or other words to that effect). You can defend the callers, and feel as bad for them as you want, but they know the what deal is going into it and have probably been bothered by telemarketers themselves. Telemarketers suck!

Cheers,

Bob

drummer41st

I can even believe you guys are talking to them. I give two hello's and if their is no answer, then I hang up. When they say where they are from, (i.e. nobody I know), I hang up. It would be nice to string somebody along for 45 minutes to an hour but who the heck has time for that!

A really funny CD is "telemarketer terror" or something like that. This guy really plays them. I haven't heard the CD but a local radio station plays it and the guy really does it right. One of the funniest is when the telemarketer calls, the "victim" acts suicidal and all of a sudden the telemarketer is running a suicide crisis line, lotta laughs!

UncleJoe

matteproof, Well said!!!

We shouldn't lose our humanity because of telemarketing.

If I am cold-called I just say I am not interested, thank you and goodbye and I hang up the phone.

I do not waste his or MY time by getting into a discussion with a telemarketer and I certainly am not going to spin out of control just because a telemarketer called me.

Joe.

nwcs

I do a simple thing: have caller id. If it shows up as UNKNOWN or OUT OF AREA, I never bother to answer. And if it shows an organization name, then I don't answer. Solves it all. Also, Consumer Reports last month rated those devices that you can buy at walmart (and others) that take you off telemarker lists. And they say it does work. So $50 can end all auto-dialed and computer-dialed calls.

baccaruda

when you're rude with telemarketers and hang up on them or tell them you're not interested right off the bat, that's what they want! they want to know right away whether or not you're interested. they hate going thru the spiel for nothing.

the best strategy is when they ask for mr. XXX, say "hold on, let me go get him". set the phone down and go back to what you were doing. maximum amount of time wasted on their part to the least amount of effort on your part. if you wish to expend a little more energy, make noises next to or rattle the phone every 15-20 secs to make it sound like someone is coming.

BASEagle

Telemarketer: May I speak to Mr. Jones

Me: You want to speak to Mr Jones?

TM: Yes

Me: I'll see if he's here.

Yell: Mr Jones!

Wait a few seconds, louder: MR JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONES!

Telephone!

TELEPHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONE!

I don't know!

I DON'T KNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!

I think it's your parole officer!

I THINK IT'S YOUR PAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLE OFFICER!

Back to the telemarketer: He ain't here!



Mike

nwcs

You can do what this one guy I used to work with did (although he was single at the time)... He started talking to her and asked her out. And he drove up there to meet her. Quite a wild story. Wasn't a telemarketing call, but could still be done.