People who call inquiring about your business...

[dixiechick]

For those of you who have your own business, do you get phone calls from people who want you to tell them how to fix something that you business specialize in?

E gets phone calls all the time from people who want him to tell them how to fix their (DIY) concrete that needs repairing.

He's certified and has been doing this for nearly 10 yrs. They want him to tell them how to do it. Who calls up a dentist and ask them how to do a root canal or fill a tooth? Do plumbers and electricians get these kinds of call too?

Is that just crazy or is it me?

[FUZO]

Re: People who call inquiring about your business...

people are nut cases dixie. I just want to meet a one of those telemarketers one day so I can put my foot up in there ass,lol

[dixiechick]

Re: People who call inquiring about your business...

OMG! Tell me about it. My degree is in marketing and I have a marketing business, but I understand common curtsy not to call people during dinner time hours and nights or weekends. We have a phone line dedicated to a fax. The fax rings at all hours of the night and weekends. Any time we look to see what number is calling it's always a 800#. Damn, telemarketers still haven't figured out it's a fax line.

The people calling E are legitimate potential customers who needs repairs done to their concrete. I understand they are trying to cut corners by doing it themselves. I'm always hopeful that they will call back and give us the job.

[Dzone]

Re: People who call inquiring about your business...

I get hit up by multi-level marketers all the time. I hate that crap. Pyramid schemes. They are like a cult. they think their product is the greatest thing that ever happened. If your product is so damn good, then why havent I ever heard about it?
I had a lady call me up and say "Im with the Better Business Bureau and I have a product calle d tahitian Noni that is wonderful"..I said "Is this Multi-Level? Im sorry I dont do multi level marketing due to ethical reasons.."...These freakin multi level fanatics drive me crazy. I see them coming and I run the other way.

[dixiechick]

Re: People who call inquiring about your business...

ahhhh, yes... I get hit up by people with multi-level marketing as well. I'm the same way. I turn and walk away. Even my cousin tried to hit me up with one that was a supposedly fitness/health supplement company.

I still don't understand how businesses get away with it. I don't understand why people fall for it.

[horsepwr]

Re: People who call inquiring about your business...

oh, some of them have figured out the fax line. I've had faxes come through for some marketing scheme. which isn't as bad as the phone ringing, but it does waste ink. I can't hate on 'em for useing a fax machine to market though. If they've done their homework, it's sorta like direct mail. Their hitting potential customers in a certain demographic.

I bet every service offered gets those calls from people trying to get something for nothing over the phone.
I imagine it gets bad when you advertise. I bet a good quarter page in the phone book could get some useless calls. I've wondered about the calls that an ad like that might draw otherwise though.

[skinnyman]

Re: People who call inquiring about your business...

These "cold" calls made by lead generators or sales folks obviously have not done their homework before calling. I get them quite frequently and actually ask them if they know who we are. More often then not, they end up apologizing for the call.

[dixiechick]

Re: People who call inquiring about your business...

oh, some of them have figured out the fax line. I've had faxes come through for some marketing scheme. which isn't as bad as the phone ringing, but it does waste ink. I can't hate on 'em for useing a fax machine to market though. If they've done their homework, it's sorta like direct mail. Their hitting potential customers in a certain demographic.

I bet every service offered gets those calls from people trying to get something for nothing over the phone.
I imagine it gets bad when you advertise. I bet a good quarter page in the phone book could get some useless calls. I've wondered about the calls that an ad like that might draw otherwise though.

E has both Yellow Book and Yellow Page ads and he gets call all the time for different states. We always laugh and let it go to voice mail. Usually it's some one wanting him to invest in movies, oil ventures or other so-call-business ventures.

I've put his number and the fax number on the "do not call list" for whatever it's worth. The thing that pissed me off was the phone company. I asked them to put the fax number as "unlisted" number and they wanted to charge me for it. I passed on it... we really couldn't afford the extra charges.

[Waterboy]

Re: People who call inquiring about your business...

I get people all the time telling me how to do my job, either as a plumber or graphics desining their orders.
I always ask them if they have aken the time to go to school and study the trade and get their licenses or certifications. If and when they do, then they can tell me how to do what they called me to repair or design.
Or just hand them a sign that reads, Labor- 85.00 per hour, Labor with you watching - 95.00 per hour. Labor with you telling me how to do it - 110.00 per hour.

Seems to work most of the time

[trip]

Re: People who call inquiring about your business...

yeah, i get em, i don't know, probably just me, if i have some free time, i'll spend a little bit of time with them and see if i can help, almost a good karma thing

the other calls, well, jeeeze folks, i find almost 60% are rude as f, cause I don't even want to talk and listen to there BS script, the other 20% just continue to follow the script no matter how many no's, and 20% hang up the phone after 3-4 clear no's, very pissed

thatsa life

[3Vandoo]

Re: People who call inquiring about your business...

I've sent a fax to a country club, it was a business fax, no spam or marketing, everything legitimate. We dont a fax back, in big writing NOT TO FAX AGAIN

so I scanned my ass, and faxed them back!