What An Irritating Man

[Dips]

Damn. This guy rubbed me the wrong way. I probably could have handled this better, but I find mind games very annoying and let it rattle me...

Me: [Company name]. This is Dips speaking. How can I help you?

SC: Dips, I need to know why I want your product.

Me: You want me to tell you why you want our product?

SC: Yes.

Me: We make [description of software]. Are you looking for something that does that?

SC: Maybe. Tell me why I want it.

Me: Can you tell me a little bit more about what you are looking for?

SC: Dips, do you always answer a question with another question?

Me: If you tell me what you are looking for I can answer some questions about whether [software] does that.

SC: You're not trying very hard to sell me.

Me: I'm not a sales person. We don't employ sales people. If you are interested in [software that does what our does], we are happy to help you decide if ours is best for you. If it's not something that you need, we don't want to sell it to you.

SC launches [finally!] into what kinds of things he does and what he needs. I tell him honestly which things our software can do and which it doesn't.

Naturally he gloms onto the stuff it doesn't do.

SC: So it won't do [blar].

Me: No.

SC:...

Me:...

SC: Does anybody else make something that will do [blar]?

Me: No.

SC:...

Me:...

SC: I see. I'm still not sure.

Me: Perhaps you would like to download the free demo version. It will corrupt the output, but it will also give you a very good idea if [our product] will work with the types of files you use.

SC: I'm not allowed to download anything at work.

Me: Well, I'd be happy to send you a demo disk by mail...

SC: Nope. I'm not allowed to install anything either. I suppose we'll have to buy it and see if it works.

Me: [yeah, and that's different how?] I understand. Perhaps your IT department could contact us about installing an evaluation copy so you can make an informed decision about whether this is the right [description of product] for you.

SC: OK. Just so you know. We are thinking of buying 16 copies.

Me: In that case I'd definitely recommend evaluating it before making a purchase.

SC: Like a test copy?

Me: Yes. From what you're telling me, it sounds like your company has a policy to test all software before installing it on company computers. We can certainly accomodate that.

SC: OK. Thanks for your help.

Me: And thank you for calling.

Fin.

[katie kaboom]

people like that make my brain hurt. really, the guy has way too much free time on his hands if THAT'S what he does at work all day. Why do stupid people seem to think they're so damn clever?

[Andara Bledin]

Urg, what the hell?

It sounds like he was a salesman, one of those really sleazy ones you expect to have shiny hair, a plastic smile, and as much integrity as a thimbleful of pure alcohol.

^-.-^

[Spiffy McMoron]

Me: Can you tell me a little bit more about what you are looking for?

SC: Dips, do you always answer a question with another question?

Dips: How else am I supposed to answer them?

[Becks]

People like that irritate me to no end.

[Dips]

Dips: How else am I supposed to answer them?

Probably just as well I didn't think of that one at the time.

I just got such a vibe of "Sit up and beg and do tricks for me and, if I find your performance pleasing, I might toss a bone your way" from the guy. Ugh.

He also tried the Hanging Silence to get me to start babbling.

He didn't know he was dealing with the Silence Master!

[protege]

Urg, what the hell?

It sounds like he was a salesman, one of those really sleazy ones you expect to have shiny hair, a plastic smile, and as much integrity as a thimbleful of pure alcohol.

^-.-^

You forgot that he also wears a plaid suit from 1975 and has an irritating laugh

[auntiem]

Ugh, I get people like this all the time. "Tell me why I should book with you rather than do it myself online" I used to chat about the pros and cons then finally wised up that these aren't the customers I want anyways even if I did win them over. Now I just say "because this is what I do all day long every day - I can do minor car repairs myself but would rather go to a mechanic for anything else to save myself time and grief" That usally ends the whole line of questioning while asserting that I am a professional and deserve to be treated as such and not a dog made to jump thru hoops.

[Boozy]

This guy is accustomed to sales people kissing his butt and making him feel like a big important man. He gets off on it. He needs you to need him as a customer. He wants you to jump through hoops for him. He needs the power and control that comes with having the final word in whether or not someone gets the commission they so desperately need to feed their children. He is in actuality a sad little man living a sad little life, and this game is all that keeps him going.

And you wouldn't play with him. Mean, mean Dips.

[Pagan]

You forgot that he also wears a plaid suit from 1975 and has an irritating laugh

'Cause he's a wild and crazy guy!!! (Chocolate chip cookies to whomever gets the reference!)

[auntiem]

SNL - right up there with "I'm really more of a dolphin ma'am"

[Food Lady]

"Candygram"

[Crazeyal]

It's simple.. he was looking not only for the least amount of work possible, but something for nothing. That pretty much sets EVERYONE'S jerk-dar..

[Getoutofmylobby]

It sounds like purchasing isn't what this guy's job usually is and someone just dumped it on him.

It didn't help that he is also a stupid asshole.

I get people like this at the hotel too. They don;t realize I get paid the same whether i sell you a room or not. That makes me a button pusher, not a salesman.

[draftermatt]

Oh I get those calls all the time.

"Why should we give this contract to you when *** is $100K cheaper?"

"Well, *** is run by a moron...."

But we have to do that because if we don't get the contracts we don't get work, then we get laid off.


Oh and $100,000 is a lot, but when the contracts are $2.3 million and $2.2 million, I think you can scrape up that extra 100 for a much better company. Sorry for the tangent there.