Last week we got a very complex quote request from a regional school system updating a couple dozen licenses. I typed it up and sent it back to them. Note: We always quote full retail to avoid undercutting our resellers. Resellers are welcome to set whatever price they want for the customer, but pay us a set price which is discounted off retail. The difference is what they make on the sale.
The next day several resellers contacted us looking for a quote for the same update. Obviously, the school is required to get several quotes and go with the lowest bidder. It's very common.
Reseller #1 didn't include all the license numbers in his quote request. I was pretty sure there was a mistake, but quoted him for the license numbers he gave me and advised him to double-check with the school system to make sure he had all the license numbers. I didn't have to, but he's nice and I'd hate to see him get screwed over a miscommunication with the customer.
Reseller #2 called during lunch when I was covering phones alone. I was on the phone with a customer and he got rolled into voice mail. He left a message with all the information requesting the quote and his phone number. As soon as I was done with the customer I called him back and gave him the quote.
Reseller #3 also called during lunch when I was with the same customer. He also got rolled into voice mail, but didn't leave a message. Instead he hit redial and the cycle was repeated about 6 more times. Twice while I was with the customer and four more time while I was on the phone calling back reseller #2. By the time I was done talking with reseller #2, he had given up on the phones and sent an email to Mark that started out with this gem:
"I'm trying to get a quote, but nobody is answering your phones."
Mark saw the email some time later well after he came back from lunch. At that time I was taking my lunch, he was covering the phones alone and he wasn't in a great mood to deal with whiny bullshit from this particular reseller (who has a reputation). He cc'd me his reply, the first line of which read:
"Sometime we are busy. That's why we have voice mail." :lol
The next day several resellers contacted us looking for a quote for the same update. Obviously, the school is required to get several quotes and go with the lowest bidder. It's very common.
Reseller #1 didn't include all the license numbers in his quote request. I was pretty sure there was a mistake, but quoted him for the license numbers he gave me and advised him to double-check with the school system to make sure he had all the license numbers. I didn't have to, but he's nice and I'd hate to see him get screwed over a miscommunication with the customer.
Reseller #2 called during lunch when I was covering phones alone. I was on the phone with a customer and he got rolled into voice mail. He left a message with all the information requesting the quote and his phone number. As soon as I was done with the customer I called him back and gave him the quote.
Reseller #3 also called during lunch when I was with the same customer. He also got rolled into voice mail, but didn't leave a message. Instead he hit redial and the cycle was repeated about 6 more times. Twice while I was with the customer and four more time while I was on the phone calling back reseller #2. By the time I was done talking with reseller #2, he had given up on the phones and sent an email to Mark that started out with this gem:
"I'm trying to get a quote, but nobody is answering your phones."
Mark saw the email some time later well after he came back from lunch. At that time I was taking my lunch, he was covering the phones alone and he wasn't in a great mood to deal with whiny bullshit from this particular reseller (who has a reputation). He cc'd me his reply, the first line of which read:
"Sometime we are busy. That's why we have voice mail." :lol
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