I think I get someone at least every other week who calls me up and tells me they have "multiple machines" and are looking for supplies and service... but right now they just need this one thing. Usually they want free advice or maybe priority service or delivery. I generally give them the same service I give everyone--which is always the absolute best service I can give. And if they want a free conversation, I give them that as well, as long as I'm able, because I give that to all my customers. But I've learned never to get my hopes up for these type of calls.
My years as a marketing consultant showed me that this is a very common ploy... at least, it seems like a ploy. I don't know what else you'd call it. People want something cheap or free, and they say they have a ton of more business they'll send your way as long as they're happy with your service. Then, after bending over backwards for them, you find out they just got this big copier from an auction and just want someone to get it working for next to nothing. The "other business" they spoke of is just the two printers in their office, which they'll probably replace instead of fix, because those printers are actually just deskjets, and can't really be fixed anyway.
The thing is, when people start off by telling me that, I immediately feel turned off. I'll spend a half hour talking to a guy at home trying to get his canon pixma working, and I never mind it at all. But when someone starts off by saying they have a lot of business, and then immediately asks for free advice, I feel like hanging up on them. I don't. I don't hang up on anyone, and I actually enjoy helping the little guys. But I sure feel like it.
My years as a marketing consultant showed me that this is a very common ploy... at least, it seems like a ploy. I don't know what else you'd call it. People want something cheap or free, and they say they have a ton of more business they'll send your way as long as they're happy with your service. Then, after bending over backwards for them, you find out they just got this big copier from an auction and just want someone to get it working for next to nothing. The "other business" they spoke of is just the two printers in their office, which they'll probably replace instead of fix, because those printers are actually just deskjets, and can't really be fixed anyway.
The thing is, when people start off by telling me that, I immediately feel turned off. I'll spend a half hour talking to a guy at home trying to get his canon pixma working, and I never mind it at all. But when someone starts off by saying they have a lot of business, and then immediately asks for free advice, I feel like hanging up on them. I don't. I don't hang up on anyone, and I actually enjoy helping the little guys. But I sure feel like it.
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