Having had my own business for less than a year I've never gotten a call like this, but I sure a lot of you have. This guy calls and tries to make me think he's offering me an exclusive contract with a local real estate company. It turns out he was just trying to sell advertising. I caught on about the time he asked for my credit card number. Needless to say, he didn't get it. Does this happen a lot?
Happens too much...watch out for "copier service" companies that just happen to have extra laser cartridges on hand, also..
I'm sure there's a million of them out there.
Back in the late 90's in MI a group of realtors, lenders, title companies, all tried to form a special group of "selected surveyors". We were guaranteed thier work if we joined thier group. They also offered the club to pest inspectors, builders, etc.
Of course, membership included a reduced fee for our services. In addition to joining thier cartel of croony's with a modest annual fee.
Nobody I knew of joined thier club, and the "opportunity" fell flat on its face. Right where it belonged.
> Does this happen a lot?
I can answer this question for you but I'll need your credit card number and expiration date first.
I got that same call this afternoon.
All they wanted was a small fee of $399 to cover the artwork for the brochure they were putting together for the real estate company.
Sounded okay until they started asking about money.
That's what I thought, too. It sounded ok until I realized he wasn't what he presented himself to be.
I guess there were only three others he called in our area? He said he had 5 respected firms he was calling, and it was first come/first serve.:woot:
Do take the time to study charletanism, and the tools they have applied through the ages. Those tools are exactly the same today as they were in the time of Moses.
Rare that I don't recognize such in the first 20 seconds on the phone. I am sure I have saved myself thousands of wasted hours through the decades. I interupt them with, "Skip the boilerplate presentation. WHAT ARE YOU SELLING!!!! Either they answer the question and I tell them no thanks and hang up, or they go back to the boilerplate and I just hang up.
If you got the time and it's no big whoop, it can be a lot of fun to lead them on and get them all excited about the sale until they finally realize they are caught in a black hole. Amazing how some of them fail to recognize the sarcasm I throw at them. Over time, your number will make it to a list of numbers NEVER to call.
