posted on November 11, 2000 03:50:53 PM
I just got an email from the high bidder on one of my auctions that doesn't end until tomorrow night at 8. He wants me to call a toll free number to discuss payment and shipping methods.
My auction states that there is no charge for shipping and that I take checks and money orders. What's to discuss?
Should I call this person--even though I have no idea if he's going to win or not? Seems kind of permature to me--but if I don't call and he wins--will he have a bad attitude toward me that may sour the deal?
posted on November 11, 2000 07:05:48 PM
Thank you so much Very Modern and mzalez. I don't know why--but that email just sounded fishy to me. I have just returned to listing a few things to sell and thought perhaps I was just being paranoid with beginner's nervous jitters. I have had people email me with questions about my auctions and we have satisfactorily resolved their questions via email. There's no reason why this bidder couldn't have asked their questions in an email. I will use VeryModern's diplomatic exccuse. Thanks!
mzalexz raises a very good point about it possibly being a telemarketer. I call them from home and then they've got the number I call from--which means even more harassing phone calls during dinner.
The sales calls have been even worse lately because most of them are for my Dad who recently passed away. It's no fun for me and my Mom to have to deal with his death all over again in the middle of a meal. The really horrible thing is that after I've told them he's gone, they say, "Well, would you be interested?" Unbelievable!
Thank you so much for your quick answers and helpful advice.
posted on November 11, 2000 07:27:44 PM
Veering OT here, but I got a call from a telemarketer yesterday afternoon, and as usual as soon as she identified her product I politely interrupted and told her I was not interested in their widgets and to put me on their "do not call" list. Her response? "But let me tell you about the widgets!" I told her that I was not interested in the widgets and that she was obligated by law to do as I asked. "I'm WHAT?? What's obligated?" (Scary, huh?) Funny, though, as soon as I repeated my demand she found the paragraph on her cue card that told her to tell me it'd take 2-6 weeks....Did she really think by getting argumentative with me that she'd make a sale?
posted on November 11, 2000 07:42:10 PM
We have a few methods of dealing with telemarketers here frist as soon as were sure it is a marketing call start playing deaf. HuH ? HUH? when you have them talking as loudly as you can hang up.
second is to quickly say oh no thank you we already have one and hang up.
posted on November 11, 2000 08:02:23 PM
Some good responses to telemarkers:
for switching phone companies:
"Oh, I'm so glad you called (name another company) is ready to disconnect our phone since we didn't pay our bill in so long."
or
"We don't have a phone".
Windows:
"We don't have windows in our house." (I'm from WV, and I've had people believe me, just start talking about how you built a basement first. . .)
Magazines:
"I can't read"
My aunt says "God loves you" when she knows it is something that is truly a scam.
I just wish that hearing assessment place would quit calling. I don't know how many times I've said NO ONE in our house needs a hearing aid, and they ARGUE with me, and tell me they can legally call even though I've asked them not to. I finally told them that although they were not allowed to call legally they had no right at all to call and yell at me that they had ever right to call me. (I got the phone slammed in my ear!)
posted on November 11, 2000 08:20:39 PM
Maybe your hearing aid telemarketers are - uh, satisfied users of the products they're touting?
Seriously, just tell them to "put me on your Do Not Call List". Apparently the statute requires you to say exactly that; "don't call me again" isn't good enough, you ahve to use the magic words. Aside from my argumentative friend of the other night, doing this for ONE WEEK cut our telemarketing calls by some 90% within 2 weeks. I know, I kept track!
posted on November 12, 2000 06:58:42 AM
cybercat - If it were me, I wouldn't ignore my bidder. I'd just email and be truthful. I'd say something like: "I am willing to answer any and all of your concerns, but prefer to do it via email, even though you have been so kind to offer a 1-800#." The offer of the free call, may have just been so you weren't out additional costs for the call. I would want to work any issues out before the end of the auction.
As a buyer, if I emailed and you didn't respond, I'd go to your sellers list. And should I then find that you were listing more auctions, while not 'available' to answer my concerns/emails, I'd probably cancel my bid on your auction. I like feeling that I'm dealing with honest sellers.
You asked what questions they could possibly have since you are paying for the shipping? Maybe they would like to know whether or not you'd be willing to pack it this way or that way, ship it this way or that way....any special request they may have. Could be anything.
Hope no offense is taken, I just like being straightforward with my bidders/buyers.
posted on November 12, 2000 07:06:56 AM
My ex-mother-in-law had a great line for home improvement telemarketers:
"We'd love to have someone come out and give us an estimate, but it will have to be sometime after next week. We've filed for bankruptcy and we'll be in court all next week...."
posted on November 12, 2000 11:14:31 AM
I worked for a telemarketing company for nearly five years in their corporate office.
A lot of people who would otherwise be flipping burgers do telemarketing; a number of them are elderly or have disabilities. Many need a second or even third job just to make ends meet. Despite all the so-called scams, many of these people are just trying to be gainfully employed. I just tell them to take me off their call list and say goodbye.
Telemarketers who call after you tell them not to are subject to fines--you can file a claim and receive payment for their violation if you want to.
posted on November 12, 2000 11:33:18 AM
A couple of years ago, we received two calls from the local distributor for a national adjustable bed company (three guesses who it is). Both times we told them we weren't interested and politely hung up the phone. A few weeks after the second call we got a third.
I said "We would be glad to talk to your respresentative. Here are the directions to our home."
I then proceeded to give detailed directions for the salesman to travel about 60 miles of narrow, winding country roads and over a mountain (literally) into a place so rural that the birds sing with a hick accent.
posted on November 12, 2000 11:49:42 AM
My oldest teenage son likes to lay the phone down as they talk. He let one sit on the phone waiting for him for 10 minutes. I don't know why they didn't hang up right when the realized no one was there...
I don't like to be mean to them... I just politely butt in (oxymoron, I know) and say, "thanks, but we aren't interested" and hang up before they have a chance to say anything else.
As for the bidder and phone call.. I like what VeryModern says!
_________________
I don't like to be mean to them either. But I also don't like for my repeated "No thank you"s to be ignored. After the third call, they were no longer ignored.
posted on November 12, 2000 12:15:14 PM
I often ask the telemarketer for THEIR home phone number so I can call them back at a more convenient time. They are usually very taken aback by this request and will hem and haw and stutter.
Sometimes I will ask them to spell nearly every word they say. Their name, company, product and so forth. They get tired of that pretty quick.
One time I asked them for directions to their offices (a photo studio). We were living in a major metro area and I made sure to repeat the directions back incorrectly each time. About 10 times. (I guess I have a sick sense of humor).
I have often tried to be kind and say "no thanks, I'm not interested," but many of these intruders refuse to take no for an answer and just keep talking until you hang up on them.
I have thought about telling the next one that calls that I am right in the middle of having sex (or sitting on the toilet or something equally personal) just to see what kind of reaction I would get. When they ask me "how are you tonight?" to perhaps respond by telling them that I'm doing terrible, and to go into a protracted description of numerous ailments.
In reality, I think that most of these people are just trying to make an honest living. I enjoy entertaining them.
