I just had the rudest response I think I’ve ever had in my life to a phone call I was making. I’ve never been a telephone salesperson, thank god, because I can’t imagine having to deal with responses like this on a frequent basis. Karin did it for awhile, working for a company in Lund that did telephone sales for things like magazine subscriptions. She said, generally speaking, that only old people were pleasant, and only because they just wanted someone to talk to.
When I get the rare sales call myself (we’re on a no-call list), I at least say “I’m sorry, I’m not interested” before I hang up, though I do hang up anyway, even if they keep on trying to talk. So I know getting hung up on is a standard response for any phone salesperson, and I’m sure they get an earful of rudeness as part of their daily job as well. Ugh.
As the VP Membership for the AIC Malmö, I call everyone who registers for membership, to give them more info about the club and about membership, and give them a chance to ask questions, before they can be activated. Most people tell me they are genuinely surprised and pleased at the effort and appreciate the personal phone call. If I can’t get ahold of someone with the number they provide, I will send them an email, an SMS, or as a last resort, try to find them on FB so that I can get the message to them that we must connect on the phone before their membership can be activated. We don’t just activate anyone who registers, and even people who ask to join the members-only FB group are declined if they don’t actually register and talk to me in person on the phone.
I tried calling 2 members today. One’s registration came in a couple of days ago, but when I called her the first time, she was obviously out and about, so we agreed I would call her on Sunday. I did but there was no answer, and no possibility to leave a voicemail. I tried again today but the call went directly to cancelled, so I sent her another SMS to ask her to give me a call when she is available.
Then I called the second registration that came in this morning. My first attempt resulted in a busy tone, so I waited about an hour and then tried again. The guy answered the phone in a heated voice asking “Who IS this?” and when I said “Hi (name), I’m calling from AIC Malmö,” he said very loudly and rudely, “I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THIS” and hung up.
So, I sent him an SMS explaining I was calling because HE had registered for membership with our club and asking him to answer with a time that suited him, saying that it would take approximately 10 minutes, and that if he was no longer interested in membership, he could simply reply and tell me so.
What a jerk. I was tempted to just delete his registration, but we’ll see if he responds. If he does, I’ll tell him that his rudeness was uncalled for, even if he did think I was a phone salesperson. I don’t want someone that rude to be joining our club, but I guess I will be the better person and give him the benefit of the doubt. Anyone can have a bad day or be in a pissy mood, though I think taking it out on strangers is unnecessary.
Mood: aggravated
Music: Goldfrapp—Alive