Stupid vendors

[msmemory_archive]

"I'd like to send you two of our cartridges for you to try out. I'm sure you'll find they are just as good as HP and last longer."
"Is this on-approval? You'd expect payment if I'm satisfied?"
"That's right, we only expect you to pay for them if you're pleased, and we're sure you'll like them."
"We don't buy on approval."
"Can you tell me why you wouldn't pay for our cartridges if you're satisfied?"
"We don't buy on approval. We don't buy books on approval, we don't buy supplies on approval. It has nothing to do with your company or your product. We require a purchase req form for purchasing. Can you send me a written quote with your price list?"
"Oh. Have a good day." {click}

Heh. I wonder just how sleazy they are, if they want my business and can't fax or email me a flyer with their address and prices.

Comments

[dlevey.livejournal.com]

Did they even tell you the price? Wanna bet they'd have changed the price when they sent you the cartridges (along with other stuff you didn't want)? They're counting on people not wanting t bother returning stuff.

[dsrtao]

A slightly more blatant scam: just start sending invoices to an admin.

[nazrynn.livejournal.com]

I love the ones who call and tell you that they are from the copier repair service, and would like to send a "free" toner cartridge, "if you just give us the make and model of your copier". (If they were really from the copier repair service, they would give the name of the company, and would already know the make and model - and the catch is that they will bill later on for so-called "free" toner).

That one was warned to me years ago, when I did receptionist duty for PHB Machining in Fairview PA. I don't even bother saying "No thank you" anymore for those - I just hang up.

[jenwrites.livejournal.com]

*shaking head* Yeah, real smooth sales pitch, there.

[hungrytiger]

My strange vendor moment today was at least more fun.

We had a vendor come in to demo an audience response system (remotes that attendees can use to respond to surveys or answer quizzes during a PowerPoint presentation). The vendor was a young woman who kept touching my hand and shoulder while showing me the equipment. That _might_ have been ok (as we were discussing handheld units), but she repeatedly let her hand linger on my shoulder and even brushed her body against mine while leaning over me during the demo.

Strange. I mean, I thought she was nice when we chatted over the phone and when I was helping her set up the equipment prior to the demo, but having someone flirt with me during a business sales pitch was downright odd. A female co-worker of mine noticed it immediately and we spent a while afterward talking about how off-putting it was rather than the benefits of that system over another one we're looking at.

It's possible that she was doing it unconsciously, but still... strange.