Sometimes I like my job

[ericcoleman]

Part of my job is answering the phones. A big part of that is fending off sales geeks. I can usually spot the bad ones pretty quickly.

The phone call I just got rang some bells from the first line. Here is how it went

Me: >insert company name here< Printing, this is Eric can I help you?
Sales Geek: What is the name of your shipping manager.

Ok, at this point I know that it is a cold call, otherwise this person would know at least one name to talk to. We have long standing corporate accounts that are not changeable by us. So my job is to say something like ...

Me: I can probably help you, what do you need? (and I usually can, since I know how most things are run in the building)
SG: I'd like the name of your shipping manager.
Me: I can help you, what do you need?
SG: The name of your shipping manager.
Me: I can help you.
SG: You're a dumb dick aren't you?
Me: I do my best (this said as he hangs up)

If he had been legit, he would have told me what he wanted. And I would have either pointed him to the right person or said that he needed to go to his next cold call. I do hope, for his sake, that his calls were't being recorded "to guarantee customer satisfaction".

Comments

[pheltzer.livejournal.com]

When I get those sort of calls I will generally tell them that Bob Dobolina is the person they need to speak with and give them a highly appropriate telephone number along the lines of 847-555-XXXX. Gotta love the fact that 555 exchange is reserved and not used in every area code so that Hollywood can play with it.

[ericcoleman]

If it's toner, I give them the National Toner Fraud Hotline number ... it's posted right here on my desk for just that reason