Today I was at a friends workplace. He is the owner of a local company that provides a telco service to the marketplace. I wont go in to too much detail about what he does for living but none the less this is a classic.
While visiting him he gets this perspective customer (PC) contact him via the online chat facility he has on his site. After him introducing himself and asking how he can help the PC asks him "I would like to get a free trial of x product. I see that you offer this and if we are happy we then go on to a month to month service."
My friend replies "Sure thing we can organise that for you. In order for me to proceed with this free trial I need to get the following information from you" (Basically the customers account details). The PC goes "I will give them to you after the trial."
My friend says "Sorry we cannot proceed without this information. It is company policy." All of a sudden the PC asks him "Are you serious? You are a service provider, why wouldn't you offer this service for free without my contact details etc?!?! I want to speak to your boss as this is a really bad idea that you have!"
In turn the response the PC got was "I am the boss! why would my company offer a free trial to you as you are someone we don't know, never dealt with, let lone someone who we will start billing after the 30 day trial is up?"
After 30 or so seconds the PC replies "I am the consumer... I am always right and you should give the free trial to me without me having to give you the information you requested. Now stop playing with me you little piss ant and go get your boss. I need to tell him you are wasting my time and are very rude!"
A little troubled and amused at this PC stupidity my friend replies "Sure thing. Let me go get him for you." The PC replies "Thank god you are listening to me!!!! OMG what is it with your industry?!?" After a couple of seconds my friend replies "Hello I am ...... I am the owner of the company. Could you please tell me your problem?"
The PC responds "Thank you for your time sir. I just spoke with .... ..... and he has told me that without some information from me you cannot provide this free trial. Is he for real or is he just trying to lose you business and a good customer?"
As one can imagine this goes on for about 10 - 15 minutes. Finally after messing with the PC's head for 10-15 minutes the PC goes "Thank you sir here is the information you requested... oh and by the way your name looks similar to the guy I was chatting to you before that I found rude, I hope your customers do not get you 2 confused"
Both myself and my friend just looked at each other thinking WTF! how dumb is this PC.... Surely he would have figured out we were playing with him...
While visiting him he gets this perspective customer (PC) contact him via the online chat facility he has on his site. After him introducing himself and asking how he can help the PC asks him "I would like to get a free trial of x product. I see that you offer this and if we are happy we then go on to a month to month service."
My friend replies "Sure thing we can organise that for you. In order for me to proceed with this free trial I need to get the following information from you" (Basically the customers account details). The PC goes "I will give them to you after the trial."
My friend says "Sorry we cannot proceed without this information. It is company policy." All of a sudden the PC asks him "Are you serious? You are a service provider, why wouldn't you offer this service for free without my contact details etc?!?! I want to speak to your boss as this is a really bad idea that you have!"
In turn the response the PC got was "I am the boss! why would my company offer a free trial to you as you are someone we don't know, never dealt with, let lone someone who we will start billing after the 30 day trial is up?"
After 30 or so seconds the PC replies "I am the consumer... I am always right and you should give the free trial to me without me having to give you the information you requested. Now stop playing with me you little piss ant and go get your boss. I need to tell him you are wasting my time and are very rude!"
A little troubled and amused at this PC stupidity my friend replies "Sure thing. Let me go get him for you." The PC replies "Thank god you are listening to me!!!! OMG what is it with your industry?!?" After a couple of seconds my friend replies "Hello I am ...... I am the owner of the company. Could you please tell me your problem?"
The PC responds "Thank you for your time sir. I just spoke with .... ..... and he has told me that without some information from me you cannot provide this free trial. Is he for real or is he just trying to lose you business and a good customer?"
As one can imagine this goes on for about 10 - 15 minutes. Finally after messing with the PC's head for 10-15 minutes the PC goes "Thank you sir here is the information you requested... oh and by the way your name looks similar to the guy I was chatting to you before that I found rude, I hope your customers do not get you 2 confused"
Both myself and my friend just looked at each other thinking WTF! how dumb is this PC.... Surely he would have figured out we were playing with him...
