Admin Gal is Annoyed...

by the machinations of persistent sales people.  Honestly, you'd think after giving them clear and precise directions of how your company accepts their information, they would be grateful.

Instead, Admin Gal finds herself besieged by the peppering calls of salespeople who are hoping and praying that the boss will pick up the phone on a number he doesn't recognize.  

Seriously? 

Were these people born in the cabbage patch?

Admin Gal's job is simple, get the information, direct it to the correct person and get on with her day. Sales people have become the static that you can't drown out of the stereo system.

Sales Call Fail #2

Admin Gal:  Thank you for calling ABC Company, how may I assist you?
Persistent Sales Guy: I'm calling for Mr. X.
Admin Gal: Whom may I say is calling?
Persistent Sales Guy:  He knows who I am, it is on a need to know basis.
Dear readers, after uncurling her fingers from her cracked telephone receiver Admin Gal replies.
Admin Gal: I need to know as I let Mr. X know who is calling.
Persistent Sales Guy: No, you don't. You are only the admin.
CLICK!
oops!

A Perfect Day

Every time Admin Gal picks up the telephone, there is a potential customer on the other end of the line.

Admin Gal knows that she regularly vents her spleen about sales calls.  Heaven knows that she has had her fair share of that persistent, oblivious breed who can't understand why I won't give them the time of day. Because, isn't it obvious their product can save the company, the world, the UNIVERSE?!?!?!?!!

Then there are those gems that make your day.  Those shining stars that leave you feeling like you've made a friend.  Whether their product was right for your company or not.

A discourse is had between two adults, determining needs and goals. In the end opportunities happen, maybe not in the original intent, but an opportunity.  A conversation between professionals.

Those are the moments that make a day perfect.

A Word of Advice

Sales people, when you call:

1. Do not claim to have called Admin Gal's boss when she is CLEARLY the person who answers the phone.
2. Do not claim to have had a prior conversation.
3. Do not cut Admin Gal off when she is trying to gather information to help you possibly get to the correct person.
4. Do not lie.

Last but not least, when Admin Gal calls you place of business to give pointers to you about how you might be more successful, DO NOT have your receptionist lie about your employment status there.  

If these simple, yet effective, suggestions can be followed you might have success in your business endeavors.

Marketing Ploys

Times are difficult if you are in the sales field.  I get that.

But sending free stuff won't get you in the door. It will only annoy the admin who has to reach out an contact the sales person who thought it would be a bright idea to send it in the first place.  Thereby, fanning the flame of encouragement, only to have it doused by the harsh rejection that is THE ADMIN.

Save your company some money.  Don't send unasked for stuff!

Sales Call Fail #1

Admin:   Good Afternoon, thank you for calling ABC Company, how may I help you?

Sales Person:  I'd like to speak with Mr. XXXX.

Admin: I'm sorry he is unavailable, may I take a message?

Sales Person: If he is unavailable, no. Click

Admin Gal as a few pithy remarks about this brief yet memorable conversation. 

Her boss is never available on first blush to a stranger.  If you don't leave a message, Admin Gal PROMISES he will never ever be available to you.  

The arrogance of assumption that you are able to speak to a ranking executive in a Fortune 500 company based on a cold call, tells Admin Gal that you have an elevated sense of importance.  She'll be happy to send you crashing back to earth.  Painfully or politely is entirely your choice.

Asking the best way to contact the executive WILL win points in Admin Gal's eyes and might get you in the door.  

Sales Hijinks

Dear Readers,
One more tidbit before Year's End.  Admin Gal received a call from her IT rep.

Much to her surprise, a request had been called in to start a 'free, no-obligation' trial of a gadget for a warehouse inventory system.  Admin Gal had submitted no such request nor would she

Admin Gal was NOT AMUSED!!!!!

In a calm voice, she asked the vendor name and the date of the request.  She flipped through her trusty calendar,  Admin Gal located the offending sales call.

You see, Admin Gal has a habit of jotting down numbers, names, companies and notes on sales calls. Particularly on calls that are annoying.

The details of the call came flooding back.  The offer of a free trial had been offered and roundly refused.  The scheming sales person had gone behind Admin Gal's back and submitted a request in her name to implement the trial of his equipment.

Admin Gal's first reaction was unprintable.  Needless to say, an investigation is underway.

Admin Gal as a lot of influence.  But to order the trial of expensive equipment is not one of them.  This vendor is on the DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH list.  Thanks to this person's ingenuity.

When the answer is 'no', it does not mean maybe.

Dear Potential Vendor,

We here at ABC, Inc. realize that times are difficult.  That you are shaking every tree for any possible business opportunity.  Let us make a few points clear:

1. Yes, our terms our non-negotiable.
2. When we ask for X amount in liability insurance on your part, we mean it.  This is not a suggestion but an expectation of doing business.
3. Yes, we do follow the governmental safety and quality standards as put forth by said agencies.
4. Just because you went to school with the cousin of the sister-in-law of the CEO's estranged brother, will not automatically get you a coveted vendor slot.
5. We have a prohibitively strict gift policy - NO GIFTS.
6. Calling me everyday for 3 months will only make me annoyed.  
7. Sending multiple emails a day, makes you SPAM.
8. Sometimes, the answer is simply - NO.

Thank you for considering doing business with ABC, Inc.

Sincerely,

Admin Gal

Horrible Sales People Hall of Fame

Dear Sales People of the Business-verse,

I recognize that you have a job to do.  Really, I do.  But lying to the admin is a poor way to start any business relationship. We always remember the first impression and are not afraid to share our view point with our bosses.

A few words of wisdom if you want to speak with my boss:

1. Just because you get the Admin doesn't mean you need to hang up.  I write the number down and remember the rudeness.
2. My job is to screen calls, directing you to the RIGHT person.  More than likely, my boss is not the person you need to speak with. If you would give me a moment of your time, I could get you to someone you'd have a chance with.
3. Breathing heavily and hanging up will only get you mocked. Really, you have no idea the amusement you provide when you do that.
4. Implying that I'm lying, lazy, stupid, or deficient in anyway WILL get you blacklisted with in my company.  I make lists and make sure they are published.  I also make calls to your company and talk to your managers, expressing my unhappiness with your conduct.
5. Politeness will open doors, kindness will get you a conversation.

I have met some genuinely delightful sales people who have listened to me, therefore getting a coveted conversation with the appropriate person in my organization.

I have also met some truly despicable people who will forever reside in the Horrible Sales People Hall of Fame.  Not a place anyone wants to be.

Sincerely,

The Admin

Sales People BEWARE

Once more I am in awe of the gall of the sales person.  You know the one.  The one who calls and says, “Hi there, is xxxx(the executive’s first names like they’ve been bestest of buddies since birth) available?”  They’ve already called three times refusing to leave any information with the admin, because it is beneath them.  The boss, the executive in question, has no idea who they are.  AND when, I the admin, has the audacity to point this out, they back pedal saying, “I’ll just send XXXX and email. He’ll remember me then.”

REEEEAAAAALLLY?

Really people?  Are you serious?  I know that you want to talk to the top of the food chain.  But to be perfectly frank the top of the food chain’s assistant is about ready to serve you up tartar to their boss.

Let’s go over the rules again:

1. When wanting to engage an executive of any company, ALWAYS make nice with the admin.
2. If the admin says they’ll take a message and pass it on because that is the way things are done.  IT IS!
3. DO NOT seek to go around, over, under, or through the admin, for all roads lead back to the admin before they go to the executive.  And while you’re wasting all that time, the admin is preparing to demolish you.

If sale representatives can follow the above mentioned rules, this admin wouldn’t have to post such warnings.

The warning has been posted.