This is a true story. My friend Jane runs a small business and recently experienced the following:

Jane’s phone rings.

Jane: Hi, this is Jane with company xyz.

Sales guy: Can I speak to your manager?

Jane: Who is calling?

Sales guy: I just need to speak to your manager.

Jane: Who are you and what is this in reference to?

Sales guy: This is Mike. I have an important call for your manager.

Jane: What is it regarding?

Sales guy: None of your business. Now just connect me to your manager.

Jane: I don’t think so.

Sale guy: Tell your manager I called and want to talk to him about his office supplies.

Jane: Good-bye

Remember, Jane runs this business and the business managers report to her.  In addition, she is the person responsible for buying office supplies and has never heard of this sales person or his company.  In the course of one five-minute phone call, this sales person blew his and his company’s chance of doing business with Jane’s company.

This sales person’s mistakes are too obvious to bother talking about. However, there is a larger question at stake: Does the company he represents know how he is treating their prospects?  Do you know how your front-line employees treat your prospects and customers?

I would be curious to hear your stories about bad experiences you have encountered with sales people attempting to get your business.

-Tom McGoldrick