A good while ago I was a customer of a company that has now gone into liquidation. I know about this because I was called by their erstwhile sub-contractors, who have taken over their customer list. Naturally, they were calling to try and sell their services to me.
They called just as I had some dishes being completed in CafeWorld on Facebook* so I was okay to listen to his spiel while I clicked on the game. When he had finished, I said "I'm not interested..." in calm, factual, detached tone.
At which point he said "There's no need to get upset, if you pay..."
I interrupted him "I'm not upset, it's just, when I say, I'm not interested, that means the conversation's over."
"So you have made alternative arrangements?" (or words to that effect).
"I'm saying goodbye now and ending this call."
I realise he has a job to do, that selling products and services to customers is what makes the world go round. I really am not upset that they called me. It's a reasonable time of day, I could have chosen not to take the call, it seemed legitimate considering they have taken over the list of a company which I used to be a customer of.
So why attack me just because I said I'm not interested? It ensures that I do get upset! And guarantees I won't do business with them. I can't think of any situation where a potential customer responds positively to confrontation or insult (okay the mildest of insults, but still!). I am so tempted to suggest that he's in the wrong job, and would be better off in something where he doesn't have to deal with the public, but I can't be bothered!
*most of my friends have given up, but there is one friend who is constantly a level or two ahead of me and stupidly, I won't quit until I overtake her (or until Christmas, whichever comes first)
