Often times when I get these (and it's pretty often) I just take their
email address and add it to my list of people we send out RFQs to. The
worst thing that happens is that they come back with a good price, good
service and boom, I've found a new vendor.
Which is to say, they were one of the few that apologised. The recurring
theme is that it's always a rogue salesperson who didn't know better, or
some overzealous marketing person. I'd agree with Scott on this point,
that you shouldn't buy from vendors who do this, but ultimately, it's not
going to change the way they behave. Over the course of my entire career,
I've never been a fan of salespeople, because they do what they're
supposed to do: whatever they can to make money. In our particular field,
it cuts both ways, because they're either hassling you to buy something,
or your own salespeople are selling something you can't support or don't
even offer.
It's the kind of thing that probably won't change until someone whips out
one of the spam laws and sues a couple people over it, or engages in
executive carpet bombing. Either way, it's always going to be a temporary
reprieve until it gets out of hand again. It'd be churlish of NANOG, as an
organization, to organize blacklists and boycotts, and probably even
shooting itself in the foot because some vendors may actually be offering
something worthwhile, but is there any other real solution?
How often do people take the time to ask any given salescritter how they
came by contact info?
- billn
I've done it, but if you've forced your way through my various filters
and manage to get me on the phone and I ask you that, it's pretty much
kiss of death unless you have a very good answer.
John
All,
This thread has run its course. Let's move on, please, as it is not
and never has been on topic. Thanks!
- Tim
How often do people take the time to ask any given salescritter how they
came by contact info?
I use tagged addresses (as you can see), and if a vendor contacts me at an
address I use solely for mailing lists the conversation is going to be
short, unpleasant and unprofitable-- but I can't remember the last time that
happened. My real address gets hit all the time by cold calls, but that goes
with the territory.
[ snip ]
From: David Ulevitch <davidu@everydns.net>
Often times when I get these (and it's pretty often) I just take their
email address and add it to my list of people we send out RFQs to.
[..and.. ]
You obviously haven't had the experiences that some have had with sales folks that use >this method. Some are like the little Chihuahua that won't quit trying to hump your leg. >No matter how many times you tell them you're not going to "do it" they keep trying.
The AUP that we ( the NANOG MLC) presented to the "community" at NANOG
41, which seemed to have wide support, contained a new provision to
deal with this problem.
Hopefully, the "steering" committee will step up to the plate and approve soon.
-M<
Just for the purpose of clarification - it was not the NANOG list that our
salesperson was using. However, because the gentleman who brought it to our
attention cc'd NANOG - we apologized here as well.
Again -- very sorry for the distraction this created.
Kind regards,
Sherry Ollins
Director of Sales & Purchasing
Choice Resale LLC
310.804.3266 Voice
310.943.0427 Fax
sherry@choiceresale.com
www.choiceresale.com
AOL IM: SherryCHOICE