Vendor Harassment Black List
-
We were just discussing how IBM won't stop harassing us via phone and if we need to get lawyers involved because their sales people will not stop. They are told over and over to not call, but won't stop. So it's time to block their numbers (and start recording stuff for the lawyers, as well.) But here is a thought, what if we maintained a community list of blacklist phone numbers? Would that be handy? I'm sure that everyone has a few that we would all find handy.
-
@scottalanmiller said in Vendor Harassment Black List:
what if we maintained a community list of blacklist phone numbers? Would that be handy?
Would this be a phone list of vendors that are seen as going into the harrassment zone, not just pesky with too many follow ups?
Couldn't that be very subjective between different community members? Thinking of something compared to a crytoware list... where there is no question about the black list entries, a cryptoware extension is 100% bad. Whereas one vendor could have a rep that is just upset that day and coming off as rude... Just wondering where it start and stops, and how to get on it.
This is an interesting idea...
-
My gut says this is a very bad idea.
Where is the line between out-right harassment, being annoying, or just pushy sales tactics?
Who makes the decision on that? Who provides the evidence? Are we willing to black list a 5000+ employee company because 10 people in that company were idiots?
-
@Breffni-Potter said in Vendor Harassment Black List:
My gut says this is a very bad idea.
Where is the line between out-right harassment, being annoying, or just pushy sales tactics?
DOes there need to be? It's purely voluntary by the individuals to implement. When do you want ANY of those things getting through?
-
@Breffni-Potter said in Vendor Harassment Black List:
Are we willing to black list a 5000+ employee company because 10 people in that company were idiots?
Absolutely, not even the slightest question.
-
@BBigford said in Vendor Harassment Black List:
Would this be a phone list of vendors that are seen as going into the harrassment zone, not just pesky with too many follow ups?
Too many follow ups is plenty for a lot of people. Once someone isn't supposed to be calling.... it's too much.
Honestly, even a list of cold callers isn't that bad.
-
@scottalanmiller said
DOes there need to be? It's purely voluntary by the individuals to implement. When do you want ANY of those things getting through?
Because you'd end up black-listing every tech company in the world. "Sorry we don't buy Dell/HP anymore, they are pushy"
Also let's say I throw a moody moment and decide to dislike...Webroot.
Should my 1 bad experience of them justify them going on a black list?
-
I would suggest having a thread or two for Good (and Bad) Experiences with Vendors... Include background story, vendor name, and vendor phone number, for instance.
-
@scottalanmiller said in Vendor Harassment Black List:
We were just discussing how IBM won't stop harassing us via phone and if we need to get lawyers involved because their sales people will not stop.
Please... PLEASE tell me that IBM is on this same level: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRRsXxE1KVY
-
@Breffni-Potter said in Vendor Harassment Black List:
@scottalanmiller said
DOes there need to be? It's purely voluntary by the individuals to implement. When do you want ANY of those things getting through?
Because you'd end up black-listing every tech company in the world. "Sorry we don't buy Dell/HP anymore, they are pushy"
Also let's say I throw a moody moment and decide to dislike...Webroot.
Should my 1 bad experience of them justify them going on a black list?
Well, nearly no one that we do business with ever calls us. ANd what's wrong with not taking calls from any of them, really? Why would we take calls from them? I already take no calls, so it's working great for me.
-
@Breffni-Potter said in Vendor Harassment Black List:
Should my 1 bad experience of them justify them going on a black list?
Reverse that, why not?
-
So propose an alternative... just allow anyone and everyone to continue to call without setting up an appointment and getting approved to call? Under what condition would an IT professional ever want an unsolicited vendor call? I say... literally never.
-
Are we to start naming errant vendors here? Because I have one in particular that is underneath the bottom of the blacklist...
-
@scottalanmiller said in Vendor Harassment Black List:
So propose an alternative... just allow anyone and everyone to continue to call without setting up an appointment and getting approved to call? Under what condition would an IT professional ever want an unsolicited vendor call? I say... literally never.
The only reason, ever, I'd want a call from a vendor is I asked them to call me during a certain time to show me a demo or talk about their product. That's about it... and even then, most of that can be taken care of via email.
-
I think we generally understand as a community who is a good vendor and who isn't. We talk about it. I don't know if witch hunting is a good idea though. I don't think everyone is objective all of the time.
-
@scottalanmiller said in Vendor Harassment Black List:
@Breffni-Potter said in Vendor Harassment Black List:
Should my 1 bad experience of them justify them going on a black list?
Reverse that, why not?
Because let's say i have 1 bad experience with a piece of marketing, or a comment, or something from any company. We know that people are prone to making mistakes from time to time, we also know that if you are the recipient of the mistake, if you are having a bad day, your reaction might be the worse for it.
Next thing, that person posts about brand X. Says they are annoying/terrible. Don't buy from them.
Now at the moment, anyone can freely do that by creating a thread, posting replies or however they wish to do that and we as a community can reply, ask questions, do digging.
But...you want a wall of shame, which anyone can list a company on?
It's not a good first start for a relationship with the good companies out there if they see "Hey we have this black-list, behave or we'll put you on it."
-
@BBigford said in Vendor Harassment Black List:
@scottalanmiller said in Vendor Harassment Black List:
So propose an alternative... just allow anyone and everyone to continue to call without setting up an appointment and getting approved to call? Under what condition would an IT professional ever want an unsolicited vendor call? I say... literally never.
The only reason, ever, I'd want a call from a vendor is I asked them to call me during a certain time to show me a demo or talk about their product. That's about it... and even then, most of that can be taken care of via email.
Exactly
-
@Breffni-Potter said in Vendor Harassment Black List:
Also let's say I throw a moody moment and decide to dislike...Webroot.
Well, as a good vendor Webroot never, ever calls me. So it would not impact them in any way. So what's the downside?
-
@Breffni-Potter said in Vendor Harassment Black List:
@scottalanmiller said in Vendor Harassment Black List:
@Breffni-Potter said in Vendor Harassment Black List:
Should my 1 bad experience of them justify them going on a black list?
Reverse that, why not?
Hey we have this black-list, behave or we'll put you on it.
Actually... I think all vendors should be held to that standard. They shouldn't be under the assumption they can straight up harass people if they are told to stop calling.
-
So, how would this black-list work ? Would it be moderated ? How ?
"I'm thinking NTG is direct competitor .. wait, I have an idea .. let me add their name to vendor black-list ... just for shits n giggles ...hehehe ... :rowboat_tone4: "
How do we avoid a situation like this ?
