I had a website company call me today...  They wanted me to buy into their system.  Since I have two closings in the next two business days, my time might be called a little crunched...

So, I asked for the quick version...

Two hours later we were approaching the "what is it going to cost?" question.  Two hours is the quick version?  I'd hate to think of what the full presentation would be like... I had a time share company pitch me in less than two hours.  But lat's get back to the beginning... 

When he called, he asked me if he would have a chance to earn my business TODAY.  I told him, quite simply and directly that NO... I would have to research any company prior to doing business with them; that assurances and their presentation wouldn't be the only factors in any decision. 

Honestly, the products (website, drip email and lead capture) were intriguing.  They have done a good job of pulling it all together, from looking at the final product.  And, up until the last fifteen minutes, he DID have a chance of earning my business... after allowing me a reasonable time to research their offerings. 

But he couldn't leave it at that... I was amazed at the next line of logic that he tried to use to get me to buy his product... 

"You NEED to get more business, and you aren't SMART ENOUGH to make this decision on your own..."

Wait, did you really just tell me that I don't have the brain power to decide if I should spend my own money on your product?  Really?  We are done here. 

Here are some take-aways for vendors...

• Don't try to bully consumers...  You will only alienate them.  Sure, maybe you will get an extra sale or two from someone on the edge... you might also piss them off so that they write nasty blog posts about you... 
  
• Don't EVER call your prospects STUPID.  I wouldn't even think that I would have to actually say that... but I guess I'm not smart enough to know that it is good business to call prospective clients "not smart enough". 
  
• If they ask for the quick version, and you aren't ready to deliver... reschedule. 
  
• "Buy NOW or else" strategies are losers.  Don't EVER think that it is a good idea to have your sales model compared to time share developments or boiler rooms.  
• REALLY... Don't call your prospective clients stupid... REALLY. 
  
• Arguing with the prospect about things like giving the price isn't a great idea...  It breeds mistrust. 
  

I'm kind of shocked that I would have to say some of these things. 

• Could you just imagine if I locked a client in a house and told them that they HAD to write a contract? 
  
• What if I told my buyer that they weren't smart enough to make the decision on their own? 
  
• Or if my client told me that they had an hour to look at houses and I took them out and told them I wasn't taking them back to their car until I was good and ready?  

My broker would RIGHTLY kick me to the curb. 

I'm not going to mention the name of the company just yet...  I hope that I just ran across an overzealous salesperson, and that this isn't the sales strategy the company employs... 

But... boy am I pissed...