Google the name of the company BEFORE you buy from a sales call

I rarely, if ever, buy from a sales call.

I Google almost everything - just to make sure... Thanks for sharing your experience.

I only sign up for something if it has been referred by someone I know and trust. From calls or emails? Never!

I always ask these callers if my "Exclusive Offer" is being offered to every real estate agent in the state.  That usually kills the lustre of whatever they're trying to sell.  I had one guy explain the whole rotating ad program he was trying to sell.  

Amazingly, my "exclusive" promotion was entirely dependent on how many people signed up, and how much more money I paid than the next guy to get ad placement!!  I think I blew out his eardrums with my LAUGHTER!! :)

Ann, this is a great reminder that we can't just take peoples word for everything. Besides businesses, I Google phone numbers, potential clients, etc.

Google and online reviews/feedback have definitely enhanced how we decide with whom to do business these days.  And, there is certainly much information out there on practically anyone and everyone!

Anyone you do business with, you should google.

And remember your potential customers will google  you too!

I don't know of anyone who buys anything from a cold sales call, I certainly don't.  Having said that, there MUST be a large number of the population who does this.  The calls are almost constant. 3 today already.

As a grown adult for a long, long time . . . I NEVER do any business with solicitiions.  Why?  Because as a big girl now if I need ANYTHING I know where to go to buy it . . . I do not need anyone calling me to solicit.  It's all a scam and fraud, IMHO so when I get emails, calls, etc. for any product I view it as an insult to me since I'm all grown up now and know where to go to shop, buy whatever it is I need. 

Wow, Ann, I guess you can never be too careful.

Thanks for sharing.

HAve a great weekend.

Great advice! I just recently started doing this and it's saved me from buying, rather wasting money, on companies that do not perform.

My home phone is on the "Do Not Call List."  Yet every day, I am hammered with solicitation calls.  There are 3 companies, a "lower rate" credit card company, an energy saving program, and a home modification company, that call after I have continually asked them to remove me from their robo-dialers.  Unfortunately, I do not have caller ID on the home phone and haven't been able to retrieve a number to report them! 

I agree with you, Google provides a wealth of information which can be had by simply clicking a few computer keys.  Consumers need to be more diligent in determining, whom they will provide credit card info too.  Thanks for driving home the warning!

I google the name and phone number when people call me. Wow amazing what we find out.

I Google a lot of the telemarketer phone numbers too and you see who they are before you talk to them or avoid them. Great advice Ann.

Google is so helpful for checking out companies, potential clients, and so many other things.  I use it all the time!

Ann - I love google because we can find out so much about a company, the good, the bad and the ugly. I think you'll always find a negative reveiw, but when it is consistent you know there is a problem.

Hi,

Google is awesome resource to do research before making a buying decision.

Good job doing the extra leg work.

Ann, I get a good number of calls from out-of-state buyers. I Google every name and phone number I get. You would be surprised what you learn.

Ann, while this is sage advice, it also should cause us all a moment of dread. Every snide comment you've ever made on on a social network you wish you could take back, those old photos of "youthful indiscretions", the personal website devoted to your love of the sport of curling ... they all can be found on the Internet by friends and foes alike. Sure gives me pause!

I won't even think about a product or service unless I have looked into it further. I would never sign up for anything on the first contact. That is like buying a pig on a poke... sorry old reference there, but it fits. I always let the sales person know this before they continue. This is if they DO get a hold of me. It usually happens when answering phones in the office. I agree Google has helped me track numbers that call my phone also. Great tool and resource.  Glad you dodged a bullet on this one!