Does your practice receive cold calls?

[harleycharley]

Every once in a while I'll get a cold call from someone trying to sell me something... search engine results, placement in a massage directory, etc.

Wondering:
- how many folks receive b2b cold calls at their massage practice?
- how you generally respond to them?
- if you've actually bought anything from any of them... if so, what was it, and how satisfied were you?

 

[Pompal 09.]

Does your practice receive cold calls?

All the time! Nutrition companies, computer repair, window cleaners, advertising reps and the list goes on.

If 'm at all interested I'll often have them email me info. I have yet to puchase.

 

[Immortale]

Does your practice receive cold calls?

Every once in a while I'll get a cold call from someone trying to sell me something... search engine results, placement in a massage directory, etc.

Wondering:
- how many folks receive b2b cold calls at their massage practice?
- how you generally respond to them?
- if you've actually bought anything from any of them... if so, what was it, and how satisfied were you?

Most of the ones I get are search engine results, placement in some directory (usually country clubs), silver reclaiming (x-ray) andthe occasional supplement company. As a side note, I get a faxes (which I also call back and get on the "do not call list" for --- lasts for about 6 months at a pop).



I get about 2 - 4 solicitiation phone calls over the period of a month. And, around the month of Nov. & Dec. I will receive a few more.

I listen to their first sentence or so, and then depending on the scenario, say one of the following:

• If they won't say they are trying to sell me something, I ask... "Is this something you are selling or giving away?"... It's always selling, but they will sometimes try to get around it. As soon as I peg them on the "selling" issue (usually that kind of call has to do with putting my name/business in some book/flyer somewhere) I let them know that I am a referral practice only. And, that if they happen to have someone they would like to refer to me, they are always welcome to do so. Next, I ask them to remove me from their call list.
  
  
• If they just start out with thier information and what they are selling, I politely (when possible ... sometimes you can't be polite no matter how hard you try with an agitated salesman) ask them: "Could you please take me off your call list... I am not interested."
  
  
• If they leave a message on my answering machine, I will call at my convenience, and either leave a message or if speaking in person, state who I am, my number and ask to be removed from their unsolicited call list.
  
  
• Occasionaly, I'll have a real problem one. Then I have to be a little more edgy. Two weeks ago, I had a lady from Angie's List, where I have one review of my practice from a client listed there (but I don't advertise). I have done everything I can with them to be removed from their call and e-mail lists, and yet interemittently, they still persisit. --- In her case, she kept asking me questions about my profile. Well, it's my profile, so I kind of needed to listen to what she was trying to get at, since her responses were vague. Finally, I realized she was "in" my profle and wanted to "update" it. I actually had to tell this woman 5 times in a row, "DO NOT CHANGE MY INFORMATION... I PUT IT THAT WAY FOR A REASON. I can't sit here and keep talking to you about this all day.", while she kept talking. Next, I asked her to remove me from the call list, and finally had to say something like "Look I have a client walking in the office, I have to hang up now. Please remove me from you call list, as I said before." She was still talking when I hung up.

Years ago, I was racking up 4 & 5 calls a day, which were a real problem. When I enlisted the "remove me from you call list strategy", they started diminishing drastically.


I don't purchase anything from these poeple.

 

[lozzielaws]

Does your practice receive cold calls?

I get cold calls occasionally but the worst is when someone has added you to their middle-of-the-night fax blast - especially when your business is home-based and you leap out of bed!

 

[sHeENa_M]

Does your practice receive cold calls?

I receive a cold call every now and then - usually a SEO company or vitamin pusher. I use Google Voice for my business phone line. I can simply mark the caller as SPAM. I never receive a call again and when they call they get a recording stating that the number is invalid. I have also used the SPAM option for one client who was looking for a prostitute. I love Google Voice!

 

[Kat W]

Does your practice receive cold calls?

I get cold calls occasionally but the worst is when someone has added you to their middle-of-the-night fax blast - especially when your business is home-based and you leap out of bed!

Another reason to hate fax machines. I've hated them ever since I had to deal with one for my university internship. Every time, I'd complain about how scanners are more efficient, quieter, and despite popular belief, they are no less official nor any less prone to plagiarism than a fax. I did come across this article on how to use your scanner as a fax machine, but I've never owned a fax machine, nor am I planning on getting one, so I don't know how useful this is.

I receive a cold call every now and then - usually a SEO company or vitamin pusher. I use Google Voice for my business phone line. I can simply mark the caller as SPAM. I never receive a call again and when they call they get a recording stating that the number is invalid. I have also used the SPAM option for one client who was looking for a prostitute. I love Google Voice!

This is one of the reasons I promote Google Voice among friends and colleagues!