Comments on: A true story http://www.lynxpoint.com/wordpress/2006/08/17/a-true-story/ Are you with me? Sat, 02 Jan 2010 09:32:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: jacquilynne http://www.lynxpoint.com/wordpress/2006/08/17/a-true-story/comment-page-1/#comment-3577 jacquilynne Sat, 26 Aug 2006 20:18:46 +0000 http://www.lynxpoint.com/wordpress/2006/08/17/a-true-story/#comment-3577 Because for the people on whom telemarketing actually works, the name is a personal connection that helps make the sale. It seems stupid to you - but you're smart enough not to buy things from people who call you on the phone. The slightly lonely and slightly befuddled people that these calls actually work on, though, appreciate getting to know Jack. Even on inbound calls like customer service you usually get names. It helps make things more personable and gives the customer some way to identify the person if the call goes sour. Because for the people on whom telemarketing actually works, the name is a personal connection that helps make the sale. It seems stupid to you – but you’re smart enough not to buy things from people who call you on the phone. The slightly lonely and slightly befuddled people that these calls actually work on, though, appreciate getting to know Jack.

Even on inbound calls like customer service you usually get names. It helps make things more personable and gives the customer some way to identify the person if the call goes sour.

]]> By: Amy http://www.lynxpoint.com/wordpress/2006/08/17/a-true-story/comment-page-1/#comment-3535 Amy Tue, 22 Aug 2006 16:19:34 +0000 http://www.lynxpoint.com/wordpress/2006/08/17/a-true-story/#comment-3535 True, Jacquilynne, and that's a slightly less bizarre practice, I guess—if I were a call center employee, I don't think I'd want anyone to know my real name either. :) Which sort of raises the question of why these people use their names at all. It's not like it matters; having a name, real or fake, to attach to the voice, doesn't make sales calls any less annoying. But that's a whole nother story, I guess. True, Jacquilynne, and that’s a slightly less bizarre practice, I guess—if I were a call center employee, I don’t think I’d want anyone to know my real name either. :) Which sort of raises the question of why these people use their names at all. It’s not like it matters; having a name, real or fake, to attach to the voice, doesn’t make sales calls any less annoying. But that’s a whole nother story, I guess.

]]> By: jacquilynne http://www.lynxpoint.com/wordpress/2006/08/17/a-true-story/comment-page-1/#comment-3533 jacquilynne Tue, 22 Aug 2006 14:18:00 +0000 http://www.lynxpoint.com/wordpress/2006/08/17/a-true-story/#comment-3533 It's worth noting that most call center employees who aren't in India still don't use their real names. If some white guy with a perfect mid-western accent was calling from Peoria and told you his name was Jack Anderson, it's at least as likely that it was Rajeev Gupta than that it was actually Jack Anderson. It’s worth noting that most call center employees who aren’t in India still don’t use their real names. If some white guy with a perfect mid-western accent was calling from Peoria and told you his name was Jack Anderson, it’s at least as likely that it was Rajeev Gupta than that it was actually Jack Anderson.

]]> By: Philip http://www.lynxpoint.com/wordpress/2006/08/17/a-true-story/comment-page-1/#comment-3473 Philip Fri, 18 Aug 2006 21:16:00 +0000 http://www.lynxpoint.com/wordpress/2006/08/17/a-true-story/#comment-3473 A person could probably blog non-stop with examples of ever-creepier corporate practices. And it's funny -- in a way your story isn't even really worth an eye-bat. But on the other hand, it's symptomatic of everything that's depressing and spiritually crippling about the world we live in today. A person could probably blog non-stop with examples of ever-creepier corporate practices. And it’s funny — in a way your story isn’t even really worth an eye-bat. But on the other hand, it’s symptomatic of everything that’s depressing and spiritually crippling about the world we live in today.

]]> By: Amy http://www.lynxpoint.com/wordpress/2006/08/17/a-true-story/comment-page-1/#comment-3469 Amy Fri, 18 Aug 2006 17:38:05 +0000 http://www.lynxpoint.com/wordpress/2006/08/17/a-true-story/#comment-3469 So is it supposed to be some big secret that call center jobs are outsourced to India? 'Cause if it is, the secrecy thing ain't working. :) So is it supposed to be some big secret that call center jobs are outsourced to India? ‘Cause if it is, the secrecy thing ain’t working. :)

]]> By: Jamie http://www.lynxpoint.com/wordpress/2006/08/17/a-true-story/comment-page-1/#comment-3468 Jamie Fri, 18 Aug 2006 16:24:23 +0000 http://www.lynxpoint.com/wordpress/2006/08/17/a-true-story/#comment-3468 I get the impression that those phone reps aren't supposed to talk about India, either. Once I started asking a guy where he was calling from (Bombay, he reluctantly said) and what his first language was (Gujarati), and he seemed to get very nervous and wanted to change the subject. Which is a pity, because I'd much rather talk about India than hear the spiel he was supposed to be giving me. I get the impression that those phone reps aren’t supposed to talk about India, either. Once I started asking a guy where he was calling from (Bombay, he reluctantly said) and what his first language was (Gujarati), and he seemed to get very nervous and wanted to change the subject. Which is a pity, because I’d much rather talk about India than hear the spiel he was supposed to be giving me.

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