A new set of sales dweebs appeared at my doorstep a few days ago, attempting to shill more Rogers services to me (if someone can point me towards a NO SOLICITORS sign cheap I’d appreciate it). The way I was spoken to was rudeness personified.
The two young folk, addressed me by my actual name (no unfortunately they did not call me Big Cajun Man), and asked me how I was doing, I said fine, and gave my best, Can you please get on with wasting my time look. The sales team consisted of a young lady and a portly young lad who seemed to be the mouth piece of the duo. He asked me about how I enjoyed my Rogers services, so I ranted about the overcharging game they play with their Internet Access products, and the young man smiled, but never really addressed my concerns.
The young man then made a classic sales blunder, that this generation of sales folks never seems to grasp, which is, if your customer is old enough to be your Father, do not address him as either:
- Dude
- Stud
- By his First Name (before they say it’s OK)
- Friend -or-
- My Man
I am very old fashioned, and anyone who is the age of one of my kids addressing me with one of those colloquialisms, is the ultimate in terms of rudeness, and guarantees that this sales person will not be making a sale to me. If this young salesperson had thought about it, he should have started with Sir , and if I had then said, “Call me C8j or Mr. Big…” then become more familiar, but leaping to My Man as your title for your customer is just a loser 10 times out of 10.
I know that I am a sadistic bastard (another colloquialism I occasionally answer to) once I have decided I dislike a salesperson or their product, and I will then let them ramble around, give them as little information as possible, and then when they throw their sales pitch I answer with a quick, “No Thank You”, and will start closing the door on them. I must admit I did this and then the young gentleman continued blundering along and asked, “Can I ask you why not, My Man?”.
Once you have addressed me in an inappropriate manner and then insulted me with a crap deal, please don’t feel that I will follow any normal rules of engagement (i.e. I feel that I no longer need to be polite with you), and I will start to create complete fabrications about why your offer is a load of festering canine feces. I went on for a short period about how I had gotten a much better deal with Rogers through their phone center (which is true) and that I am a former Bell employee and get a great deal on all other services (a fabrication). I then said, “Thank you and have a good night”, and started to close the door.
“Wait, my man…”, my portly adversary blurted again as the door started to close. I gave an inquisitive look which hopefully suggested he now was at the level of the bacteria that causes cold sores, but he then thanked me for listening and he and his sidekick left with their tails between their legs.
My question is this, am I just too old fashioned to be assuming that someone who is at least 1/2 my age might address me with some level of respect? If you are dealing with your elders should you address them as Sir or Ma’am, or is it just the way things are that a door to door shill can address you with whatever odd colloquialism they wish? I guess I was lucky he didn’t call me Big Dude, or Home Boy?
Opinions?
Oh and if you have pieces of metal sticking out of parts of your face (other than your ear lobes) or have a really bitchin’ tatoo on your arm, please don’t knock on my door (yup, that bugs me too).
I use “Sir” so often, some people might be offended.
I address my two boys as “Gentlemen”. Actually I address any group of boys as “Gentlemen”, even at times when I should be addressing them with a cat-o-nine tails. There are people who get rankled if you call them “Sir” or “Ma’am”. The ones who say “My dad was ‘Sir’, my name is Bud,” will usually forgive you though.
If you call me by my first name, I will have a different reaction to the author though. I will start to wonder if I should know you, which may be what they want. If I think I have forgotten who you are, maybe I will treat you better for my mistake..