Question

[Elky]

I know you are all extremely busy and usually inundated with suppliers trying to contact you in one way or another, either phone, email, post etc.

My question to you all is...

What is the best way to contact you if a supplier is canvassing for new business?

Obviously IT resellers are always looking to add to their existing customer base but with so many of us out there, it's understandable that you guys can get annoyed!

We adopt a few different approaches. We send a small brochure 3 times a year to most schools in the country. We also send a weekly e-mail with special offers on and also call potential customers for a chat to try and win the customer over for a chance to quote. We also get a lot of our new customers coming to us because they have been recommended by an existing customer.

Do any of the above options annoy you and which would you say is best for us to avoid?

Your comments would be appreciated.

Regards


Dan Whittaker
SCL Online

[mrforgetful]

Not by posting on a Forum?

Actually I'll be more helpful.

If a supplier contact me I'm immediately not interested. I'll not now ever go to the link in your signature.

If I need that's completely new and different or something I'll look for it on Google etc.

If it's something similar to what I've had before I'll go to my regular suppliers first, I know they'll be cheap for me and are nearly all local with fast delivery times.

I'm not bothered about saving the odd couple of pounds searching or trying anywhere when I'm satisfied with the prices and service I already receive. It's just not worth the effort when I already have trusted cheap people anyway.

[Netman]

Cold calls always seem to interupt me at a bad time so not usually a good idea from my point of view... email or letter is always fair enough as long as there is an unsubscribe facility....
The problem being that most suppliers seems to think they offer the best price/service but in reality the prices are usually very similar and if you have had no issues with your current suppliers then what reason is there to change and/or try another one?
The only time I use a new supplier is if they are extremely competitive on price or they have stock I can't get from my usual places... both of which hardly ever happen.

[Netman]

Not my posting on a Forum?

I disagree - I think it's a valid place and a good question to ask.... if more suppliers did this sort of research into thier potential customer base they'd get more respect from me....

[plexer]

I'm quite open to using other suplpiers however ones that ring me every week really annoy me especially if I've asked them not too.

Email is good so I can read it and reply to it when I want.

If a supplier contact me I'm immediately not interested. I'll not now ever go to the link in your signature.

You could say that he didn't contact you directly and you didn't have to read the post so I think your comment was a bit harsh.

Ben

[Vegas]

Get a box at Man Utd and then give me an invite a couple of time a year and I may do business with you!

[Elky]

Thanks guys, your comments are useful. We aren't in the business of trying to annoy people so forgive me if you aren't happy with my post. We just want to gauge the best way to win new business without annoying people like yourselves.

All comments and suggestions are always welcome

Regards

Dan

[Elky]

Get a box at Man Utd and then give me an invite a couple of time a year and I may do business with you!

Will a seat in the Milton End at Fratton Park do? 8O

ps. We have your boys at the weekend. I hope I am on here on Monday to gloat.

[plexer]

Evesham supposedly have a box or something at Rockingham.

Ben

[Netman]

I'm holding out for tickets to the US Masters at Augusta...

[webman]

Don't call school's asking for the "IT people", "IT manager" or "IT purchaser" - we turn these down immediately and our receptionist helps with this. Send us information via fax or post and we'll look at it.

We also get asked a lot if we have any big projects in the near future where we're likely to spend money. This answer is always no - if and when we do, we will research options ourselves - sometimes ones that are sent via fax or post

[mark]

Makes me wanna puke to be honest - your question and your sig - in fact I think that's a cheap way to tout for business.

[bossman]

I have to say mark that i find your tone towards outside manafacturers and suppliers seems a little to be desired, i know that these people who annoy us at times can be a preverbial but I have to admire the mans tack he has approached our profession the best way he can and that is to ask us. I think you probably owe the young man an apology for your seemingly lack of courtesy, what do you say mark?

[Sylv3r]

I always prefer to find my own companies myself in the past as generally the day to day sales pitches are no better then companies I reguarly use. As has already been said, the pushier the sales caller is the less likely I am to use them even with the offer of super duper high specification everlasting free toners.

If I am in need for something and my regular supplier is unable to source it I would rather do the research and find a company that can. In my opinion theres too many shoddy companies out there who I understand they are just earning a living but at the end of the day they are cheating themselves as its their taxes that are going on either a bad service or overly priced equipment.

[bossman]

Sylv3r: I fully agree with what you say and there are shoddy companies out there but to treat someone with a lack of professional respect shows us that we are no better than them.
Are we ourselves not above this kind of treatment to other people?, are we not intelligent enough to winkle out the good from the bad and then use the good suppliers. In this way the pushy underhand suppliers get a raw deal but i thought that Dan Whittaker came across as polite in his manner so should we not afford him the same courtesy?