What will you do when a salesman outright lies to you

[Larry_OHF]

Having taken some marketing classes, I understand that sales fluffery is legal and accepted in the sales business. However, what about outright lies?

I have Time Warner Cable that supplies me with Internet, Digital Phone and Basic Cable TV, all for $105.11. (Basic serice=$7.69, Internet=$44.95, Phone=$44.95, Tax=$7.52).

Yesterday, this guy came to the door from TWC and said that prices would be going up on everybody (I was supposed to receive a letter about it) by $10.00 and that would mean that I would pay $17.69 for basic service. (Basic service is the same as antenna channels). He said that the Standard package (includes triple the channels) would therefore cost $59.00, but that if I signed up now for the upgrade, I would only pay $34.00 per month to get the Standard upgdrade. His sales pitch, therefore, was that it would be more economically sound to pay the $34 upgrade since it is closer to $17.69 than it would be to stay with Basic or later decide I wanted Standard and end up paying market value.

Whatever. I told him to call back next week when I would have had time to "think it over".

My "thinking it over" was to call Customer Service and ask them if what I was told was true, but the lady knew nothing of a price hike and told me that it sounded insane. I then called the Director of Marketing and left a message on the voice mail to complain that I felt I had been lied to. I cannot wait to get a call back so I can bury this salesman.

[SpiritWarrior]

Oh nice. Take no prisoners!

[Mack_Attack]

WOW that is low. Good call on waiting. and then exposing that rat.

[ 03-23-2007, 12:04 PM: Message edited by: Mack_Attack ]

[Bungleau]

Really? TWC is sending people out on foot to try to sell upgrade packages?

For some reason, I don't think so, Tim. I suspect you were nearly the victim of a scam (trusting soul that I am [img]smile.gif[/img] ).

Next time he shows up, get proof of his employment with TWC (he should have a valid employee badge) and make sure to get whatever he offers in writing, including the expiration date. You can bet that if that $34 package is legit, it won't be around forever.

And be sure to lock your doors and such every time you go out or to sleep. He may have been casing the area, too....

[Larry_OHF]

Originally posted by Bungleau: Really? TWC is sending people out on foot to try to sell upgrade packages? For some reason, I don't think so, Tim. I suspect you were nearly the victim of a scam (trusting soul that I am [img]smile.gif[/img] ). Next time he shows up, get proof of his employment with TWC (he should have a valid employee badge) and make sure to get whatever he offers in writing, including the expiration date. You can bet that if that $34 package is legit, it won't be around forever. And be sure to lock your doors and such every time you go out or to sleep. He may have been casing the area, too....

Oh, he's for real. I did not mention (because I did not think I needed to) that I have his business card and have already checked his name out with Customer Service at the local office. The lady recognized his name and told me who his boss was. That was how I left the voice mail.

Yes, TWC apparently does send out people to sale "upgrades".

And you can call me Larry. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Bungleau]

Interesting that he's legit. More interesting that no one else knows what's going on. Prepare to be taken advantage of...

And as for the name, apparently you haven't watched enough Home Improvement, Larry... [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Captain Obvious]

Or, when he comes around again, invite him in (but keep an eye on him) and ring the customer service place when he is there... ask about it, and when they say they know nothing about it, tell them you have one of thier salespeople sitting right in front of you....

also, make a video, it would be great if we all got to see the guy squirm!

[Larry_OHF]

It has ended.

Today, I was called by the guy's manager who, after telling him what I understood the sales pitch to be, apologized and assured me that since this guy is fairly new, he must of misunderstood the training meeting last week where they were asking their salesmen to go out and sale an upgrade using specific information such as a temporary $10 off the cost of retail for the first 24 months and then it would go back up to the retail cost. He was very glad that I contacted him to let him know that this guy did not get his notes right in the training and would ask him later today about what it was that he was telling people so that he could clear up the confusion, or chastise him for lies if he was indeed lying to customers.

It looks like this salesman just did not understand what he was being told or took poor notes.

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

That, or the manager was lying to you or making excuses... I wouln't have to take notes to remember "$10 off the cost of retail for the first 24 months", and if I didn't, I certainly wouldn't believe it was some nonsense about upgrades and $17.69.

But hey, maybe I'm just being cynical.

[Larry_OHF]

Originally posted by Illumina Drathiran'ar: That, or the manager was lying to you or making excuses... I wouln't have to take notes to remember "$10 off the cost of retail for the first 24 months", and if I didn't, I certainly wouldn't believe it was some nonsense about upgrades and $17.69. But hey, maybe I'm just being cynical.

No, I understand what you're saying. It seems like a newbie would pay even more attention than the veterans who feel that their own manner of sales is better than those of the manager. I too had suspicions that the manager was just "defusing" a disgruntled client by any means necessary. I'd have done the same thing.