Sales and the art of the return phonecall
Aug. 23rd, 2004 12:56 pmI want to buy something.
Specifically, I want to buy a Behringer Ultracoustic acoustic guitar amp, and a Behringer Bass V-Amp effects unit.
Since I'm in London, and Digital Village are a 5 min detour on the way home, let's try there first. They have the Bass V-Amp on the website at £108.99, no sign of the Ultracoustic. I phone at 10:13. Bloke says he's not sure if they have a Bass V-Amp in stock, will check how soon they can get an Ultracoustic in, and will call me back in 10 mins.
Being of a more than averagely charitable disposition for a Monday, I give him till half past eleven before I try the Guitar Amp and Keyboard Centre, who have an Ultracoustic listed on their website at £229, but no Bass V-Amp (despite having the Bass V-Amp Pro). I call at 11:33, get redirected to their pre-sales line, who tries to put me through to their guitar department, who aren't answering the phone. So he leaves a note for them to call me back.
By 12:30 (see how I get less charitable as the morning wears on) I have trawled the web for everyone who can sell me both, and (after falling about laughing at the folks who'd apparently sell me the pair for £400 quid!!!!) I take Clive's advice and call Sound Control in London at 12:28. The bloke there is pretty sure he has a Bass V-Amp in, will check with his boss about the Ultracoustic, but isn't hopeful, promises to call me back.
At 12:40 the phone rings. It's.,..
...the bloke from Sound Control. He has a Bass V-Amp in, mine for £99. I compliment him on being better than his competition in one crucial respect, namely that he now has a sale, and they don't. He's so chuffed, he ships it to me for nothing. He isn't sure how soon he can get an Ultracoustic, and isn't willing to take my money till he is, but keeps a note of my number.
[Update]
16:23 Pat from GAK calls while I'm driving home, leaves voice mail and apologises for not calling back sooner. 16:40, get home and call him back. They have an Ultracoustic in stock, so DV lose out. Again.
There's a moral or two in here somewhere. :)
Specifically, I want to buy a Behringer Ultracoustic acoustic guitar amp, and a Behringer Bass V-Amp effects unit.
Since I'm in London, and Digital Village are a 5 min detour on the way home, let's try there first. They have the Bass V-Amp on the website at £108.99, no sign of the Ultracoustic. I phone at 10:13. Bloke says he's not sure if they have a Bass V-Amp in stock, will check how soon they can get an Ultracoustic in, and will call me back in 10 mins.
Being of a more than averagely charitable disposition for a Monday, I give him till half past eleven before I try the Guitar Amp and Keyboard Centre, who have an Ultracoustic listed on their website at £229, but no Bass V-Amp (despite having the Bass V-Amp Pro). I call at 11:33, get redirected to their pre-sales line, who tries to put me through to their guitar department, who aren't answering the phone. So he leaves a note for them to call me back.
By 12:30 (see how I get less charitable as the morning wears on) I have trawled the web for everyone who can sell me both, and (after falling about laughing at the folks who'd apparently sell me the pair for £400 quid!!!!) I take Clive's advice and call Sound Control in London at 12:28. The bloke there is pretty sure he has a Bass V-Amp in, will check with his boss about the Ultracoustic, but isn't hopeful, promises to call me back.
At 12:40 the phone rings. It's.,..
...the bloke from Sound Control. He has a Bass V-Amp in, mine for £99. I compliment him on being better than his competition in one crucial respect, namely that he now has a sale, and they don't. He's so chuffed, he ships it to me for nothing. He isn't sure how soon he can get an Ultracoustic, and isn't willing to take my money till he is, but keeps a note of my number.
[Update]
16:23 Pat from GAK calls while I'm driving home, leaves voice mail and apologises for not calling back sooner. 16:40, get home and call him back. They have an Ultracoustic in stock, so DV lose out. Again.
There's a moral or two in here somewhere. :)