Why are Minnesotan's so rude to business calls? (for sale, credit card)

[youngurbanprofessional]

I am currently in inside sales. I've handled both inside and outside sales on a national and local level. I am NOT in telemarketing, but business to business sales, and I have been very successful and built long term business relationships.

One thing distinct about Minnesota businesses is that they are somewhat unresponsive to new business over the phone and somewhat rude in certain cases. I almost feel as if they are suspicious that I'm trying to screw them over when in fact my business helps other businesses. Why is that?

One example of what I'm talking about is that many receptionists will not even allow you to talk to the person you are trying to reach. Instead of giving a specific reason of why they aren't interested, they will just repeat the same line that makes no sense, like "not interested" or "we're okay". Maybe they think they're being polite because they threw a "thank you" at the end of it, but it almost sounds passive-aggressively mean in their tone of voice when they say it.

Other parts of the country many people who are not able to use services or products will explain to you why or discuss with you some other opportunities. East coast is very straight to the point and will tell you in one sentence why it might now work, and they're very open minded. Texas will tell you their life story. California is all about it, they could care less, they work 5 hour days and are living a vacation. Maybe the cold just makes Minnesotans bitter?

Minnesotans are just very turned off and extremely skeptical of sales people. I never understood it, and I grew up and spend 23 years of my life there. Can anyone explain?

[uptown_urbanist]

I've worked in offices in CA and I sure didn't work five hour days or live in a vacation. I was usually polite to callers, but probably was unresponsive. I can tell you that at every office I've ever worked in - East Coast, Midwest, and West Coast (CA) - receptionists (or whoever got the call first) wouldn't pass along the call, because we didn't have the staff time or energy to deal with the many cold calls we were getting. It doesn't meant that the product or services offered weren't valuable or that we assumed it was a scam. I'm guessing that in many cases the receptionist that you're talking to was explicitely asked NOT to pass along those kinds of calls. It was definitely more of a "don't call us, we'll call you" type of thing. If we need something we'll go find it. I'm not saying that there aren't differences between regions or states, but from my perspective I just didn't see any real difference. Are you still actively calling people from all parts of the country, or are you concentrating only on MN right now? Given the economy it might also be that more offices are trying to do more with fewer people, and talking to vendors about unsolicited business offerings, however good, isn't a luxury most offices can afford right now.

I highly doubt that the cold makes Minnesotans bitter - more likely to be bitter are the people living in southern CA when it's a beautiful day outside, the sun is shining, the orange trees are blooming, and you're stuck inside in an overly-air conditioned office with artificial lighting!

[youngurbanprofessional]

I've been doing this for 3 years now and I've focused on MN as well as other parts of the country. I totally see a difference in MN in terms of more unresponsiveness. I do understand there are many companies that have policies in place regarding cold calls, but I just noticed more of that going on in MN than other parts of the country.

As for working full days in California, you must be getting a raw deal, I know way too many clients who tell me they rarely put in full days and they get a lot of vacation time.

[uptown_urbanist]

Originally Posted by youngurbanprofessional

As for working full days in California, you must be getting a raw deal, I know way too many clients who tell me they rarely put in full days and they get a lot of vacation time.

Maybe they just want to make you jealous, or aren't willing to give up the dream of the laid-back CA lifestyle!

Then again, I have CA friends who are working less, but in their case it's because so many companies have switched to four-day weeks or otherwise reduced hours.

Minnesotans often aren't as direct as in other places, though, and maybe that translates into the way they handle cold calls. The caller, by necessity, is direct, and that might throw some people off. I hate getting cold calls, but maybe that is the Minnesotan in me. (I do try to be polite, though - I've had to make my share of calls like that, and know what it's like to be on the other end!)

[Clifford63]

Do you really think somebody should feel obligated to provide a specific reason regarding why they are not interested? If I repeat the same answer, I start thinking the other person is rude or supid for asking the same question again.

If you get an admin that is screening, chances are they are not able to give you a specific reason, and they were specifically instructed not to let sales calls in.

B2B on the outbound phone is rather antiquated don't you think? When I need something, I do some fact finding before I reach out with the phone. If I call you, you better know what you are talking about, and you better answer the phone, and you should know I already checked up on your company. Thats how we roll in the 00.

[uptown_urbanist]

Clifford63 makes good points - saying "not interested" is NOT an answer that makes "no sense." Same thing with "we're ok." People shouldn't yell at you or be outright rude, but if you're talking rudeness it's someone being pushy and demanding an answer when there's no obligation to give one.

[golfgal]

I am having a hard time understanding why you think "not interested" is so confusing. If someone tells you they are not interested in your sales pitch, they don't want whatever you are selling. It is not rude nor confusing and it is actually very direct. They don't owe you an explanation either, simply "not interested" is more then enough.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

youngurbanprofessional; I think you learned that MN receptionists have a better nose for "commission breath". Since we don't like spicy foods, our MN noses are more sensitive than other parts of the country to peddlers; it's a regional thing.

I have 4 phone lines and I get these business calls (x4) more often all week long. (Psst; it's STILL telesales (a.k.a. telephone sales). There are only so many times you can put-up with those cold calls before you become rude. If you are nice, they keep pushing. Do you think you were the 1st person who called that was looking for "the person who makes the decision on choosing the credit card processing"???? I get a couple of those a week. If I say "I'm not interested" they push and continue to ask questions. What part of "we are not interested" is confusing? I then need to hang-up to clear the line for revenue generating customers.

Sorry youngurbanprofessional... Part of your job is to have thick skin. So to answer your question as to why Minnesotans are "so-rude". Well, maybe it is because you are rude to assume that your commission check is more important than someones that you are trying to reach.

So what are you selling on the telephone that isn't "telesales"??

[uptown_urbanist]

Maybe it is the Minnesotan in me, but if someone on the phone just keeps pushing and pushing I know for sure that I don't want to work with that person - it suggests that if we do do business with them they'll always hassle me to buy upgrades or new services, or will be out to make a buck and not to actually serve our needs. Obnoxious pushy salespeople are a real turn-off. Is that the answer you want? Your question: Why not this product? My answer: because the saleman is annoying. Rude, perhaps, but direct. Personally, I prefer the nicer (but passive?) "not interested, thank you."

[youngurbanprofessional]

I appreciate your responses, but you aren't addressing my questions. Instead you are just assuming that I'm ignorant or that I don't know what I'm doing or that I'm being too pushy.

I am NOT pitching myself to receptionists. I'm simply asking to reach someone who is in a position to make decisions in a particular area. I work for a fortune 500 company that is #1 in it's market that provides IT products and services to business on all levels. I do have thick skin, and I will say that these responses are common ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. I'm not complaining, I'm simply asking why Minnesotan's react differently.

But to say they have a nose for sales calls is sort of addressing my question, however I don't presume Minnesota receptionists to be so much smarter than the rest of the country by crediting them with "sniffing out sales calls" as I'm not trying to disguise the reason I'm calling.

Again, I'm not pitching any receptionists, they have no decision making responsibilities, I'm just simply asking to speak to someone who does. Minnesotans have just been a little more rude on the phone that other areas and are a lot less likely to get you in touch with the decision maker.

And I do not consider myself a telemarketer, I do not read a script off a piece of paper, I do not randomly dial people. I do research on companies before I contact them, I profile them as a good/bad fit for my services and potential growing client that I can actually help. I know for a fact I do way more research on my potential clients than my clients do on my company. Our info is easily and willingly provided, not all other companies are so easily researchable.

Thank you for your responses, some of you please try to answer the question.