Good afternoon, 
   
  I just want to measure something here and need some objective input...
   
  Over the past several months I've received phone calls from a vendor representative (who shall remain nameless but is a large, well known office products company), and finally set up a meeting to review their products and services.  Prior to the meeting I had indicated what I was looking for, and based on this person's responses and what I found on their website, they really didn't have exactly what I wanted.  However, I agreed to meet anyway just to be sure I wasn't missing anything new and exciting.
   
  A colleague and I met with this vendor rep and all throughout the conversation, the vendor rep kept offering up services and products that we did not ask for, did not want, and were not interested in.  My colleague had to leave the meeting after an hour or so, yet the vendor continued to offer these same services and products to me even after I continued to say no thanks... perhaps I was being too nice, but doesn't no still mean no?  And how many times do I have to say no thanks before it sinks in?
   
  While I can understand bringing up complimentary services and products to a new, potential customer--after all it is a sales call, why continue to bring up these same things after said customer has already said no thanks after the first three or four times?  Not only did we say no, we even told her why we weren't interested.  Not only that, but when the vendor brought up products that we did express an interest in, she had no samples to show us. 
   
  In the interim since that meeting we've exchanged several e-mails, and while I do make my share of written mistakes, I try to at least to review and do a spell check before sending e-mail out to anyone.  This vendor rep's e-mail messages to me contained multiple misspelled words and poor sentence, grammar, and punctuation usage.
   
  Now, maybe I am getting cranky in my old age, and again, I admit to making my share of mistakes too.  However, I guess I expect more from a potential vendor who wants to do business with us.  Her aggressive nature in continuing to offer the same products and services that we kept saying no to, was irritating at best.  As a former consultant, I was especially surprised at the obvious misspellings and poor grammar coming from a vendor of this stature, as I always believed in trying to make a good impression in every communication when trying to win business.  
   
  While I understand that I have a choice in whether or not to do business with this company, I'm curious as to where you all draw the line in this kind of thing.  Would poor listening skills by a potential vendor who was unprepared for a sales call, and poor grammar and misspellings in their communications make a difference as to you?  For us, we believe that there are other options in terms of finding the products and services we're looking for, but what if the vendor was the only one--or the obvious choice?
   
  While this is not necessarily a deal breaker for me, the other consideration is if the vendor doesn't listen to us, isn't prepared, and communicates poorly at this early stage, would that be symbolic of future listening, preparation, and communications issues or problems we might expect should we decide to use their services?  Or, am I just being too picky?  
   
  Any thoughts?
   
  Thanks.
  Records Pro
   
  PS: Just fo the rekurd, I yoused spel chek sevurooal times in fixin this here e-mail kommoonication, so if'in theres any misspellins or other prablims in it please blaaame Yahue! 


Earl Johnson, Jr. 
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