I sell cars.
I like what I do, and my perspective's pretty good. A friend once said "Remember, this is making a living, not making a life."
But every now and then...
Here's how my end of the business works:
Someone, somewhere, goes online and searches for a Ford. They find it at my dealership. They have to provide contact information (not my fault) in order to get all the information on the vehicle. They can provide faulty information (such as a phone number like 555-555-5555--this happens a lot). But, if they provide accurate information we call that "capturing customer information".
And they-can-expect-a-phone-call-from-me. It's a lock.
And I'll call more than once, because my policy is to contact them until they "buy or die". But I digress.
I got a lead from the Interweb, emailed the guy, then followed up with a phone call. Here's the ringtone:
(Music Playing)....God of wonders beyond our galaxy, you are Holy, you are Holy.
He didn't answer, so I left a message, and in it I said how much I liked his ringtone.
Now, fast forward. I never got him to answer, and I don't bother folks with incessant phone calls and emails. But I do call periodically.
I left him another message last Saturday morning, and that afternoon (while with a REAL customer) my phone rings.
It was...him.
"Is this Randy Berry?" Yes, sir, it is.
"Randy Berry?" Yes, sir, it is. Still.
"This is ____" Yes sir, how can I help you?
"STOP BLOWIN' UP MY PHONE. YOU'D THINK AFTER A WHILE YOU'D HAVE ENOUGH COMMON SENSE TO KNOW IF I HAVEN'T RETURNED YOUR CALLS I'M NOT BUYIN' ANYTHING!"
At this point, quick on my feet as I am, I remembered the ringtone. So I asked him...
"Where do you go to church?"
He stumbled around, mumbled something, and I took advantage of the moment.
"I just wanted to know where you went to church. It's obvious that you're a Christian since you have that worship song playing as your ringtone. Do you talk to everybody the way you just talked to me, or is it just car salesmen?"
He hung up.
What have we learned here today? If you're going to wear your religion on your sleeve, or bumper, or cell phone, you better either live up to the gospel you say you believe or be prepared to be called out on it.
Maybe he should change his ringtone to the soundtrack from "The Jerk."
