How to detect a toxic customer

Re:How to detect a toxic customer by jules on Thursday December 09, 2010 @10:28AM (#1987755)

Why not simply tell the truth and ask for a discount on a large volume? Somebody gives a discount for somebody's daughter because he thinks it's nice thing to do, somebody gives a discount for large volume because he thinks that it's a good business decision. Hence, you might get your discount for your daughter, but not for the large volume.

Lying about it seems wrong and stupid.

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Re:How to detect a toxic customer by kls on Thursday December 09, 2010 @11:16AM (#1987942)

I never said I lied and please don't call me stupid, there are other sites for less than civil discourse.

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Re:How to detect a toxic customer by jonknee on Thursday December 09, 2010 @11:22AM (#1987962)

What else can you call it when you're buying a commercial site license and start the sales process trying to guilt someone into helping your daughter?

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Re:How to detect a toxic customer by kls on Thursday December 09, 2010 @11:27AM (#1987981)

I never tried to guilt anyone into anything. I made a simple request and the intentions for that purchase was to do just what I stated. Please don't put words in my mouth or add your perceptions to my story I never guilted anyone into anything. My request was simple "I would like to buy your pro version at the basic rate for educational purposes". He was free to say yes or no.

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Re:How to detect a toxic customer by earl on Thursday December 09, 2010 @06:45PM (#1989810)

Dude, you used a story about your daughter, etc, to try and get a discount on the license. The vendor said no. That's fine, and if he or she was rude as you mentioned above, that's worth taking into account -- there's no need for the vendor to say more than, "No thanks, we don't do discounts except for educational institutions, etc. Our basic version should fully support your needs."

However, two points: (1) it's perfectly reasonable for the vendor to think you're trying to scam him out of his or her higher priced, higher capability software; and (2), using this as a proxy of whether he or she will be flexible and helpful on a larger order is stupid. Because you entered the door as a cut rate single license purchaser, and used that as a proxy to evaluate the vendor providing bulk services.

I've sold highly priced consulting services, and people who want cheap shit get directed elsewhere because that's not what I do. If you need help for a couple hours and want a discount, the answer is of course not. If you want 100 hours and want a discount, the answer is of course. The vendor is in an obviously parallel position.

Edit: you in fact just said the vendor was dismissive. ie you got butthurt because he or she didn't want to give something valuable away for free for a one off. Who quite possibly was a scammer. And you appear to be pissy because someone else didn't want to subsidize your parenting. Sigh.

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Re:How to detect a toxic customer by kls on Thursday December 09, 2010 @11:41PM (#1990643)

using this as a proxy of whether he or she will be flexible and helpful on a larger order is stupid. Because you entered the door as a cut rate single license purchaser, and used that as a proxy to evaluate the vendor providing bulk services.

http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/vanhalen.asp You can embed a lot of reason into a non-standard request. Some times it can serve as an indication as to attention to detail. We can argue the merits, but it has worked for me and it is not uncommon. The above link is probably the mother of all non-standard requests and it served a very specific purpose. I think there is value in it, as well there are several renowned, well respected and published negotiators who lend credibility to effectiveness of the practice.

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