1

Maybe it isn’t right to comment, but I wonder if it has been addressed. I keep getting phone calls from sales people following up on my Spiceworks contest entries. It’s become such a nuisance I had to use my Google voice number for entries (which I never answer). The contest forms state they may contact via email nothing about phone calls.

26 Spice ups
2

It really depends on the company on whether I will take a call or not,

Usually I just inform them that I would rather correspond via email since that is the way I do with most of my users. They are usually very happy to comply since I’m sure they get a lot of angry “dont call me!” and “no sales calls”

Then if I decide I am not interested in the product I can always blacklist the emails at a later time…

3

A number of the entry forms say they may contact you by checking this box. Most that ask for phone number actually say phone contact.

1 Spice up
4

Advise sales to stop calling.

When they call again, tell them again.

When they call again, ask for their manager.

When they call again, escalate to the VP of sales.

I haven’t had to go beyond that level yet.

3 Spice ups
5

To be honest, I would never give any legitimate contact info out for any contest/prize… I enter some the contests here and provide my SW name and company name… If more info than that is “required”, no worries… I never expected to win in the first place… If I do magically win something, they can let me know here - and I may even pay better attention to the vendor, though I have very little say in “vendors”.

1 Spice up
6

No 1 this is how Spiceworks stays free. I will talk with some of them because there may be some information I could use. Otherwise I just tell them I only filled info out for the contest not interested in their product/service at this time. I have only had someone call back multiple times twice.

11 Spice ups
7

I’m with Micah978. These vendors help make and keep Spiceworks free. It also costs them money to give things away for these contests. I’m OK with them contacting me, and I just politely tell them I only filled out/attended for a contest or general information and I will keep their contact information but have no desire to move forward further

2 Spice ups
8

It is slightly annoying but I understand that they are just trying to build up their business and I did agree to the contact. The really frustrating part to me is when I do speak with them and let them know that I have no say in vendors they start getting very persistent that I need to supply them with my bosses name so they can speak to him. I would get fired if I ever did something stupid like giving out his contact information. Even when I tell them that I only gave them my information for a chance to win the contest they still keep going with their sales pitch. All this for the chance to win some swag. Totally worth it!

1 Spice up
9

I flat out tell them ‘I just wanted the swag’

They get it and take me off the list.

3 Spice ups
10

I don’t mind the email contact, but I have to expect the phone calls if I am entering their contest. I generally don’t enter a contest if I am not interested in the product so that our awesome receptionist doesn’t have to deal with the call traffic.

1 Spice up
11

The only reason that contests are offered is so that vendors can get a contact list to reach out to for the purpose of making a sale. By engaging with the vendors, you are making it worth their while to offer up a $200 Amazon card or an XBox or whatever.

4 Spice ups
12

I agree with Buz, if I’m not interested in the product being sold I don’t enter the contest even if the prize is cool. I also agree with Micah, I realize that I will likely be contacted and I expect this.

Fortunately we recently implemented DID lines so any inbound calls go straight to my desk instead of through the receptionist, and I can answer or not.

13

And justifying the resources spent by engaging with the community in the first place.

2 Spice ups
14

I don’t answer the phone unless i recognize the number. I had one vendor spoof our main line…that guy got an earful

1 Spice up
15

So far I haven’t run into this problem. The vendors here on spiceworks are typically very courteous.
If I ever do get such a person call me, I plan to hang up and call the company direct and submit a complaint about that particular sales person. I’m fairly certain that legitimate businesses do NOT want people to get put off by a sales rep being so annoying. That won’t get sales. That will normally make people stay AWAY from that company.

16

I don’t do any of the contests. That being said, I have to wonder just how effective these contests are at generating qualified leads. I had a meeting the other day with a company owner and the CIO of the company that is acquiring them. This CIO was impressive. Worked his way up over the course of the last 20 years or so. He’s the architect of what sounds like quite a network, 1 to 10 IT staff to end user ratio, and the company is doing well. This guy is a decision maker. I don’t see him entering contests.

I think the green guys are probably more effective. You’re having this problem? Our product can solve that. Big fan of the green guys/girls :slight_smile:

17

I never give a real number, all my other details are correct just not telephone. And if its a company i know spam calls then i don’t enter. There was a great comp the other day but the company hosting it are dreadful at calling you every 5 minutes so i just walked away.

18

I have an “IT Marketing” number set up in our system. It will ring my desk phone a few times so I can answer if I want to (goes nowhere near my softphones), then gets dumped to voicemail. I do listen to the voicemails, and have called back if I’m interested.

19

If you don’t give out your contact info, you’re not legitimately entering the contest. Think of it as the price of entry.

People like you will discourage vendors from offering prizes.

5 Spice ups
20

I started getting lots of vendor phone calls, which especially sucks for me since I work nights. That’s the reason I started giving out my Google Voice number for SW contests. It doesn’t ring my phone, but I do get notifications, and will check any voicemails left. I have zero problem with email contact though; just don’t call me.

1 Spice up