Call in the next 10 minutes!

[Dignan]

I've seen ads for the usual crap that runs on TV and have noticed that fairly recently the ad will say "call in the next __ minutes and we'll throw in . . . "

I doubt that there's any way that it can be checked if you actually call in "X" amount of minutes. I'm guessing the only reason this is done is because they figure if you go longer than "X" amount of minutes then you'll forget. Either way you're going to get the "bonus" they just want you to call in before you forget.

Am I right?

[Diletante]

Yes.

[Daemon]

It's the same concept.

If you leave the premise without buying it's a given fact: you won't be back. That's simple Salesmanship 101. (C) Daemon 2001

As far as the infomercial, if you call back after the time limit and ask for the freebie they will always come through, because the whole deal still makes money for them and isn't worth the cost to you, anyway.

[Commander Fortune]

I have worked in a call center for a number of years.

Companies that are using infomercials to reach the public typically use outsourced call centers to handle client response. To best use contract labor the number of operators needs to match projected call volumes, so customers are encouraged or offered an incentive to call within a certain time frame related to the airing of the infomercials. Although, they may honor the same offer regardless of when you call, it helps group the call flow and maximize call center resources keeping end cost lower.

[Balthisar]

Originally posted by Daemon
It's the same concept.

If you leave the premise without buying it's a given fact: you won't be back. That's simple Salesmanship 101. (C) Daemon 2001

As far as the infomercial, if you call back after the time limit and ask for the freebie they will always come through, because the whole deal still makes money for them and isn't worth the cost to you, anyway.

Slight hijack here (sorry)...

Of the six cars I've bought at dealers, I've NEVER stayed to complete a deal without having previously arrived and left. Granted, when shopping around there are dealers I never returned to, but of the six that I DID return to, I always bought a vehicle.

Surely I can't be the ONLY person in the world that doesn't buy a car on impulse or on the dealer's insistance?

[Yarster]

Building on that hijack, I'd have to agree. In fact, I ALWAYS make sure the car dealer lets me walk (i.e. even if he tries and stops me I lower the price) so I know his break point. Then I see if anyone else with the same car has a lower break point.

Whoever has the lowest, I come back to and give me business. Yes, the salespeople think I'm an asshole, and no, I'm not going to pay several hundred dollars more than I have to just to impress some total stranger.