An enjoyable telemarketing-type call

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Last night I received a phone call from the alumni office of my alma mater, Kent State University, and I knew I was in for a treat. These are the most enjoyable fundraising calls I ever get. Maybe (HA! no maybe about it) I lead a sad and lonely life, but whoever set out the guidelines for these calls is a marketing genius…I’m starting to look forward to them! This was the second one I’ve received, and I’m so upset that I have absolutely no money to shower upon KSU.

Now some of the conversation stretches my credulity a bit (student get leukemia freshman year and still pursues a double major in two demanding fields) but they are informational (there is some sort of video-conferencing plan that allowed her to continue to “attend” classes even when she was unable to attend due to her illness), chatty, friendly and helpful. They ask you about your experiences at Kent, when was the last time you visited, have you seen the new rec center, and they really listen to your answers. They seem to have no script, and they really are in no hurry to move on.

When I told the girl upfront (after she had asked a few questions about whether I had found work in my major field) that I was too poor to contribute anything, she told me that wasn’t important, but was there anything she could help me with? She gave me information on scholarship opportunities for my daughter, and some new programs for renewing my teaching certificate, and the phone number and website address for appyling for a grant. If i hadn’t had to cut it short to get to the bathroom, I’m sure we would have chatted for another fifteen minutes. The first call I got like this lasted a half-hour as we discussed where I lived on campus and what new buildings have gone up.

She never actually got around to asking for money this time because I told her upfront I was poor. The last time, she got to that point in the conversation, but was so very low-key about it and understanding when I said no that I almost missed what they wanted money for. Maybe they are hiring the drama majors to do this job, but they are good at it. I’ve added Kent to my mental list of who gets money when I win the lottery. Too bad I can’t afford a ticket.

Has anyone else gotten a fundraising call like this, where they didn’t seem to care about the money??

2

kittenblue that does sound neat. I wish my alma mater (University of Georgia) was that subtle in their approach. Course, if UGA could get away with it I’m sure they’d threaten to send a couple of “da boys” around to rearrange my anatomy unless I pledged a gift. They once even asked if I had ever considered naming UGA as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy! :eek: (How sad, ol’ swampbear “accidentally” drowned last night, but look at this nice insurance policy made out to us.)

3

Well, considering I haven’t given them a cent since 1979, and they must mail me stuff twice a month, I too am shocked by their tactics. You’d think they’d at least want to get postage out of me. Add to that the fact that my sister-in-law also gets mail from them in my name (too confusing to explain) and you’re talking some serious coin. But they seem happy just to chat about what dorm I lived in and which was my favorite dining hall.

4

I got a call from a fellow selling magazines once. I could tell right away he was your typical telemarketer. He sounded older, liek a the grandpa type. He was really friendly. He explained first that he was a volunteer worker, he wasn’t getting paid to call me. He told me he was a luekemia (sp?) patient, who had plenty of money to cover his medical costs, but he was calling to get charity for those who can’t. I spent about 20 min with him talking abotu what kinds of magazines they had that I would like. I eventually came upon one that I was in need to renew anyway, and they offered me a price that was half of what I would have paid normally. It was a great deal, and he was a great salesman.