Utilities Warehouse. Will it be cheaper or more expensive? slightly awkward situation

Quentin

easy wrote: »

A former business contact of ours, who passed a lot of business our way from his employers over the last few years, was forced to take early retirement.
We have kept in loose social contact with him.

He's become an agent (or whatever it's called) for Utilities Warehouse, and emailed us a few months ago, asking if we would be interested in changing to UW.

I wouldn't be too concerned over hurting his feelings.

In the dedicated thread you will see that we have discovered that this is their modus operandi.

They do encourage their new reps to spend hours writing down the details of everyone they can think of they know (or have known) to use as their "warm list" of contacts.

Then contact these people to sell to, using their friendship as an entry.

They also are encouraged to deceive their close friends by ringing them and telling them they have a work problem which they need help with, and could they spare some time to help them "practice" their presentation, though really they intend to sign up their friend for multiple (expensive) utilities.

http://www.networkerplus.co.uk/videos/practice-appointment-shannon-griffin.html

easy

oh, I'm not looking forward to tomorrows meeting :embarasse

espresso

easy wrote: »

oh, I'm not looking forward to tomorrows meeting :embarasse

Why? Just show that getting your gas & electricity from UW would be more expensive for you, as shown by the comparison sites price league table.

Quentin

easy wrote: »

oh, I'm not looking forward to tomorrows meeting :embarasse

Be prepared for the "Triple Value Guarantee".

It's actually worthless, but they are taught to use it as a "sales aid", to "suggest" their gas and electricity is guaranteed to be "competitive".

In fact the small print in the guarantee gets it out of ever meaning anything (it excludes any of the cheaper on line tariffs, any dual fuel discounts and fails to include their extra compulsory monthly "club" membership fee (this itself seems rarely mentioned by their reps when they sell to their friends, or the friends of friends!).

Shame these gullible spanish teachers didn't come here the day before their appointment!!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdZcBC0Kf9k

easy

I'm struggling because this gent has been such a nice guy.

I suspect he and his wife (more her than him actually), think we're raking money in at our work (not true), and we kind of owe him (which we don't).

Ooooh

espresso

easy wrote: »

I'm struggling because this gent has been such a nice guy.

If he was really such a nice guy, he would not try to rip you off i.e. make money at your expense!

:rolleyes:

easy

right I'll go and arm myself with some comparison tables now.

Quentin

easy wrote: »

I'm struggling because this gent has been such a nice guy.

I suspect he and his wife (more her than him actually), think we're raking money in at our work (not true), and we kind of owe him (which we don't).

They rely on exactly this type of relationship, and play on it. (Who would imagine that a known friend/relative/associate would come and mislead them over getting a great deal).

Here's one of their reps who got fed up with all his friends crossing over the street when they saw him coming for fear of him banging on about it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBCRZ0eZ-D4

shaznmark

I checked UW out and I too am on Virgin media with only cable connection in to my house. I am with Scottish Power for Gas & Electric so to switch to UW I would be paying approx £200 a year more. So declined at the moment and this is with my best friend. If they are really a friend they should understand. Told them when I move or can have all utilities provided by them I will look at the figures again. Good luck easy xxx

Quentin

easy wrote: »

right I'll go and arm myself with some comparison tables now.

Also be prepared for him to try out the uw "martini presentation". The big money seems to be for them to build their team by recruiting others.

If they can manage to do this presentation to anyone they are taught there are only 3 possible outcomes:

1. "Yes". All you have to do now is complete the paperwork.

2. "I would like to think about it." This is what you say: "I understand that it's not the speed of the decision that counts but the accuracy of the decision that's important. So as part of your investigation it would make sense to trial the services (show the guarantees again in the brochure whilst you're saying this) wouldn't it (nod head). Your friend agrees. You complete the paperwork.

3. "It's not for me." You say this. Thanks for your honesty but if you consider our guarantees (show them in the brochure while your saying this) it would make sense for you to save some money wouldn't it? (nod your head). Your contact agrees and you complete the paperwork.

Forewarned is forearmed!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3343604748168979446