Too Busy to Take My Money?

I called a vendor (name and city of origin to remain anonymous) to inquire about hiring them. Actually, to be more precise, I called and emailed a vendor many times at the request of a client who wanted me to use said vendor on a project. The budget was several thousand dollars–not tens of thousands, but enough so you’d notice it on a monthly balance sheet.

In case the vendor wasn’t getting my calls and emails, I checked with his receptionist to make sure the vendor was in the office–she said the vendor indeed was, then transferred me to the vendor’s extension. I left a message.

Long story short, after entreaties for a call (or email) back over a span of two weeks, I gave up and hired a different vendor.

Not sure if it was me (not everybody likes everybody), a busy schedule or what, but the vendor’s inaction lost my business–and my client’s–probably forever.

I don’t get it. Had the vendor just returned the communication to say “we’re swamped,” or “we’re not interested in that project” I would have said fair enough and moved on–and still kept that vendor on my short list for future projects. But now….nope.

Why? Because I wasn’t given the professionalism of a civil reply.

I’d venture to say that if you’re so busy you can’t take ten seconds to send a reply email or designate a subordinate to do it for you, then your busy schedule is probably an accident or a result of poor time management–because you’re sure not great at attracting new business.

Who knows? Maybe this vendor didn’t need the money.

Ha.