by April Phelps

Created on: April 21, 2008

I recently received a call from a Herbalife sales representative due to my curiosity of the product. Truth be told the real reason for the call is my wanting to lose some weight, so I surfed over to the website. One hour later, the Herbalife sales representative rings me up. At first he is insultingly charming as he talks really slow on the receiver, as if he is explaining the concept of weight-loss to a child. Then he opts to use examples from his own life, in suggesting that since he has tried it, his wife has too. Yet it was hard for me to believe what I was hearing, as the Herbalife sales representative sounded a little too mechanical and rehearsed. To make matters worse the Herbalife sales representative tries to use American values to get my to buy the product first, instead of trying it for myself. I stopped him in the middle of his rant to ask if caffeine was in the product. He had trouble giving me a direct answer, and instead sated only some of the Herbalife products have caffeine. Patiently I repeated the question again, by being even more direct if possible and asking if the Herbalife product had caffeine in it or not. He finally had enough respect to answer me to say yes. I am speculate telemarketers and people who deceive potential customers over the phone must think consumers are pretty dumb.

To continue my little story, the Herbalife sales representative actually got upset when I refused to pay money upfront for a product I had never tried before. Unbelievable. The Herbalife sales representative then got impatient and irritated with me, a potential customer, because I flat out said no. I tried to explain to the Herbalife sales representative that I simply refuse to pay money for something before I decide for myself. I think most people will agree that it is just stupid to pay for a product before you try it for yourself.

I also decided to check out the Herbalife website because of the free sample offered, a yummy protein shake and a few chocolate bars. In all fairness and to avoid false advertising, Herbalife shouldn't offer potential customers free samples of their products, if they don't plan on delivering. I say that because the Herbalife sales representative still expressed frustration with me as I explained this to him. He then has the gall to ask what will I do after I try the product, as if he wanted a promise from me that I would buy. My response? I said, "I don't know, I have to try it first." The conversation just got bad from there.

It is insulting to the person that a Herbalife sale representative will use horrific marketing skills to try to beguile the customer into accepting the product before trying it. That is like accepting a deal blindly before s/he even knows the terms. Most people wouldn't buy a house unless they are aware of the terms, yes? So pleas explain to me why a Herbalife representative expects me to blindly buy his product before I even have a chance to try it for myself? It is insulting.

People have every right to stop the sales representative in the middle of his rehearsed rant, to ask questions. If the fast-talking sales representative is evasive, and doesn't offer an upright answer to your question, hang up the phone. Don't waste your time getting suckered by these smooth talkers. We also have the right to suggest Herbalife and the like, not that I'm targeting telemarketers or catalog credit card companies, engage in Human Resources training to learn how to talk to people as people, and not as customers right off the bat. I doubt sales representatives and telemarketers would enjoy the same insulting and belittling treatment of their persons.

Learn more about this author, April Phelps.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.