What A Difference An Hour Makes....

Good lord - What the hell happened? In the last hour my entire day has shifted into a print buyer’s nightmare.

So I was given a 32 page booklet to print while a co-worker is out. She had done some pricing with a few vendors and apparently it was already figured out that the job given to me was going to a certain vendor. I was like, “Great! No problem – I will take care of it for ya.” Seemed easy enough right?

Wrong.

The specs changed so I had to re-bid the job out to everyone (which is typical in this business). I get this call this morning from one of the three vendors I bid with and he explains he is gonna be sending me the estimate later this afternoon. I was like, great; I will take a look at all the bids and get back to him. I also advise him that the only thing that is different from the original estimate is that the disk will be ready today verses tomorrow like originally thought.

At no point did I mention he had the job again. The job is being re-bid. There is no guarantee in this business unless it’s in writing and once specs change – all bets are off. I go about my day and think nothing of it. I’m eating my lunch and I am interrupted by the head secretary coming over and giving me a “While you were out call this person back because it’s urgent” message on a little pink slip. When she hands me the message she mentions that he has called me twice prior and wanted a call back ASAP.

What could possibly be so important? He doesn’t even have the job and I don’t have an estimate yet. I ignore it knowing it isn’t the end of the world enough to stop eating my lunch.

Lunch is nearing a close but I still have 20 minutes left to sit and gab. Another co-worker comes to tell me that my phone is ringing off the hook and wants to know if she should answer it. I head back to my desk and start trying to listen to my messages and check my email. Any estimates? Not yet. As I’m trying to get into my voicemail, I get interrupted again by another co-worker, “Jacque, Psycho Stalker Vendor is out in the front lobby to talk to you.”

What?! What the hell could he possibly want? I don’t even have an estimate! I head out there; being as nice as I could possibly be under the circumstance.

“Hello Psycho Stalker, what can I help you with?”

“Yea, great to see you again Jacque, I’m so glad to be working with you again.” He spewed out of his mouth, “I was just in the area and wanted to let you know that the estimate will be around $1900.00 and we are ready to go with it any time you are. You mentioned you had the disk ready to go? Did you get my two messages?”

“…..Ummm no, in fact, I am on my lunch break.” I answer completely and utterly irritated. “Do you happen to have that $1900.00 estimate in writing for me with you? I noticed I don’t have an email from you yet.”

“Oh is it lunch time? Yea I was in the area so I thought I would stop by. I will have confirmation from my estimator later this afternoon if it’s $1900.00 for sure. I figured since I was in the area anyway I would stop by and maybe pick up that disk you thought would be ready.” He pounces at me through his mouth.

“So you aren’t sure it’s $1900.00?” I ask a bit shocked.

“No, I will have to check with our estimator on that but I’m sure it will be within your budget being only a few specs have change on it. We were in the ballpark last time and I’m sure we will hit it this time too.”

I wasn’t sure at this point what to do. I mean, I have never in my entire history of buying print and assembly services (which is nearly 10 years) have I ever had someone so blatantly aggressive, rude and assuming. I was mad prior to meeting with this guy but this pushed me over the edge. He seriously thought I was gonna give him the job no matter what.

I don’t care what deal he had with someone prior to him working with me. I don’t even care how cheap he is. In the last 45 minutes he had left me two messages on my voicemail, made the secretary send me a message personally and showed up unannounced DURING MY LUNCH HOUR so he could assume he had a job!

HUH!?

“Listen, until I have an estimate in writing, I can’t award this job to anyone. I do have two other bids out there with other vendors. ”

With that he rudely interrupts me to mention that so and so co-worker felt he fell within budget nicely before she left.

“….riiight, but specs have changed and we are re-bidding. Also to clarify - the disk is also not ready this instant but will be ready today as she is still working on disking it up. Why don’t you send me the email with the estimate in writing and I will take a look at it and get back to you.” With this I turn to leave and while I’m walking out of the lobby he starts trying to smooth things over.

I have never in my professional life ever done this but today – I kept on walking. Can you even believe the nerve of this dude? Am I wrong to be angry? Am I too jaded when it comes to salesmen?

I’m still a bit shocked and quite frankly, rather scared of this man. I mean, I felt stalked – literally.

Good news though is that I can go to the Birthday party on Sunday after all being during this time I got an email telling me my family thing was cancelled. Not that it has anything to do with what I was just talking about but it makes me feel better I guess.

Crap.