Don't EVER Cold Call Again.

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  CarolBlaha01/16/08 Report as spam
  1

  You're So Right!

  You have a great post and you are right on track. I coach people in sales myself-- have read Frank's book and find it full of contradictory dangerous advice to someone who wants to keep their career and house out of foreclosure. In todays world we are so afraid to "take a stand" -- when someone says "boo lawyer" we freak-- this was very refreshing.

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  lamitchell01/16/08 Report as spam
  2

  RE: Don't EVER Cold Call Again.

  I could not agree with you more. Perhaps he had his lawyer send that on his behalf that in this litigious world is normal. What an incredibly shortsighted ill-advised tactic. How many referrals is he going to get with that contentious attitude?
  
  Frank, you blew it. I am in sales and I winced when I read your response. Do you honestly believe you were the first person to use the phrase "Never Cold Call Again"? I cannot imagine that your book would have anything to offer me. I have never heard of you. I am in sales and I am a sales trainer and I have used the phrase "never cold call again" when I refer to quality customer maintenance techniques. Do I owe you money?
  
  Larry

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  kjwilyums01/16/08 Reported as spam
  3

  RE: Don't EVER Cold Call Again.

  YOu are right on target with your response to Frank's outrage. In sales --AND MARKETING -- our antennae should be permanently bent toward opportunities. Either his visceral response took over and he couldn't think straight and shot off that email, or like another poster wrote, perhaps his counsel sent it on his behalf. Of course, if that's the case, he should be lambating the lawyer and getting a new one. Lawyers are in the selling business, too.
  Keep up the good work. I am inspired!
  K.J.W. Wilyums
  WOCKET - building sustainable careers for artists & musicians

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  ptiseo01/16/08 Report as spam
  4

  RE: Don't EVER Cold Call Again.

  To Frank:
  
  You need to brush up on the concept of "trademark". The compound word should be a hint: "trade" and "mark". Given that Geoffrey is not "trading" (i.e. "...conducting sales training seminars and distributing course materials in connection therewith...", see USPTO filing) when he used your "mark", then he's not infringing on your trademark.
  
  Geoffrey's right in this case... what a stupid move!

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  Geoffrey James, Sales Machine01/16/08 Report as spam
  5

  Hey!

  What do you mean "in this case"??

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  gina@...01/16/08 Report as spam
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  Don't EVER Cold Call Again

  I am not a marketing or sales expert. I am a small business owner. As such I have researched some of these "expert" books, websites and newsletters. My conclusion has been that these people have large families to sell their candy bars to. They collect these huge email lists and conduct conference calls that people pay money to hear. The content of all this is either a rehash of my marketing 300 book, stuff they took from their way smarter partner, descriptions of their last fabulous trip to Maui with the third wife or husband, or so vague a fortune teller could use it.
  
  I have also found that even though these books have "publishers" most business authors pay a good amount of the cost to publish and promote. If they are so great at selling why can't they sell their idea to the publisher?
  
  I am also curious why so many business people feel they have to introduce themselves with a threat. Is it insecurity? training? culture? Didn't their grandmother tell them you catch more flies with honey? Is that phrase trademarked somwhere?

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  jjohnson0801/17/08 Report as spam
  7

  Frank Rumbauskas

  I had one interaction with this guy "Frank Rumbauskas". My opinin... he was most unprofessional disgrace to the profession of selling I have ever encountered. Our company works with clients focused on sales improvement at the tactical, strategic and process levels and as such I was considering his work for a client of mine. NUF said.

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  Geoffrey James, Sales Machine01/17/08 Report as spam
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  Gosh...

  ...what exactly did he do?

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  Jimjam6601/25/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Don't EVER Cold Call Again.

  He's at it again! Obviously he doesn't know any other way to operate - which
  may tell you something about his abilities ...
  
  Anyway, jump to our blog-page http://zee2a.wordpress.com/ to see his
  response to our article. Who knew some git could 'trademark' a commonly-
  used phrase (infringing on someone else's copyright in the process) effectively
  becoming the 'Thought Police' because he can now tell you what words you're
  no longer able to utter or write? Something's wrong with a system that
  protects these nuts!
  
  Anyway, you just got onto our Honorary Blogroll with your incisive and
  courageous response to him ...
  
  David

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  Jimjam6601/25/08 Report as spam
  10

  Here's a direct link ...

  ... to the comments area. (Saves an extra click!) http://zee2a.wordpress.com/2008/01/24/never-cold-call-again/#comments

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  amuya08/27/08 Report as spam
  11

  RE: Don't EVER Cold Call Again.

  I'm in Nairobi, Kenya and Bnet is my most influential and helpful site in my selling and personal career.
  
  Frank's mail was unbelievable. I had to google his photo to put a face to the name, and remarks.
  
  My first impression upon reading Frank's posting:
  
  1. Frank is Self-Centred.
  2. Cold and unfriendly
  3. Not one willing to volunteer or help
  4. Opportunist
  5. Knows little on the power of communication in written for.
  6. Has no skill or flair
  7. Someone to studiously avoid
  8. And for all the above reasons should not be touching anything remotely connected with sales or customer care; or worse anything to do with sales training.
  
  Frank, there were numerous way to utilize this opportunity and make friends on they way. In my own humble opinion, you blew it. Big time. The easiest way out of this is first to acknowledge, this was perhaps a wrong move. Then apologise, AND ask for advice.
  
  
  
  Regards.

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  LukeF01/20/09 Report as spam
  12

  RE: Don't EVER Cold Call Again.

  Interesting points all - although a little one sided.
  
  Have you tried to contact Frank? Did Frank or an agency email the note to you? What other unknowns might have cause this?
  
  Regarding the PPC Ad - you may have jumped to the wrong conclusion here as there are three types of keyword matching which dictate the reason for the ad appearing, so you may not be correct in your assumption about his copyright infringement.
  
  Anyway I am off to buy Joannes book.
  
  L

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  johnthorley02/04/09 Report as spam
  13

  RE: Don't EVER Cold Call Again.

  I guess I don't see what the big deal is. Are you jealous
  of the guy because he's a big best seller and you are
  not? Really, what's your beef with him? The real irony
  here is that you are now triply violating the guy's
  trademark by plastering it all over this page!!!
  
  What an idiot - you discredit BNET and they should be
  ashamed to have you as an author. At this rate you're
  going to get them sued.
  
  And accusing him of violating a trademark on
  adwords? When you know full well that your only
  reason to steal his was to get traffic to your blog,
  knowing that thousands of people are searching for
  his book while nobody is searching for you? That's
  how I found this page - searching for Frank's stuff, not
  yours. You are just showing classic jealous behavior.
  
  PS: Yes I'm a big fan of Frank's books. I'm sure you'll
  delete my comment for that reason.

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  Geoffrey James, Sales Machine02/05/09 Report as spam
  14

  RE: Don't EVER Cold Call Again.

  Quote from johnthorley: I guess I don't see what the big deal is...
  
  Given the tone of your comment and the confusion relative to trademarks, I not surprised you're Frank's fan. Here's a quick response to your fervid complaints:
  
  I had never heard of the guy before he sent me the nasty-gram. The nasty-gram was a stupid business move on his part because he could have gotten more publicity, and positive publicity by being polite.
  
  Using a trademarked phrase when discussing the owner of the trademark isn't a trademark violation as it's covered by the fair use doctrine. His usage of Joanne Black's trademark in order to hijack her traffic isn't.
  
  If Frank gets some traffic from this post, why should I care? More power to him. If he thinks being a jerk to bloggers is a good way to build his business, I'll be watching his progress with great interest.
  
  As for jealousy, believe me when I tell you that I'd rather poke a stick in my eye than become a professional sales trainer.

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  jdclaib06/04/09 Report as spam
  15

  RE: Don't EVER Cold Call Again.

  His customer service is no good either they double billed me and they will not reply to my 9 emails. They are a total rip off
  
  BEWARE