Okay, I tried to let this one go but I just couldn’t. I will expand on my specific reasons for not being interested in InterNAP’s Flow Control Platform (FCP) or by extension their route optimized bandwidth in another post. For now I give you the text from a recent exchange with a Salesperson which started with this message:
> Hello,
>
> I would like to speak with someone about connecting InterNAP to 7012.
> Also, to who is responsible for managing eBGP links among Savvis,
> Hurricane, etc. Please advise.
>
> Ian P. * InterNAP
Half suspecting this is a spam message sales prospecting I respond with our peering information. Ian responds with his canned followup message – which for the record is his first mistake. Not only is my contact information included in my email it is very easy to find our phone numbers via our web site(s), whois records, Google, etc… Trying to turn a lead into an opportunity via email just doesn’t go anywhere.
> Hi Max,
>
> Thanks for the quick response. Just to make sure we’re on the same
> page, I am proposing the following two items:
>
> 1.) IP [snip]
>
> 2.) Flow Control Platform (FCP) [snip]
>
> Please let me know if there is/isn’t a level of interest here.
>
> Ian P. * InterNAP
Now that we have confirmation that this is sales spam I move to quickly quash the conversation and not waste any more (of my) time.
> Thanks no interest.
At this point I’m impressed by Ian’s persistence – he still wants to talk. Except Ian makes another mistake by still not calling. I’ve clearly stated that I am not interested in internap’s offerings, sending yet another email is not going to open the door.
> Thanks for your candor, Max. I understand these types of things are
> occasionally reviewed and sometimes changed/implemented. Please let me
> know a time in the future to follow up.
>
> Ian P. * InterNAP
I (wrongly) assumed that at this point the issue was closed and we had moved on. Needless to say I was surprised to receive this next latest message – maybe it was the language/tone, or maybe it was just the persistence. In either case this is where things get weird and I would guess that Ian was having a bad day.
> Max,
>
> I can’t read your mind, and I don’t want to waste anyone’s time. Per my
> last email, when would be a good time to touch base?
>
> Ian P. * InterNAP
Interesting sales tactic don’t you think? “I can’t read your mind”, I just love that line. Quick reply again from myself.
> Ian,
>
> My last email clearly stated I was not interested in internap services
> or products.
>
> -Max
This has to be Ian’s tour de force.
> I didn’t say I couldn’t read. I said I couldn’t read minds. My last
> email clearly stated, “I understand these types of things are
> occasionally reviewed and sometimes changed/implemented. Please let me
> know a time in the future to follow up.” this way we could have avoided
> impolite email correspondences like this.
>
> Forget about it. Thanks.
>
> Ian P. * InterNAP
So what do we learn from this (besides that I will never purchase anything from Ian)? Being hostile in email when you are sales prospecting is never a good idea because chances are it will be posted on the Internet for all to see.
