Soft Machine³ - Arts Tech and Other

A friend of mine told me an amusing story about how a photographer’s lighting equipment rental facility manages difficult would-be clients.

Meet Mr. Redhill

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One of the best things about working for a well-established business with an organically earned reputation is that they aren’t looking for new customers. Such businesses don’t need a Yellow Pages listing, and sometimes even ask you who referred you to them.

A specialized service such as lighting equipment rental is often subject to cold calls from self-important, ill-behaved people who expect that name-dropping over the phone will get them special treatment. Should Miss Liebowitz’s assistant phone without a referral, and attempt to throw his weight around, he’ll likely be referred to Mr. Redhill.

Mr. Redhill is frequently out of the office, but he is the only person that can handle difficult would-be clients, and it’s important that they keep trying his number. When Mr. Redhill rings everyone at the shop chuckles.