Where's the friggen spirit? Two phone calls after two donations... and no love

[The Sheriff]

on the phone from USF staff... Maybe I never grew up... but come on now... my wallet and the wallet of others like me will help move the school forward.

I re-upped my alumni association dues as well as paid for my initial Varsity Club membership and the apathy on the phone was terrible at best. I know a phone job is nothing to get excited about, but hell... you have an alum calling in to make a donation to the school (even if its just the minimal dues right now), at least engage the caller or give a Go Bulls! You shouldn't have to be prodded by the caller. You can tell when a caller is smiling... you can hear it in their voice. Maybe current students shouldn't man the phones... but you would think they would be excited representing their school when an alum across the country calls and wants to tell them to enjoy their college experience to the max... Who knows!

I said some off the wall non-sense trying to make them laugh (and to make it feel like my $ were being well spent... and there was no love, or very little to say the least). Come on staff... take a lesson from Vicki Mitchell or Eric Soncrat and show some pride in your school... End of rant...

[GetAHobby]

Good rant. Like you said, you know when the person in smiling on the other end of the line. They handed out smile mirors to our inside sales team to make sure people are smiling when they talk to their accounts. Make the person who is giving money no mater how big or small feel like they are helping out the cause in a major way.

[usfgrad84]

You must have gotten someone new or you just intimidated them.  Everytime I have spoken with the kids there, they were exceptionally enthusiastic.  They always seem interested in what I do for a living and are looking for advice.

[Eric_Soncrant]

on the phone from USF staff... Maybe I never grew up... but come on now... my wallet and the wallet of others like me will help move the school forward.

I re-upped my alumni association dues as well as paid for my initial Varsity Club membership and the apathy on the phone was terrible at best. I know a phone job is nothing to get excited about, but hell... you have an alum calling in to make a donation to the school (even if its just the minimal dues right now), at least engage the caller or give a Go Bulls! You shouldn't have to be prodded by the caller. You can tell when a caller is smiling... you can hear it in their voice. Maybe current students shouldn't man the phones... but you would think they would be excited representing their school when an alum across the country calls and wants to tell them to enjoy their college experience to the max... Who knows!

I said some off the wall non-sense trying to make them laugh (and to make it feel like my $ were being well spent... and there was no love, or very little to say the least). Come on staff... take a lesson from Vicki Mitchell or Eric Soncrat and show some pride in your school... End of rant...

Next time just call me, I'm good on the phone. >

Actually glad you posted this as I want to make sure your Varsity Club membership is done properly.  Didn't even know they were doing that over at the phone bank, you can be our guinea pig.

Eric

[Brad]

The Sheriff.  He's so spoiled rotten by phone sex he doesn't know how a normal person talks on the phone.  ;D

[Rizman]

Eric, I have to agree with The_Sheriff on this one.

Needs improvement.

[crambone]

I never answer my phone when it's 813-974-xxxx

Only people looking for money =/

[Eric_Soncrant]

I never answer my phone when it's 813-974-xxxx

Only people looking for money =/

Now that hurts!  :'(

[SeaBull]

I have never gotten a call back after I leave my name and number when I call 1-800-GOB-ULLS

[kdawgy_orlando]

The athletes calling are not a sales call.  If Sales were the purpose; however, it would not be the Athletes but others. We would be looking for something from Boiler Room, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181984/ ?    Perhaps a little bit of motivation like the ABC speech from Glengarry Glen Ross, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104348/  ? 

YouTube has the whole speech online - warning it does have profane language;  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TROhlThs9qY    You could also pull down the MP3 for motivation efforts  http://www.holthaus.com/media/glengarry_mix.mp3

Sales are one thing, the athlete calling is more of the 'Thank You' message.  I agree sometimes that the student athletes can be a little mild, I think it just depends on who you get to call.