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Very interesting tactics. I wonder if there is any mobile user who has not received atleast 1 call a month from either a bank or an insurance company or a mobile operator for promotion. I received above a dozen calls from credit card people in the previous month (apart from being chased by ICxxx guys in the bigbazar floors throughout April - July period).
I myself worked in a credit card division for a short while 10 years back. Its shocking to realise the difference of marketing then and now. Calling a stranger without proper reference was out of question as meeting a potential client with proper appointment, reconfirmation and that too with lot of references. Also banks used to have lot of restrictions on eligibility for a credit card. Even a decently salaried employ of a branded company would not go through the eligibility criteria if the designation was not listed by the banks. From that kind of restrictions and filtering environment, now its like any beggar can get a credit card without much effort. Eligible heads carry more than 3 or 4 cards in their wallets. Still they are hunted down by marketing staff.
A mild comparision of 1997 and 2007 in the tele-marketing field:
1997:
Bank: Good morning Sir ! How are you today ?
Me: I am fine, who is this ?
Bank: Sir this is XXXX calling on behalf of XXX Bank, with a reference from your close friend/associate Mr.XXX. He had told me you would be very much interested in our XXXX
Me: Oh I see, has he taken one ?
Bank: Yes sir, he is already using it.
Me: Good, I will check it with him, meanwhile you call me tomorow for a meeting.
Bank: Thank you sir, have a great day !
2007:
Bank: Hello Sir, I am XXX from XXX bank, we have 5 products, 1. Credit cards, 2. home loans, 3. auto loans, 4. Personal loans and 5. education loans. Which one would you like to apply sir ?
Me: What the hell !! where you got my number from ?
Bank: Sir you had shopped at XXX place and your coupon number got into our lucky draw and you are eligible for any of our products. You can come to our bank for a detailed presentation with your family today at 5pm or tomorow 10am. Shall I book your seats sir ?
Me: What the ........!!!! I am not in India since last 5 years and you are telling me I shopped here and you got my coupon number selected ?? You are talking to the wrong person. Whom do you want ?
Bank: Is it not Mr.XXXX sir ?
Me: No
Bank: still no problem sir, you can give me your official name, I will book the seats for your meeting.
Me: (alredy tired and fed up) THANK YOU ! (hang up)
Recently I started getting calls from one of the mobile operators forcing me to have 3 numbers, 2 for the family (numbers which I already have), 1 for business and long distance calls (new number). Eventually I will be carrying 3 handsets with different operators (not to mention ending up paying a huge mobile bill every month even without using) if I oblige to the calls.
Time is not far to see every citizen having 3 mobile handsets, 2 cars, minimum 2 bikes, 2 houses/flats, 2 jobs, minimum 2 cities on a regular travel and lot more things in multiples. India might think of filling lot of sea shore area to be part of useful land, where citizens can expand their developments. Dubai is already doing it since many years (eg. palm group etc.) so why not India ?
Last edited by shajufx : 17th August 2007 at 14:17.
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12th August 2007, 12:02
will try it out and post my experiences 
