There is a notice on the entrance door to the building: “NO
REPRESENTATIVES SEEN WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT”. This often is the source of nonsense. Here is a typical
scenario...
My boss: “Is that someone at the door?”
Me: “Yes it is.”
My boss: “Who is it?”
Me: “I don’t know.”
My boss: “I’m not expecting any visitors, who is it?”
<My boss goes to the door to investigate>.
My boss: “Yes?”
Person at the door: “Oh, hello. I’m from such and such a
company and I wondered if I could have a word with the owner.”
My boss: “I am the owner.”
Person at the door: “Oh great, good to meet you. We’re in
the area at the moment and I wonder if I could interest you in such and such a
product?”
My boss <pointing to the notice on the door>: “We
don’t see representatives without an appointment!”
Person at the door: “Oh yes, I see. Could I make an
appointment to see you then?”
My boss: “You’d have to phone up.”
Person at the door: “Could I have the phone number then
please?”
My boss: “I’m not giving you the phone number; I don’t
know who you are.”
Person at the door: “I just introduced myself before.”
My boss: “Well I don’t want you to phone here; I get
enough phone calls from people trying to sell me things I don’t want.”
Person at the door: “Why didn’t you just say you weren’t
interested?”
My boss: “Look, we don’t see representatives without an
appointment – I haven’t got time for all this. I’m far too busy.”
<Person is no longer at the door>
My boss: “I’m sick of people wasting my time. Can’t they
read? We don’t see people without an appointment. It’s terrible!”
Me: “Hmm, yes, it’s terrible.”
