Actual conversation from a few minutes ago;
Phone: Ring.
Me: Hello?
Phone: <pause>
Me: Hello?
Phone: Hi, I’m with [my cell phone company] and I’d like to discuss whether you’re on the best plan for you.
Me: Okay …
Phone: Our records show that you’re getting [whatever it is that I’m getting]. Now, we can continue that for another two years if you get a new …
Me: Actually, what I’d like to discuss with you is what kind of a deal you could give me if my wife were to switch to you and we would get a joint plan.
Phone: That would be our [whatever its name is] plan. I can’t help you with that, that’s a different department.
Me: Well, can you transfer me there?
Phone: No, but I can give you the number. <Reads number>
Eh. You call me up, you call me up, I tell you that I’m interested in getting you a whole additional customer, and you can’t find someone who can make that kind of sale? It’s a sad day when a well-honed direct-sales marketing machine isn’t hungry for business. All of the annoyance, none of the value.