February 19, 2007
Tammi and the Terrorist
Another story from my week in NYC. This particular show was huge international news. And we had a lot of international visitors stop by our booth. Costa Rica, Argentina, Israel, the list goes on and on. It was rather fascinating.
So on Tuesday, one of our busiest days, we had our most interesting visitor. He stood just inside the booth and did everything he could to ignore me. He was focused on talking with my boss. Well, boss was busy, so it was me or nothin'.
I introduced myself and gave him my card. He did the same. Hmmmm he was from one of the "middle eastern" countries that raises red flags right now.
Oh, and he was short. I need to mention that because it comes into play later.
Anyway - we start discussing business. He doesn't want to make eye contact. THAT makes me kinda edgy(er).
Finally he says he is only interested in our liscensed goods. Well, I can't sell them to him unless he has the liscense to sell them in his country.
He basically poo-pooed that whole idea.
Really....
He says if we're not able to do that then we can sell to his distributor in California and THEY'LL ship to him. That way we're in the clear.
Oh no no no no no. That has every shade of illegal written all over it.
By now I realize this guy is slime. Shitty slime. AND he's pissed me off. So - as my boss said - I grew. I stood up straighter and leaned forward, invading his "personal space". It pissed him off. He'd step back, I'd step forward. We continued this strange dance around the booth. He tryin' to convince me of my "stupidity" and me saying No. Over. And Over. And Over.
Finally he started to stammer and just pointed at my boss, sayin' "I talk to Man".
"Ok. You go ahead and Talk To Man." I called my boss over and then refused to budge.
It was pissing the guy off big time. I did mention "Middle Eastern Country" right? Yeah.....
Boss man told him exactly what I did. He tried the same dance and finally threw his hands in the air and stormed off.
My boss was crackin' up as the guy walked away.
"I can't believe you let that SOB walk outta here with his nuts attached."
"I didn't know if he was a suicide bomber or not. Didn't want to tempt fate."
"Great. My National Sales Manager manages to piss off a buyer from a terrorist country. THAT was NOT a part of the goals for this year..."
Personally - I'm rather proud of myself. I stayed professional but still made my point. Do NOT come into my home and think you can make me play by YOUR rules. Business is business, and legal is legal. You can't do it right, don't do it at all. And DON'T go coppin' some attitude just because you don't get your way.
But one thing I do have to grin about is the take away he's going to have after having to do business with Me. Stupid American Women my ass........
Posted by Tammi at February 19, 2007 05:25 AM | TrackBackOh, I can SO relate to that! Except for the terrorist part, but being a woman doing what is traditionally a man's job...if I had a dollar for every time someone asked to talk to "the man" in charge, we could drink Fritz out of Captain Morgan's!
Posted by: Raging Mom at February 19, 2007 08:06 AM"I can't believe you let that SOB walk outta here with his nuts attached."
This is even funnier hearing it the 2nd time around. Glad that you feel well enough to being posting on your NYC exploits.
Posted by: michele at February 19, 2007 08:43 AMWhat Raging Mom said.
When I worked at Ford I worked with a lot of middle eastern type men. Use to piss me off to know end because they would refuse to shake hands with me because they thought of women as dirty and inferior.
But hey, Japanese men are the same way too. They dispise American women in non-traditional roles.
Posted by: Quality Weenie at February 19, 2007 09:11 AMdang.
do sponge bob and dora know that you are putting your life on the line for them? surely this qualifies you for a nick at night pension or something? group life coverage? anything?
way to go. ethics are all the corporate rage these days. and i think we can successfully beat the islamofascists in this arena. they wouldn't know freedom or fair market if it blew it's head off in front of them. but way to set precedent, girl. that's why i read you, you do your part, everyday.
Posted by: shoe at February 19, 2007 12:42 PMHeh, 6'2" of raging Tammi the face of the average 5'5" middle eastern guy? You should have had a camera:)
Posted by: Sean at February 19, 2007 02:29 PMAbout that illegal legality, the company for whom I work does that. It's part of their policy. They're not allowed to sell X equipment to certain countries but they are allowed to sell parts. So they put together special kits which consist of every damn part needed to make an X and sell them over there. Some assembly required, of course, but the pricks just double the price and laugh all the way to the bank.
As you can see, I work for complete f'ing scumbags.
Thanks for doing the right thing. Shoulda handed the little twit some Danish cartoons, though.
Posted by: zonker at February 20, 2007 01:03 AM