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Deceptive Telemarketers. How to Avoid Trouble In Supplies Ordering.

Have you ever received a call offering you a 'great buy' on toner for your copier—right in the middle of an important meeting? Worse, have you ever bought 'discount' toner on the phone only to find out you paid double what you could have paid at your local dealer?

Don't feel alone, deceptive/fraudulent telemarketing or high-pressure sales tactics are a common problem in the imaging industry. This page is part of Lanier's efforts to inform all our customers about the problem and how you can protect yourself from these businesses.

Deceptive telemarketing has become such a big business that the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Postal Service, and local Better Business Bureaus nationwide have all issued warnings about 'toner pirate' practices, and have pursued legal actions against some of these 'hit-and-run' salespeople.

The term 'hit-and-run' refers to the fact that these sales organizations typically do business with a customer one time, making as much profit as possible from one scam sale. High-pressure tactics encourage customers to buy immediately. While they often advertise great prices, usually customers pay well over standard retail prices—and often have to buy several cartridges at once to get the 'special price.'

Price, however, is only part of Lanier's concern for our customers. In some cases, supplies sold by these companies are knock-off brands of inferior, 'out-of-specification' quality that might damage Lanier equipment or significantly reduce its performance.

Protecting Yourself. Five Clues to Look Out For.
Once you realize that companies are preying on unsuspecting copier or printer owners, it is easy to protect yourself by being alert to the warning signs of deceptive telemarketing practices:

	Strangers on the phone. Lanier sales representatives and authorized dealers are trained to identify themselves and build trusting relationships. If the caller is not the authorized salesperson you normally deal with, or can't provide clear indication that he/she works at your normal dealer location, be suspicious.

	The mystery phone number syndrome. Deceptive telemarketers generally avoid giving out their phone number—it can be used to identify where they are calling from. If you can't get a number, be doubly suspicious.

	The offer is 'too good to be true' phenomenon. Remember the most common piece of consumer advice—if the offer is 'too good to be true,' it probably is. Often times, the price that deceptive telemarketers claim is a bargain, is actually grossly inflated.

	The 'used car' sales approach. If you feel like you're on a used car lot, with a sales pitch that is high-pressure or an offer with a time element—if you don't 'act now,' the price being offered will change—it is probably time to say good-bye.

	The impromptu survey call. Ever wonder how deceptive telemarketers find out about your systems? At Lanier, we guard your privacy carefully and avoid divulging information about installed customers to outside organizations. So, these clever operators often get information about your equipment by pretending to be a Customer Service representative making a customer satisfaction survey. Once they get the information they need, future calls can be customized to your systems. Remember, Lanier representatives always clearly identify themselves, and will always leave phone numbers and address information that you can verify.

What You Can Do If You Get Called.
If you get a call that is suspicious, here are two pieces of advice to remember:

	Get their vitals! A name, phone number, business name, etc., can all be easily verified. Don't do business unless you are sure about who you are doing business with!

	Comparison shopping isn't always bad. When you get an unsolicited offer on the phone, it pays to do some comparison shopping before buying. Lowest price isn't always the best total offering, but you may avoid being grossly overcharges with just a little simple checking.

Your help is also invaluable in helping to reduce solicitations by 'scam artists.' If you are solicited by a deceptive telemarketer (or even worse, a deceptive door-to-door salesperson), report the call to the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Postal Service, your local Better Business Bureau, or the Imaging Supplies Coalition (ISC). For more information on the ISC, please click on the logo below.