My enviro-ink stamped business card that is now garbage:(
So, one of those hallmark moments when starting your own business is when you get your very own phone number!!! All of a sudden you feel one step closer to the real deal. . .THEN you go ahead and get a TOLL FREE number and it feels like you are legit. . like Donald Trump might be calling in the next day or so. ..you know, to ask for advice on how to negotiate his latest deal;)
Well I thought I'd be all smart and cheeky and get one of those custom 800 numbers that spell something so people can remember it. . .So after many failed attempts at figuring out how to spell something awesome with the numbers available we came up with 1-877- EAT-GORP:) Yup. . .I was feeling like the neighbourhood genius. . .UNTIL. The phone started to ring. . .oh the first say 100 times I'd blast downstairs tripping over myself and cheerfully belt into the phone. . ."THE GREAT GORP PROJECT. . COLLEEN SPEAKING!!!!!!!" I couldn't believe the sucker was actually ringing?? I hadn't advertised yet. . had people somehow found me online and just couldn't wait to get their hands on my awesome energy bars?? The answer was yes. . .about 2 people. And I love that, and am thankful and am soooo glad they called, but something fishy was going on. . . .The other 500 callers (whose calls I was paying for I might add. . .and who called at all hours of the night. . .) were less than honest about who exactly they were trying to get a hold of. . .when I'd ask who they were calling it was like I was interogating them. . they would, stammer, lie, and hang up. . .the best were the ones who would "accidentally" call again. . the ones who claimed they were calling their sister. .. AT AN 800 NUMBER? AT 4 IN THE MORNING??? WHAT THE? Either your sister is working for an infomercial selling some kick butt juicer, slicer, dicer or ab roller. .. .or she's a psychic, or phone sex worker. . in which case you shouldn't be phoning your sister anyways. .. creepers. Man.
Sooooo began my obsession with decoding my own personal 1-800 mystery. I stopped answering the phone with my oh so friendly "gorp voice", instead I started trying to lure the callers into identifying themselves by being very vague and mumbling my greeting. .. hoping to trick them into slipping up. . .sometimes I'd just pick up the receiver and listen. . hoping to catch some conversation on the other end of the line that would expose these sly snakes. . .it was all to no avail. . .these folks were pros. . .they caught me every time. . and either hung up or made up some see through excuse as to why they were about to hang up. .. INFURIATING. . .then I started begging and pleading them to tell me. .. STILL NOTHING. Grant in all his wisdom started to spell alternate possibilities with the letters. .. all he came up with was 1-877- FAT-HOPE. . .I don't know what he was getting at with that. .. but I think I'm insulted;)
In the end. . "they" won. I got tired of paying for this crazy game of cat and mouse. . .whoever these folks were calling. . they were obviously embarrassed about it. . .were they phoning a "naughty line"? I can't figure it out. .. I will never know, because I switched my 800 number to 1-855-EAT-GORP. I guess I better re-train myself to answer the phone in a more civilized manner. .. just so you know, if you ever phone and hear me on the other end yelling "who are you. .. what do you want. .. tell me, oh please tell me NOW!!!! I'd appreciate it if you'd give me a little grace;))
Old habits die hard:)
Today is Sunday. . .the sun is shining and I better blast outside to play with the clan, there are mega dinosaur nests to be constructed and dogs to chase and hop scotching to scotch? Or so I'm told!
Happy Weekend!
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That would totally drive me crazy, not knowing!
Glad you're not getting crazy phone calls anymore though :)
Posted by: Tammy | June 06, 2011 at 08:50 AM
Good luck with the new number - if it happens again we're going to have to start some super-sleuthing!
Posted by: Lisa | June 06, 2011 at 10:24 PM
totally! I'll get my sister to crochet some bandit hats for the occasion;)
Posted by: Colleen | June 08, 2011 at 11:53 AM
ACK!! Now I'm super curious...if you ever figure it out, let us know!!
Posted by: Andrea | June 10, 2011 at 03:55 PM
will do!
Posted by: Colleen | June 10, 2011 at 05:26 PM