Asking for a business card

Does asking for a business card give you away? You call a place of business and ask to speak with a specific person to set an appointment on the phone. You go to the business, conduct the shop, and ask for their business card at the end. Seems pretty simple and we've been doing that for hundreds of years, right?

Times are different now and you can dial any business number you want without even knowing the phone number just by telling your phone to do so. So unless you can say you want to contact them on their cell or make up some crazy reason to send an e-mail, I understand they're still useful in social settings and asking for them at events, but I think asking for a business card from someone you've already called is a bit of a giveaway. I'm wondering, how often to non-shoppers actually ask for one?

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All the time otherwise they wouldn't have them.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
Depending on the interaction, quite often. If it is a large p8rchase I am considering, I will always ask so the salesperson that presented the product gets credit for their work. Financial, investments, insurance, medical, always as well. Fast food, not so much. And I think employees like to give them out when asked. The more they have to order, the harder they're working.

proudly shopping in the D.
Old people like me can get confused easily by all this technology.... We don't get confused by business cards.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
Salespeople are supposed to give you some sort of material with their contact information, including website. It’s what is expected of them and is a standard sales practice. Doing so is a proven technique to increase repeat business and improve customer satisfaction. Even when the sale isn’t closed, giving the customer a business card increases the chance that they will return to purchase.
I know, we all think we just toss the cards and no amount of marketing works on us. We’re wrong.
When shops require you to get a business card, it’s because the employee is supposed to proactively offer one. When you can’t get a business card, simply explain why not. Usually, they want to find out if the employee, who should have business cards, actually has them.
Sometimes if I don't feel comfortable directly asking for a business card, I ask if they have anything with their number (or the store number, depending) on it "in case I have any questions." They almost always give me a card at that point. But I agree with the above comments that it's pretty common for salespeople, bankers, etc. to give them out anyway.

Happily shopping the Pacific Northwest. Shopping since 2013 smiling smiley


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/23/2018 05:05AM by RedRose22.
For any type shop, I would feel comfortable asking for a card. Just say, "In case I need to catch up with you after speaking with my spouse, do you have a card?" To me, that seems perfectly logical.
I always state something like: "Sometimes I forget a few things. My significant other says that I get a business card".
Or something to that effect.

I would always roll my eyes and shrug my shoulders.

But, it works.
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