Slashdot Mirror
Live Chat Salespeople On Web Sites
burgburgburg writes "Forbes.com has an interesting article on how one web site is bringing all of the fun of salespeople suddenly appearing and offering to "help" to the web. It seems that Rackspace Managed Hosting tracks you by your IP number when you arrive. After 30 seconds on the site, a Java applet pops up with a photo of a sales person and a live chat offer to assist you in your efforts. According to Rackspace's co-chairman, one-third of users approached via chat engage in conversation with a salesperson, and half of those take the discussion to the next level. Furthermore, according to him, nearly 50% of new customers have originated from the chat feature. They have 6 salespeople watching the site in shifts for 20 hours a day."
If you type a/s/l they terminate the conversation....
I'm so lonely
DLF ROCKS!
that's a long shift.
I think that their 6 sales staff might not be able to cope with a slashdotting :)
No thanks, just web browsing.
"According to Rackspace's co-chairman, one-third of users approached via chat engage in conversation with a salesperson, and half of those take the discussion to the next level."
What's that, dinner and a movie?
this might be the first time an actual person will feel the slashdot effect
The One Rule Of Chess You'll Ever Need: Don't play someone who carries a kit in their bookbag.
To use the /. effect to not only take down sites, but people now? Damn, that's cold.
Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
What level would that be?
Wanna cyber? ;P
Un-news
I knew a guy that worked at http://www.liveperson.com/, they offer live chat-based tech support and sales. The company is doing pretty good. The guy died of a drug overdose last new years eve though, so it's probably not that great of a place to work.
Uhh, no. You're walking around their site. They can watch whatever you do. You're not one of those nuts that buy into those popups that say "You're broadcasting an IP!!!!" are you?
It seems that Rackspace Managed Hosting tracks you by your IP number when you arrive.
:)
I guess I'm safe since I bought that software from the popup ad that keeps my computer from broadcasting an IP.
+5:offtopic,but anti-American
It's six people who are covering it for 20 hours a day.
The first thing that popped into mind when reading the post -
"Soooo, how many licenses would you like to buy today?"
from the CA commercials with the cardboard salesperson. I'll now have that commercial stuck in my head the rest of the day, you insensitive clod!
Or figures out how to cross-connect two salespeople from different sites.
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
... the potential customer chatterbot:
Sales Guy: Hi, it looks like you're considering Rackspace for your hosting needs. Can I help you?
Chatterbot: Would you like to help me with considering Rackspace for your hosting needs?
Sales Guy: Yes, that's why I'm here, to help you.
Chatterbot: Why are you here, to help you?
Sales Guy: No, to help you. To make your shopping experience with Rackspace more enjoyable.
Chatterbot: How do you feel about shopping experience with Rackspace more enjoyable?
...
Stop-Prism.org: Opt Out of Surveillance
No no no...you've got it all wrong. You can just click the close button or disable popups or disable Java. Imagine if only brick and mortar was as easy...
You walking onto car lot.
Salesguy runs up going "Hey how are you find folks this day can I interest you in a test drive you know we have zero interest financing..."
You calmly poke the salesguy in his right shoulder.
Salesguy vanishes into thin air.
You walk into the computer store.
You see a herd of clueless blue shirts galloping your way.
You calming pull out your indestructable wall and place it between you and the sales people.
You go about your business as the sales people furiously wail and beat at the wall.
-JoeShmoe
.
-- I wonder which will go down in history as the bigger failure: the War on Drugs or the War on Filesharing
The first time I saw one of these, I had the following conversation:
Chat Popup: Hi, My name is John, do you have any questions about our products?
Me: <pause> Hi, John. What do you do again?
Chat Popup: I'm just here to help you, and make sure any questions you have are answered. What can I do for you?
Me: <pause> Interesting... Can you prove you're a human?
At this point, the chat window closed suddenly. I thought, "damn. pretty good.."
Reminds me of a hotel stay I once had. Spending the weekend at the swimming pool, I'm walking past the 'massage room', when one of the elegant ladies arriving for work, goes bounding up to her friend at the desk and asks eagerly "Any specials for me?". Recounting this to my parents, they explain exactly what a "special" was. Some time later, I'm going to a restaurant for a meal with friends, and we go up to the food bar. The waitress acts "Would anyone like a special?". I'm lost for words.
Them: What are you looking for regarding support?
Me: Cock. Hard cock.
Them: (Chat session terminated)
So much fun, I could do that all night.
Chance of getting a sale has suddenly shifted many decimal points in the wrong direction. The boss comes in after the weekend, and fires everyone who suddenly couldn't get a sale, excuses be damned.
then the chat server goes up in flames.
"It is a greater offense to steal men's labor, than their clothes"