Why I Don't Do Sales Calls (On Either Side)

12 Apr 2026 #misc

This was supposed to be a call to get some help.

At least, that’s what I was told. But it turned out to be something else.

An invitation to a call…

This happened in the days I started to write seriously online.

After months of inactivity, I joined a social media platform. I participated in the community, liking and commenting under big and small accounts.

For weeks, I replied to almost every post from a big creator. His message resonated with me. He left his regular job to make a living writing. My dream!

One day, he messaged me asking me about my goals. He offered to join a free call to see if he could help.

The day of the call…

Somebody else showed up.

“Definitely, we could help,” the guy said after asking why I was interested in writing.

He showed me all the incredible benefits of joining their writing program. Testimonials, weekly coaching calls, a vibrant community… You name it!

When I asked about the price, “Forget about the price. What would your life look if you achieve this goal?” They promised hitting $10K a month.

I hesitated and kept asking for prices.

Then he typed some numbers. “Here’s the full price… If you’re an action taker, here’s the price… Or you can pay in X installments of Y…“

Wow! Far outside my budget. Then I knew why he asked about my income.

There was some awkward silence, followed by the same question, “What impedes you to take action now?” Then, more silence, more awkward this time.

Being an action taker…

After some back and forth, he created a lite version of the program for a discounted price.

That was “all” he could do for me.

But there was a catch, I had to pay within the next 24 hours. Otherwise, I’d prove I wasn’t “an action taker committed to achieving my goals” or something.

I sent the receipt to the creator who started the conversation.

Radio silence.

Each day made me worry more. “How can I be so stupid?” I checked my card activity, hoping not to see anything suspicious.

After a day or two, I got a link to join the course and the community.

It was some video recordings. Not that bad, but overpriced.

I definitely felt tricked. A hand crossed the internet, through my screen, into my pocket.

“Hey, I’ve seen this one…”

More recently, the first email from a newsletter had a link to a webinar.

The guy promised 8 tips his mentor taught him to live a “dream life.” He claimed he works one day a month. But he only shared one tip.

To get the others, we only had until next Thursday midnight. It was a “let me hold your hand” program, but you had to join a call to see if you were a good fit. The price wasn’t disclosed anywhere.

I unsubscribed. “Hey, I’ve seen this one, I’ve seen this one. It’s a classic,” Marty McFly would say.

That wasn’t the first time I heard that story.

If I don’t see this…

For a moment, I thought that call was a scam.

The closer followed all the sales tactics. It was a sales call to showcase in a textbook. Finding a pain, painting a dream outcome, making a limited-time offer…

I guess scammers and salespeople read the same books. Or scammers are salespeople who joined the dark side.

That call and the other webinar made me set a rule: If there’s no price, no time to decide, and the “help” comes wrapped in a call, I walk away without thinking twice.

If “help” is just a hand reaching into your pocket, it isn’t help at all.

That’s why I don’t do sales calls—on either side.