Fellers Phone Calls

[Sign Pro Salina]

Our sales rep called last Monday while were out due to the weather and left a message wanting us to call back. Now this morning he's called again, same thing. They have gotten on my last nerve recently with weekly phones calls. This morning I had enough & sent the rep this email. They're going to keep on & they will FAFO.

Hi ________,

We received your message from last week & this morning. While we appreciate your concern for our business, our preferred method of contact is email. We are a small business as are many shops & do not have the time to answer the phone unless it is a client since it disrupts production.

Let me be frank. I understand Fellers is facing challenges as they lose business the last few years due to poor upper management & their bad decisions such as eliminating many products, closing warehouses and the two sales of the company now. The phone calls are only furthering your loss of business. My peers in the industry nationwide do not appreciate the calls as a general rule. Most are like us and if there is a question, problem or concern we will reach out to you. The phone calls disrupt production for many of us & we can't have that.

You do not have permission to call or email us more than once per month. Even that was a bit irritating when Robert was the rep. We prefer to reach out should there be a question or concern. Should we receive more calls we will be taking all of our business to our other suppliers.

Thank you for your understanding.

 

[Gino]

So, like another thread, your point is well taken and you've gotten things off your chest. However, why do you think you have the expertise to tell them how to run a business ??

 

[Sign Pro Salina]

So, like another thread, your point is well taken and you've gotten things off your chest. However, why do you think you have the expertise to tell them how to run a business ??

 

[Gino]

??

 

[Sign Pro Salina]

So, like another thread, your point is well taken and you've gotten things off your chest. However, why do you think you have the expertise to tell them how to run a business ??

 

[White Haus]

 

[Sign Pro Salina]

So, like another thread, your point is well taken and you've gotten things off your chest. However, why do you think you have the expertise to tell them how to run a business ??

The point is that they need to listen to what works for the customers & what doesn't. Especially those of us who have been with them 30 + years. If they hear it from enough of us, I would hope they would listen. If not, maybe then they will feel it in the further decrease in sales. I've ran a successful business for decades. Not only that, we were their largest customer west of KC in a large area. When KC still had a warehouse.... They used to be great & would listen to our suggestions. But now their poor decisions are costing them and they need to hear it straight up, if they even care anymore. The sales reps really have no power these days unfortunately. They used to actually be helpful & make things happen.

 

[Geneva Olson]

feedback is sometimes important. More curiously, they've sold twice now?

We moved into the location we are in January 2020. There was a really busy gun shop in the same strip center. They had like 8 guys working there. The owner was around, but we hardly saw him. He'd come over on a golf cart and say Hi. One lady in the whole shop (working the paperwork) . You could tell they were busy AND having fun.
Fast forward to August of 2021. The owner passed away. The first person to leave was the lady. She was the owner's girlfriend. Then, we watched the 8 men bicker amongst themselves and then one by one leave.
I bring this up because of Chemsitry in business. There's usually one fundamental person who makes a business run. After the owner (Chris) passed away, you could see the business spiral downward. I talked to the guys that worked there. Turns out: the reason we didn't see the owner much was because he was driving all over the state of Texas and visiting with police departments. He would get their orders and come back and get the 8 guys to build them.

When he passed away, no one wanted to take over his job which was the fundamental part and it led to them letting the 8 guys go and turning it into an internet only sales site.

Compare to Fellers: that place was booming when Frank Fellers owned it. Now, not so much.

 

[Gino]

Sorry to ruffle your feathers, but while their enthusiastic salespeople call on you, because you are a big spender, why not call them and have a dialog of how you wanna be approached ?? It's not their fault, that you might be understaffed and can't answer business calls.
Like mentioned, at one time american banner listed to everyone, but those days are gone...... across the board.
By the way, we were customer #4 with them. Franks uncle ran the show then, frank kicked him out and then wore the big hat.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

One guy emailing a sales person their complaint aint going to do a damn thing.

 

[Johnny Best]

I miss Fellers and his pic plastered all over the catalog.

 

[ddarlak]

Maybe one guy emailing sales rep won't do a thing, but posting what he did on this website will grow his idea into more action by others.

 

[Black Star Signs]

I've had my "new" sales rep call me three times and tell me that he hadn't been able to connect with me yet to introduce himself. We had spoken multiples times. One time he called at 6am. I'm on the west coast and assuming he's on the east coast but he should know better than to call someone that early.

 

[Ssignature]

I miss Frank as well. I miss dozens of other former colleagues too. Fortunately, killing Equipment Support was the perfect opportunity to retire after 18 years.

 

[Stacey K]

I've had my "new" sales rep call me three times and tell me that he hadn't been able to connect with me yet to introduce himself. We had spoken multiples times. One time he called at 6am. I'm on the west coast and assuming he's on the east coast but he should know better than to call someone that early.

When my phone rings at 6am, I think someone died lol

 

[ProSignTN]

Who all remembers when it was called AmeriBan? Pre 911.

 

[rydods]

We have a LED display sales rep call quite constantly after we request an estimate. Mostly follow ups. It's really annoying but I know it's her job. Usually after the 2nd call, I just kindly tell her that I'll let her know if something comes through. I'm sure she has a manager that's on her constantly.

The last thing I want is to have someone, who's just doing their job, nervous or anxious to call us because I'm a Di*k.

 

[The Blind Signman]

Who all remembers when it was called AmeriBan? Pre 911.

I remember AmeriBan being at the 1986 "Letterheads" in Parrispany NJ he just made vinyl banners out of his garage ...and later came out with "Enamel Receptive" banners for Hand Letterers (Like Me) and then expanded years later

 

[unclebun]

I guess all their phone calls must have worked. I just got an email from Fellers saying they are experiencing higher than normal call volume and order demand and to please place orders online, and if you are experiencing a delay in order fulfillment please call your sales representative directly.

Either that or they have all their phone lines tied up calling Sign Pro Salina repeatedly until he answers or calls back.

 

[Dale D]

Last time my rep called, I told him I needed a better price on items for a county bid and he came through. I cant compain.