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Asking for target

January 03, 2025 04:10PM
Hi all,

I do lots of apartment shops, some requiring me to speak with a specific target person. After many failed attempts, the MSM is saying I can ask for the target by name when I call. I am wanting some suggestions about how to do this without sounding weird.

If I say that I got their name from a friend, they’ll probably ask who…it just seems awkward. Last time I tried this, the person answering the phone was insistent on helping me and I still couldn’t get the target.

Any other suggestions?
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January 03, 2025 06:38PM
I usually say something like, "a lady at my work told me to call and ask for (insert name). She highly recommended her/him and thats who I want to speak with.I have been asked where I work and its a community college system with 16 colleges and 6 local campuses. If the target askes me who recommeded them specifically, I just say, "this lady who used to work in our department, I believe her name was Mary." I try to keep it as casual as possible. I live in a city and I can see where this may be more difficult in a small town.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/2025 06:39PM by gigishopper.
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January 03, 2025 06:50PM
This is why apartment shops are so awkward and obvious. Sometimes the person they want shopped isn't even the leasing agent, so when you ask for them they will just transfer you to the leasing agent. Sometimes the target is the manager who doesn't handle leasing. Other times the name listed is their full name when they go by a nickname, so it makes it obvious when the shopper asks for them by their full name. I had a target named Rachelle who went by Elle.
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January 03, 2025 07:47PM
This is why I stopped doing them. I did all the ones that didn't require asking for someone specific. But now it seems that the same leasing company owns all of the buildings and I really can't repeat some of the locations I have done.
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January 03, 2025 11:04PM
I had that happen too. When I called, the agent who answered said “Nicole” is the property manager and doesn’t handle inquiries or tours, so I ended up abandoning that shop because it was too complicated.

As an update on my current shop, I called today and asked for the target. She said the target wasn’t there today and would be back tomorrow. Of course, she offered to help me. I ended up going through the spiel but gave fake information. I’ll call tomorrow from a different number and pray the target answers the phone! Otherwise, I’m done and will cancel the shop, which I hate doing. Ugh.
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January 04, 2025 12:54AM
May I speak with "Target?"

99% of the time, that's all you need.

I generally don't even tell them why I'm calling until I get them on the phone.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2025 12:55AM by foodluvr.
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