The task of screening sales calls may fall to Buying Assistants or may belong squarely in the Buyer's lap depending on how a Purchasing Department is structured.
Whoever gets this unpleasant task, it is sure to be a drain on the person's time and energy. In order to speed this along for both parties (salespeople don't want to waste their time either, they want to get to a prospect who will purchase), here are some suggestions to handle sales calls.
1) Establish a policy for how they are to be handled. For example, if you work in a catalog company, designate one person to take calls about possible new products to carry. Don't let a salesperson monopolize time talking to the wrong Procurement contact.
2) Ask the person to send you sales literature as early as possible in the call. This will give you reference material and a vendor contact in the future when you really do need this product or service and it will end the call sooner because it gives the salesperson an action item.
3. If you have caller ID at work on your desk, use it. Don't answer calls when you don't recognize the number. If someone doesn't leave a message, it probably was a salesperson who only wants to talk to someone live. You really haven't missed anything. Salespeople will call back. Believe me.
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