does Wells Fargo treat any other checking account customers like this ?

[Anonymous]

For awhile every time I stopped at a branch, a teller was trying to get me to sign up for online internet access to my checking account.

Then for awhile every teller was asking me why don't I have a savings account and was hurriedly trying to strongly persuade me to immediately open one.

Today the latest one happened when I stopped in to update my address and deposit a check. At this branch inside a supermarket, apparently the tellers (or this teller in particular) aren't authorized to change the address information. Before directing me over to another employee who was authorized to complete this request, she asked me why I'm using an ATM card instead of a debit card (a month ago I canceled my debit card and kept just the ATM card open). Once I sit down with the second employee and as soon as he finishes pulling my account information up on his screen, the first words out of his mouth are why don't I have a debit card and do I know that debit card would be better because it would .. yada yada yada.

Does anyone else getting treated like this where Wells Fargo tries to sell you on some product or service every time you stop by ?

Message Edited by MojaveMoon on 12-29-2008 06:19 PM

[SCF]

I had this going with their CC for a while, ironically it started shortly after they denied me for not having enough income...  My income hadn't gone up in the intervening 10 days, but that's beside the point.

I know some folks who work as tellers, and I can tell you that Wells Fargo has a fairly strict customer service regimen in terms of how quickly people who enter the bank must be greeted, what must be done to reduce/elimnate waiting times and pushing product.  And if you don't get a great rating the consequences (at least they have been told) can be dire.  I think the product push is computer generated based on whatever corporate thinks is most important for your account to have that you don't yet have (even if they've already decided you shouldn't have it in my case! =P).

I know that doesn't make it any less annoying, but at least its not that individual teller trying to drive you crazy, it's a corporate strategy!  (Which I suppose makes it all the more inescapable...  Oh well.)

[Anonymous]

It may be annoying to some customers, but as someone who is in the banking industry I admire them.  We periodically get email publications and they always have the highest cross-sell ratio of all banks.  While it may be annoying to you it doesn't annoy all customers.  In fact it's good for business.  Studies have shown that the more services you have with a particular bank, the less likely you are to leave.  One of the most expensive things a bank can do is get a new customers, so by keeping existing customers they are reducing their costs.

[Anonymous]

Thank you both for your insight into this.

I wish that there one of two options available to me:

1) After being informed of a particular product or service, I wish that the teller were able to click a button on his/her screen to indicate that so-and-so was informed on such-and-such a date and therefore doesn't need to be informed/reminded again. Either because of that agent's personality or because of that agent's fear of a negative job evaluation for not pushing products hard and often enough, sometimes I feel like I'm not just being informed ... I'm being pushed hard into rushing into an instant decision. And I've often been made to feel that "no" isn't an acceptable answer until I've been made to repeat it two or three times.

2) I wish that as a customer I could have my account flagged so that during in-branch visits I don't have to be sold a product with literally every visit.

 Maybe I'm the not part of the norm in terms of the way I view my banking experiences. I view my relationship with the bank the same way I view shopping -- I want to get in, do what I came to do, and get out.

Message Edited by MojaveMoon on 12-29-2008 07:38 PM

[Anonymous]

You might try this (I dont' know if it will work though... )--

The next time you're at a branch and they start their spiel, put on your most stricken look, interrupt immediately, and request a "manager". When the CSR inquires as to what's wrong, simply say, "I want to make a complaint about my experience today, and I need a manager to do so." Hopefully, he/she will inquire as to what's wrong. Explain that you were assured that the last time you came into the bank that your account was notated as to not waste your valuable time with sales pitches that you were not interested in. You opted out of them, and had their solemn promise that from that point forward your banking experience would be pleasant and focused on your customer directed needs.

With any luck, the CSR will become very apologetic, furiously start searching notes, casting verbal shame upon the last CSR who didn't notate the account, and take pains to notate it herself. And then, if you're really lucky, she'll simply reply, "So, what can I do for you today Mr(s). MojaveMoon?

[SCF]

Hahaha, excellent suggestion Mirth, you even have the jargon down to a tee, I'm impressed.  Next time they start the CC thing I'll have to bust some of that out.

[Takunda1]

Not

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@Anonymous wrote:

You might try this (I dont' know if it will work though... )--

The next time you're at a branch and they start their spiel, put on your most stricken look, interrupt immediately, and request a "manager". When the CSR inquires as to what's wrong, simply say, "I want to make a complaint about my experience today, and I need a manager to do so." Hopefully, he/she will inquire as to what's wrong. Explain that you were assured that the last time you came into the bank that your account was notated as to not waste your valuable time with sales pitches that you were not interested in. You opted out of them, and had their solemn promise that from that point forward your banking experience would be pleasant and focused on your customer directed needs.

With any luck, the CSR will become very apologetic, furiously start searching notes, casting verbal shame upon the last CSR who didn't notate the account, and take pains to notate it herself. And then, if you're really lucky, she'll simply reply, "So, what can I do for you today Mr(s). MojaveMoon?

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Not nice!!! Please understand that these indiciduals are just doing their jobs, why ask for a manger or threaten someone for offering you a service. There is a very simple solution to all this. The OP should sign up for online banking as was suggested and he/she can deposit their checks through the ATM or drive through, that way ther is no interaction with the banking staff. 

To the OP, banks are in the business of selling, there is no way you can request that they not sell or advise you of products they offer. The only way to avoid this obviously is to not go into the bank. Good luck.

[laz98]

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@Takunda1 wrote:

Not nice!!! Please understand that these indiciduals are just doing their jobs, why ask for a manger or threaten someone for offering you a service. There is a very simple solution to all this. The OP should sign up for online banking as was suggested and he/she can deposit their checks through the ATM or drive through, that way ther is no interaction with the banking staff. 

To the OP, banks are in the business of selling, there is no way you can request that they not sell or advise you of products they offer. The only way to avoid this obviously is to not go into the bank. Good luck.

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i'm sure this is not the case.  i don't think the bank wants to lose customers just because they want to sell a few more savings accounts.  to suggest that the OP should stop going to her bank is just impractical.  not everyone wants to handle their financial business online, & some people do prefer face-to-face interaction.

[Anonymous]

You could just be honest and when someone tries to sell you extra crap, just say,"I am happy with my account the way it is, please stop trying to sell me on the extra stuff."  If they continue on, just look at them.  It'll work.

Going to a manager would suck.  You want someone to be written up because they were doing what is protocol?  That seems kind of mean spirited to me and its not relevant.  I think that you should at least give the teller a chance to stop.  I assure you they dont really give a crap about selling you this product--its just that they have to.

I work in a grocery store.  I talk to people everyday who dont even know that they can use a debit card to pay for groceries, so it might be beneficial to some people to actually find out about these things.

[sarahw822]

Although I can see the whole loyalty thing, more accounts I have with them the less likely I am to leave, it really is a pain to be innundated with solicitations everytime I step up to a window.  At least with phone solicitations, I can hang up. 

I think this may be part of a grander scheme though.  Sincerely, this has cut down on my face time with tellers.  I rarely go into a branch anymore, I do most of my banking online.  Maybe this was the goal?  Surely other customers have done the same.  The fewer walkin customers they have, the fewer staff needed...

They have already won my accounts by having STELLAR online banking services, I'm not going anywhere unless online services are ended.