[DByers]

Anyone ever have to deal with a Relay Operator before? I ended up taking several calls over the last few days at work from what I am sure is a scam. RO (relay operator) says they have a person who can not hear on the line and they will "relay" information back and forth for the person on the other line. I take the call and the person is looking to buy something from my business. I ask the the RO if there are any charges applied to the call and they say no. The person introduces themselves and I do the same only giving my first name. This takes close to 5 min! The person says they would like to order something and I reply that the best way for them to proceede is to fax all the info to us so that we can fax the info back. They respond okay and a few minutes later I have a fax. P&A for two items (electronic and about $300 to $400 each) which I fax back to the nuber listed. A 877 number to an efax account with a different name from the person on the phone. I receive call #2 asking if I had received the fax and had the info. I reply yes and that the fax was returned with the info. They say the have not seen it but need the info. I saw I will refax and could aslo email them the quote. They give me their email address and I hang up after 10min on the phone going thru the RO. I receive an email back the following day stating that they wanted to buy the items. But now they want 40 of each product shipped overnight to a place in Florida. Name #3 is now on the list. I barely read the email and I get a phone call from the RO saying parson A is on the phone and person A is frantic and needs to have this order filled right away and have I placed the order. I repond and say that all cash sales (non-account transactions) are to be paid in full before any thing will be ordered by us and that we have not even decided to take the order. I say that I would like to talk with my manager on this do to the dollar amount and that I would email the info back. I email saying that we were not able to take the order and that they may be better served finding a supplier local to them vs. one that was all the way across the country. I did not hear back from the last night as I left the office at 4pm and wont be back until Monday. Do you think it was a scam? My gut said walk away and after 20 years in this business my gut is usually correct. Do you think they will respond to my last email?