"Arrogant, Rude, and Relentless" - Verkada Sales Targeting End Users
Verkada's aggressive cold calling sales team has brought them big sales and complaints. One school explained to IPVM how Verkada's salespeople were arrogant, rude, and relentless with them.
Verkada responded to IPVM explaining how anyone can request Verkada salespeople to stop contacting them:
We work hard to educate potential customers about what sets Verkada apart and expect our employees to honor people's wishes and treat them with respect – anyone who feels like we have fallen short should contact us at team@verkada.com and we can unsubscribe their email address or their entire domain. [emphasis added]
Inside this note, we examine:
- This specific case and the issues this end-user had
- Other end-user complaints about Verkada
- How this fits into a broader trend of Silicon Valley hard-charging cold calling tactics
- What competitive advantage this gives Verakda versus incumbents
- The conflict between ethics and sales effectiveness
School **** ****
******* **** ** ********** ******** ****** throughout *** ******, ******** *** ******'* repeated ******** *********, ********** ** ****:
**** ********* *** ********* ******** *****. They ******* *** ** ********** ******** times. **** **** ******* ******** *** school ******. **** **** ******* ******** administrators **** ** *** * ********. If **** ******* *********** ** ********* on **** ******* ****** **** *** contacting **** ******. **** ***'* **** who **** **** ** ****, **** will ******* ******** ***** **** *** someone ** ******. **** *** **********.
** *** *** *** *** ****, it **** ******* *******:
**** **** **** * ***** ** so **** ***** ********** ****** ***** like **** ***** ********* *** ******.
******* *** ********** ****** **** **** the **** ******* ***** **** ** new **** ** *******, ********* *** *********** ******** (** ** far **** ****)*** ********** ******* **** ***** ** the ******* **** *********** *****.
***** ******* ** ****** *** ****** gifts ** ******** *** ********* ********, with **** ****** ********, ******* *** offering ** **** ***** **** *** confirming *** *****' *******, ** **** excerpt **** *** ***** *****:
*** ********* *** * **** trial ******** ****** *** ** ********** for [********] ******* **** *** ******* below ** *** **** ***** ** send *** ****** ** **** ** a **** **** ***.
** **** ****, *** **** ****** were ** ******* *********, ******** ** using ********** ***** (*.*., ***** ***) to *** *** ***** ************ *******.
**** **** **** **** ********** **** Verkada ***** **** ** **** ******* them. ******* ** ****** ***** ****, the **** **** *** ******* **** an'***** ********' ********** **** **** ** **** ********** off ***** ****:
**** *** ***** **** ********** ****** 'yourself' *** ***** **** ***** ******* told **** **** ************@*******.***** **** ** ************'* ****** ****** off *******'* ****.
Other *****
***** *** ***** ************ ***** ******* complaints ** **** ***********, *.*.,**** ****:
* ****** * ****** ******* ******* a ****** **** * **** ***, as ** *** ****, *** **********. Didn't ****** *** ** *****, *** overall ****** ****, *** **** ******* and ****** ******* *** ****. ********* they **** ** ******** ******* **** on ****, ******* ******* *****.
*******, ** ***** **** ** *** past ****** ******, ******* ** ** coworkers *** *** *** ** *** security *****, **** **** ******* **** call ****** **** ******* ****** ** connect ** ******* ******, *** *** etc.
**** * ******* ******* ********** **** end-user *** *********** ***** ******* '****',*** ***-**** ********:
** ** **** ** ****** *** does **, ** **** ******** **** it ** *******. *** ** ** spam ******* **** *** ******** ****** people ** ** ******* ** ****** contacts **** ** ********, *** *** people **** *** ******** *** *** in ********, * **, *** **** should **** **** * *** ******** and ****** ***** *** ** ** because ** **** ** *********** ******** contact.
******* ***-**************:
* **** ** *** ******* ** I *** ******* *** * **** free *** *** *** **** **** not **** ******** ****** *** ****** in ** ********** ***** ** *** as ******** *** ** ******** **** they **** ***** *** ** ******** or **************.
*******, **** ***-*****, **** **** *** below *** *** *** ********* ** the ******* **********,**** ** ******* ** ************'* ***** *********** ** * ****:
*'** ******* **** ***** *** ****** from ******* ** *** **** *** other ******. **** *** ***** **** a **** **** **** * *****, naive *** ************* **** *** ***********.
*** *** ************* *****, * ****** to *** ***** **** *** ********* questions *** ******* ** ************. *** conversations **** ******* **** ***** ******* they *** **** ****** ***** ******* points.
** ***** ** *** ********, **** it ****** ** ********* *** ************ break **** ** ***.
Silicon ****** **** ******* ***** ********
*******, **** ** ******* * **** nor ** ********* ** ******* ******.
***** ** ***** ***, ***** ** young *** **** ******* **** **** commonly ********** **** **** ****** (***** of *** ************ *********** ** **** ******), ***** **** *** ****** * core ******* ** ******* ****** ********** sales *******. **** *********, *** ****** Verkada, **** ******* * ***** ***** of **** *******, **** ****** ** no ****** *********, ***, ** *** very *****, *** ********** *** ***** arrogant *** ****, ** *** *******.
***** *** ***** **-************ ** ****** ******* ****** **** call (*** *******) ***** *** ********* of *** **** **** ******* ** the *********** ** '** *** ****' and '**** *** **** **' *** the **** ****** ***** ** ********:
*** ******** ******** ******** *** *********** from ***** *********** **** **** **** is ****** **********, *.*.:
**:
*************, **** '***** ******' ******** *********** to ******** (*.*., ****) ******* **** targeting ********* (*.*., ***-*****).
** **** ********** *********** ********** *** relentless **** ****** ** *** ***** should **** **** ****** *****:
*********** ********* ** ********* *** **** celebrated ** * ****** ** *** confidence *** ************** ** ***********.
Competitive ********* ******* ** ***** ************
** ***** ************, ** ***** ************ has *** ***** *** ********* ** Verkada's ***** ********. ***** **** *** be ************ ****** ** ******* ****** enterprise *****, ******* ** *** ******* of **** ** ***** ************.
*** ******* *** ** ********, ***** shows *** *********** *** *** **** common *** ********* **** ********** ********** in ***** ************. ** ****, *** manufacturer ***** * ********** ******* **** in ********** *****. ** *****, ***-***** physically **** ** *** ******** ************* with *************. **** ***********, *********** *** local *********** *** **** ******** ***** for *************, **** ******* ********** **** the ************.
*******, *******'* ***+ ****** ***** ***** reaches *** ** ***-*****, *****, ** in *** ***** *****, **** *** over *****. ***** ** *** ** offensive *** ****-********* *** *** ******** of ***-***** *** **********, **** **** a ******** **********, ** *** ** highly **********.
*** *******, * ****** ** ** government ******* ***** ***** **** ******* in *********** **** ****** ***-**** ******* (such ** *** *** ***) *** built * *********** ******** ** ***** so, ** ***** * ******** ***** show:
Conflict ****** *** ***** *************
**********, **** ******* * ******** ******* the ****** ** ********* ****** ********** and *** ***** ******** ** ******* in *** ******* ** ***** **. No *****, ** ******* ****, **** "work **** ** ******* ********* ********* about **** **** ******* *****". *******, that **** **** ***** ******* ** end ***** ******* **** ******* **** Verkada's "**********" ********** *** ***** ******* and ********** ** ***** **********.
******, ****** ****** ** *** ***** team ** * ***** ******** ********, it ** * ***** *** **** a **** ******** ****. *** ** a ******* *****, ** ****** *** hard *** *** ** *****, ** the ****** ***'* **********, **** ***'* be ********** ***** ** ******* ** badgering **** ***-****. ***** ** * limit *** * ***** *******'* ***** team *** ******* ** * **** time ***.
* **** **** ** ******* *** found ** ******** ******** ****** ** the *******.
*** **** *** ******* ****** **** the ***** **** ****** ***** *** Verkada ************* ***********.
**** ***** **** *** ***** **** Verkada ** ********* ** **. ******* Verkada ******* ******* ** ****, * continue ** ****** **** **** ** nothing *** * “***** *** ******* Rep” ****.
** *******, *******, ******* **** **** to **** *** ************, ***** ******* and ********** ******* **** **** ***** be ******** ** ******* *** ******* vendor.
#*, ******. *** **** ***** ***** and ****** ** *** ***** **** organization *** ******** **** ******* *******? Roughly? **? ****? ****?
***** *** **** *** **** ** count **********. ******* ** *** ****, number ** *********, *** ********* ** potential ***** (**, **********, ********, ***.) within *** *******, ** *** ******** through **, ****.
* ******** *** *********...
***-********: *-* *** **** (****** *** forwarded). ****-********: *-* *** **** (****** and *********). **** ****-****: * ******, 0 *********. ***** ****'* ********: *
******* ** ** **-******* ******** ******** invites ** ** **** ** ****.
*'* ****** ***** ********** ***** **. With ***** ****, * ****** **** and **** ****** ** *** ****-**** desperation ** **** ******* *** **** calls.
***********. ***** ** ***** ** *********** for *** ********** ******* ***, **'* a ****-*******-*** ******** **** ******* **********. If *** ********* *** ********* *** business *** *** ***** * ******** 100 ***** *** *** ***** **** calls **** ** *****, *** *** calling *** ***** ** **** ****** to *** *** ********. *** *** individual ********, **** ***** **** **** justifiably ******* *** ***** ********** **** will *** ******* ** *** *** (while *** ********** *** **** *** want ** *********** ****** *** ******** is ***** *******).
* *** **** ** **** ******** is **** **** ******* ** **, the ******* ** ** ***** ********* are *** ***** ******* ******* ****-** ********.
*** ** *** ******** ******* ********** has ********** ** **** ***** ** that ** ** *** ****** ******* the ******** **** *** ***** **** for ***** ********. ** *** ********, this **** ** ******** **** ***** and ****** ** * ****** ****** in ***** ****. *** ** **** as *******'* ***** ************ ****** ** not ****** **** **** ** ***** machine, ******* **** **** * *********** advantage, ****** *****.
**** ** ***. ** **** ** on *** ***** *******.
* **** **** ********* ********* ****, and **** *** **** **** **** to *** ***** *** **** ** their ***** ******. ********, * ** not **** **** ** ******* ***** calls, *** ***** ****** ****. * prefer ** ** ******** ** *****, so ***** ** * ****** ** what **** **** *** ****.
* **** ** * ******** ***********, LOL.
*'** ***** *********** ** *********** * single ******, ****** ** *********** **** a **** ****.
** ** *** *** ******** ***** on *** *****, ************ *** ********** roadmap ***** *********** ************* *** ********* integration ************ **** *** ******* *************. From ***** ** ** ** *** primary ********** ** **********.
******** ******* ** **** ** ******** in ** *** **** ** ***** two ********** ********.
******** **** ******* ** ** ********** and ********** ***'* * *************. ******** stand ***** ******* ******** ** ********** are ******** *** ******* ** *** end ** ***** ****-*****.
**** ** *** ******** ** ***. Unfortunately **** *** ** *** ***** startup ***** ** **** ******** ********** how ** ** ********* ********* ****.
*** ******* **** ** ********* ** here!
** ****'* * ******* ********, *** my *********** **** ***** ***** **** and ***** ******** ** *** ****** have **** ****.
*** **** ***** **** * ***** of **** ******.
*** **** ***** **** * ***** of **** ******.
****** *** ****** *** **** ******* to ******* ***** ******** **** **** are *** **********?
*** ***** **** * "** ***** yes" **** ** ***. **** ********?
** *** ****** *** *** ******** are *** ****. ** *** ****** for ****** ******* **** **** **** done ** **? *** ****** **** the ********** ******* ***** *** ***********.
*'** ********* ** ******, *** *** probably **** * **** ** *** #metoo *******, ***** **** ******** ** their ******* "****** **********".
**** ******* **** ***** **** ******* needs ** ***** ***** ********* ******. It's * ****** ***** ** ******** removing ****** **** **** **** ****, because *** ******** **** **** ***** "It's *** ** ***" *** **** the **** ******. **'* *** *****, but * ***'* ***** ** ******** all **** **** ******* ****.
**** * ******* ** *** ***** in ******* ***** ** *** ******* have ******* ******** *********** ***** ******* Verkada ** **** ******* **** ********* that **** ** ** * ******* practice ** *** ******* *** *** just * ** * ***** ** poorly ******* *********. **** ********?
** * *** ** *****, **'* probably * *** ** ****. *** likely **** *** ********* ***'* ****** to ****** ***** ******** ** ***** managers/supervisors, *** ***** ********* ** ****** of *** ***** ********** ***'* **** enough ***** ***** *** ** **** it.
**** ** *** **********, *** *** larger * ******* *******, *** ****** it ** *** *** **********, *****(*) and ******** ** **** **** ******* their ******* ** *****. ** ******* here ** **** ****** *** ******* lost ** *** ********* ***********.
******* ******** ************ **** ******* ** try ** **** *******=**** ************ ********* on ******* ** **** ***********
**** ********** ** **** **** ****** wear ********* **** *** ********
**** ******* ** ***?
***, **** *** ******* ****** ** on *** ***** **** *** **** again. ****** ** ********** **** ******* cannot ******* ********, *********, **** *****, "white ******" ***.
******* ********. **** **** *****'* ** for ******** *******? ** *** **** people ****** *** **** ***** * day?
* **** ***** ** **** *** a ********** **** **** ******** ** over * ***** ** *** **** type ** ******** ********* *** **** matter. * **** ***** ** ** well ** **** ***** ******** ** in **** ******. ** ****** ** it **** ** *** ** (**** likely ******* ** ***** **** ********). It ********* ***** ****** *** *******.
****** ******* ********* *** **.
** ******* *** **** ******* ****** tech ********* ****, ** *** ****** ethics, *********** ****** *********, *** *** stress *** ***** **** ***** **, it ** * ********** ***** ********.
** ** *** **** ********** ***** strategy ****-****, ******? ****** ********, * don't ****.
* ***** *** ** ***** ******** when ***'** *** ** *** ****** to **** **** **** ***********, *** it ***** **** ** ***** ***** to ****** **** ********* **** ****, once *** **** * (********** *********) customer **** ** ***** ** *** a **** ****** *******.
******* ****** ******* ***: ** **** started ************ ****-*******, ***** ** ** the **** *** *** **** ** grow ***/** ******** ****** *****?
** **** ******* ************ ****-*******, ***** it ** *** **** *** *** them ** **** ***/** ******** ****** share?
*********** ********. **** ******* ***** ** a ******** ** ******* ** *** 'bro' **** **** ******* ********* *** this ***** *****. *** ***** *** familiar, ***** ****** **** **** **** ********.
**** *** **** * (********** *********) customer **** ** ***** ** *** a **** ****** *******.
*** ********* ******* **** *** **** callers **** ******* ** **** * significant **** ** *** ****** **** be **** ** ** ******** **** aggressively ******* *** **** ** *********** have ** ********** ******, **** ****** product.
"Lol, **** *** ******* ****** ** ** *** ***** **** *** **** *****"
** ****?
*** *** ******* ***** ******* *** HIK *** *****.... **** *** **** again
******!!!
******** ********* ***** ** ****
******* ** ******** "**** ******** ********** Forum"
**** ***** ***********
**** ** *********,**** ** **** *** start *** ****
**** *** ******* *** ******* ****** on *** ********* ******* **. ***** reports? *** **** *** *** ** the ********
** **** ** **** *** **** why **** ****? **** ** ***** on **** ***** ** **** ***** and *** ** ******** ****.
* ** *** ******** **** ** be **** ************* (******* ********)
********* *********** *** *** *************, **** may ** *********** *** **** * right/wrong ****** ***** ** ********* *** helps ** ******* **** *** ** a *****.
***** ****** ***********, ***** *********** *** heading *** *** ****** ** *** industry *** ************* ******.
* *** *** ** **** ****** could ****** ** * ********* **********, not ****** ** *** ****** ****.
**** **....********* *********** *** ** *************....**** talk ***** ***** ** ***** *** circle ** *********...**** *** *** ****** intense!!! *****'* ** ******* ******* ******???
**** **** ***** ***** ** ***** and ****** ** *********...**** *** *** pretty *******!!!
* *****, *** **** ***** ***’* come ** ** **** ***** **** cameras **** ***** ******* ****** ******* on ****** ***** ******* ***** **** imagers ******* **** ** **** ****** it ***** **** ******** *****.
********** *********.
* ********* ** ****. * ****** when ** *****, **** ** ****, what ** ******* **, *** **** to ** ********.
***** ******* ** ******* ***'* *** been *********** **** ***** ******** ******* every *** ** **** "*'* *** interested".
* ** *** **** **** ***** with *** ***** ************. *** ***.
**, **’* * *** *******. **** can ***** ***** ****** ***** *** all * ****, ***** ******** ** not ******* ** ******* ** ******* up ***** ***** ** *****, ***** can ** ***** **********.
** ****’* * ******* ****** ********, but * ** *** **** ** all *** **** ** *********** **** a ******* ********. * ************* **** everything ** ****.
*** ****** - * ******** ***:
”*****’* * *** ** **.”
*** ********* **** *** ***-***** **** that **** **** ** **** ****** like ********, *****, *** *********** *** a *****. *** *** ******* **** his *********'* **** *** ***** ***** through ********. * ***** ** ****** be **** ****** ********* **** ***** are ********* **** *** *** *** data **** ***'* *** *** ** through ***** ** *** *** **** when *** *** ******* *** * certain *******. *, * ***** ***, then *** * **** **** ***** me *** ** *** ****** ** America *** *** ******* *** ** product. * *** **** *** ***** employee *** ***** *** **** ******* as **** ** ***** ***** *******, work *****, **** *****, ******** ******, Linkedin *******, ** **** ** ***** they **** ** ****, *** ***** job *****. *** ** **** ** filterable *** **********. * *** **** search ** *** **** *** *** searching *** * *******. ** *** you ******** *** ******* *** **** last **** *** *** * ***** of * *** ** ** *** the *** *** ******** *** ******* 15 ***** **** **** **** * 10 *** ** **. * ***'* fault *** ***** **** *** ***** these *** ***** *** * ** think ** ** ********* ** ** spying ** ******'* ******** ******** *** then ******* **** ** ********* ** a *******.
*** ********* **** *** ***-***** **** that **** **** ** **** ****** like ********, *****, *** *********** *** a *****.
**** ** ******** *********.
** *** ****** ******* *** **** companies **** ********** ** *** **** of ********, ** **** ***** **** portfolios **** **** $**, ****’* ******** with ***** **** *****?
******* *** ******** ******** ****** ** our ************ ****** ** **** ******* who ***** ****** ***** * ******** them. * *** ******* **** ****** from ****** ** ** ************ ****** if ** ****** ******** ******** ** a *********** *** *** ***. *******'* "call ********" ******** ** **** ******** and ***********.
*****, **** ********!
* ******* ******* ***** ******** ******* this ***** *** "*** ** ******". Even ** *** *** *** *** Verkada, *** **** '*******' **** ****** in **** ************ ****** *** ** consider **.
* ** ***** **** *** ***** the **** ** ****** *** * don't ***** **** ****** **** ** long ** ** ***** **** *** more *****. **** ****** * ******** - **** ******* *** ** **** to ******* * '**** ********' ******** that ****** **** ** ******'* **** so **** * *** ******* *** make **** *****?
** *** **** ***** ** ******* for * ****** ***** ********* ******** operation * *** * *** ** cold *****. *'* ******** ** * great ******** **** ******* * *** the ****, *** *** **** ****** daily.
******* **** ***** *** **** *********. Article ** **** ** **** **** being ********. **** * ******* ****** their ***** **** ****** ****** ******* our ******* ********* *** ******* ******* random *-****** *** **** ********* **** back ** **.
** ****** **** ****** ********** ** reading ****, **** ****** ***** ******. You're *** *** ***** ****** ****'** contacting, ***'** *** **** ****!
**** ** ******* ***** ** *** these ****** ** ***$*** *******??
*** ***-**** ****** ** ******* **** same ********** ** **** ** **** article:
*** ******** ****** ** ******* **** same ********** ** **** ** **** article:
*********** ****** ****** ***** ******* ** k12sysadmins, ****** *******:
(*) **** **** ******* ** *** years *** ** ******** ** **** to **** **** *******. **** **** started ******** ** ****** ***** **** and ***** *******, * ******* *** email **** ***** ****** ** ** quarantined.
(*) **** **** *** ***** ****** earlier ** *** ****, * **** my **** "** ****** ** **** yeti **** *** ***** ****..." *** we *** * **** ***** ***** drinking **** *** ******* ******* **** cups.
***** ***** ****** *** *********, ******. Almost ** *** ** **********.
(*) * ** *** ********** *** consistent **** ******* *** *********** ******** invites ********** **** * ****** ***** security ****** ** * ***** ** concern..
(*) ***** ******** ****** ******* ******* sales ***** ** **** ********* **, they **** ******* ** ***** *** directly ** ****** ********** ***** *** then ********* ** **. ***** ****** was ******* ***** ** *** ***** block **** ***** ****.
***** ****** *** ******* ***** ** our ***** ***** **** ***** ****.
***'* **** *** *** ** ***** - **** *** **** **** **** hell
* ** ***** **** ******* **** a ********* *** **** * ***** never ** ************. **** **** ** badgering ** **** ***** ******. * have **** ************ ******* ******* ** blocking *** ** ***** **** ******* on ******** **** **** **** *********** messages. ** *** **** *** *** free **** *****. ******* ** **** truly **** ** *** ***** **** time.