As a policy, it's breathtakingly stupid and dishonest, but I wouldn't be surprised if some companies used it.
I had a sales person on the line saying 'I know from the type of organisation you are, that we can help you to fulfil your mission' or some such blah, and wouldn't get off the line. I then ask exactly what product or service they can provide that can help, and they say they'll get an engineer to give me a ringback. The point of sales people is to know nothing, and ensure you don't know anything about what they want to sell you.
to BlueSky111-- My manager said his request for an computer upgrade for himself wasn't approved, so I bought the memory (2 GB for $30) myself. It helps a lot on XP.
I think the moment this strip reaches genius is when the PHB says "Why are you like this?". Fantastic strip. I'm glad I work in a small company and don't have to deal with that cr@p anymore.
this would be funnier if it wasn't so incredibly accurate.
i didn't give dilbert's response, but the boss still gets ticked off, and fire people, due to the results of his directions.