friggin telemarketers!!!

CHANGEinWAVES

I shouldn't of answered the phone but I'm hoping to hear from jobs today...
I answer and she starts her 'act'. I wait for her to stop for a moment and I say 'no thank you, I'm not interested'. Then she starts to basically yell at me asking me why I denied the service with out knowing what it was... Which I replied by saying that I understood it was a security system and blah blah blah. I don't like hanging up on people cause I understand they are trying to do their job, but I was so close to doing that. She went on to say that she doesn't think I understand the service ... So basically I told her I did and I wasn't interested and to have a nice day (then I hung up). As I was hanging up I heard her all confused saying...'Um have a nice day?'

I do understand people have to make a living but there was no need to be so pushy!

Who Princess

If I make the mistake of answering the phone when somebody like that calls (and it happens sometimes because I don't have Caller ID--I'm cheap about a lot of things like that), this is my routine:

Caller: Is this Mrs. Wanna-Buy?
Me: Is this a telephone solicitor?
Caller: Um, yes, I'm calling about . . .
Me: I'm sorry, I don't deal with telephone solicitors. Good-bye. *hang up*

I'm not rude. I'm fast and business-like. I know that telemarketers are trying to make a living but they are infringing on my time. Nobody every called me to sell something that I couldn't go out and buy on my own. It's not like they're calling me and saying "Hey, I've got front Pearl Jam tickets for half price and they're only available from us!"

I have another strategy that I learned from my husband:

Caller: Is this Mrs. So-and-so? (mispronouncing my name, which isn't even hard to pronounce :roll: )
Me: There's nobody here by that name. Good-bye. *hang up*

CHANGEinWAVES

My mom answers in a kids voice and tells them that 'my mommy isn't home'...lol.

I was more irritated that she was arguing with me about it. I blame this new land line I have... I get a lot of calls for whom ever had it before me. Last night I had some guy from a chimney cleaning service arguing with me that he used to clean my chimney... I had to explain to him that I didn't have one! He got mad and hung up.

prytocorduroy

Part of my job is technically telemarketing. I'm not selling anything, but recruiting participants for a research study by phone. Before I worked there they also went door to door. Anyway, I hate this part of the job. Hate telemarketers, and hate that I have to be one or I have no work to do. The good part is going out and doing the interviews with those who are interested in participating. I still feel awful when I'm on the phone and never question a "no" response, just saying "thanks for you time" or something along those lines.

Heineken Helen

danny72688 wrote:

Part of my job is technically telemarketing. I'm not selling anything, but recruiting participants for a research study by phone. Before I worked there they also went door to door. Anyway, I hate this part of the job. Hate telemarketers, and hate that I have to be one or I have no work to do. The good part is going out and doing the interviews with those who are interested in participating. I still feel awful when I'm on the phone and never question a "no" response, just saying "thanks for you time" or something along those lines.

yeh, I did it for a day and it was horrible... I basically had to explain to everyone how I got their number :( I never pushed though... I'm not good at that kinda shite. But yeh, some people were lovely and tried to help but they didn't meet the specifications, some even offered to lie

decides2dream

you absolutely should sign up all your phones for the national 'do not call' registry. i don't have the # handy, i've done it every year since they first started the rpgoram which makes it illegal for telemarketers to call you - and IF they do - you can report them for doing so with the registry etc. anyhoo, since we've registered our phones i've not gotten one call from a telemarketer since. bliss i tell you.

prytocorduroy

Heineken Helen wrote:

danny72688 wrote:

Part of my job is technically telemarketing. I'm not selling anything, but recruiting participants for a research study by phone. Before I worked there they also went door to door. Anyway, I hate this part of the job. Hate telemarketers, and hate that I have to be one or I have no work to do. The good part is going out and doing the interviews with those who are interested in participating. I still feel awful when I'm on the phone and never question a "no" response, just saying "thanks for you time" or something along those lines.

yeh, I did it for a day and it was horrible... I basically had to explain to everyone how I got their number :( I never pushed though... I'm not good at that kinda shite. But yeh, some people were lovely and tried to help but they didn't meet the specifications, some even offered to lie

Yeah I get them too, I feel bad because they want to participate but are ineligible. I remember the good ol' days of having callers and interviewers. The callers got me work and I never had to get on the phone except to confirm appointments! Those days are long gone though.

xavier mcdaniel

https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

CHANGEinWAVES

xavier mcdaniel wrote:

https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

Thanks I forgot about this.

chromiam

xavier mcdaniel wrote:

https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

That's it X-man.... the first question I ask any telemarketer is how they got my number since I'm on the do not call list. The response is usually silence and a hang up...

decides2dream

xavier mcdaniel wrote:

https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

there it is!
i knew someone would post it. :P
exactly what i was referring to earlier.


seriously, in the list of 'small annoynances'......this donotcall thing is a godsend!

xavier mcdaniel

chromiam wrote:

xavier mcdaniel wrote:

https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

That's it X-man.... the first question I ask any telemarketer is how they got my number since I'm on the do not call list. The response is usually silence and a hang up...

Usually the exchange starts off with them mispronouncing my last name, so if they do that, I just say they don't live here. If they get past this step, I ask them what's this in regard to and then I tell them to get lost.

decides2dream

i'm truly amazed how many people pick up their phones! :P
we NEVEr answer our phone, and no we don't have caller ID. anyone who knows us, knows we screen our calls thru the answering machine before answering. now cell phones, sure..i can see answering, altho i really only get calls from my hsuband on that anyway.


(btw - i realize the OP was expecting a call, and from an unknown # - and makes total sense to answer...just that on an every day basis, i just can't see answering )

xavier mcdaniel

decides2dream wrote:

i'm truly amazed how many people pick up their phones! :P
we NEVEr answer our phone, and no we don't have caller ID. anyone who knows us, knows we screen our calls thru the answering machine before answering. now cell phones, sure..i can see answering, altho i really only get calls from my hsuband on that anyway.


(btw - i realize the OP was expecting a call, and from an unknown # - and makes total sense to answer...just that on an every day basis, i just can't see answering )

I guess I enjoy telling these people to get lost. I say the same thing when any political party calls me for contributions.

tybird

Caller I.D. is my friend.

decides2dream

xavier mcdaniel wrote:

decides2dream wrote:

i'm truly amazed how many people pick up their phones! :P
we NEVEr answer our phone, and no we don't have caller ID. anyone who knows us, knows we screen our calls thru the answering machine before answering. now cell phones, sure..i can see answering, altho i really only get calls from my hsuband on that anyway.


(btw - i realize the OP was expecting a call, and from an unknown # - and makes total sense to answer...just that on an every day basis, i just can't see answering )

I guess I enjoy telling these people to get lost. I say the same thing when any political party calls me for contributions.

hey, whatever blows your hair back! :P



i know there definitely are lots of people who would never dream of not answering their phone when it rings! obviously, like most things...it takes all kinds eh? i am more than happy to let my answering machine answer. reaching 17 years of marriage...it's worked this long, so if it ain't broke..why fix it?

norm

i don't understand why people fell bad hanging up on telemarketers....how are you being rude? the person being rude is the telemarketer calling you without your permission

and i did telemarketing once...in high school i sold newspaper subscriptions...my first call i made a sale and didn't make another one....i lasted 2 days...shitty job

decides2dream

norm wrote:

i don't understand why people fell bad hanging up on telemarketers....how are you being rude? the person being rude is the telemarketer calling you without your permission

and i did telemarketing once...in high school i sold newspaper subscriptions...my first call i made a sale and didn't make another one....i lasted 2 days...shitty job

i think that may be why some might feel *bad*...b/c we all know that overall, it IS a shitty job, and most who take said jobs probably really need em, otherwise why would you willingly take such a shit job? it's like customer service, man i feel for those people!

i've always been polite in my response, tho brief...and sure, hang-up. but really, as i said...to me, not ever GETTING telemarketers calls anymore = a little bit of bliss.

Lizard

tybird wrote:

Caller I.D. is my friend.

I LOVE IT!!!

I also love the people who CALL BACK if you dialed wrong. Happens all the time at my work. They call back and say "yeah..someone just called my #". WTH??!!! If someone called me and hung up AND I did not recognize that # I sure all hell am NOT gonna call them back asking about it!!!!

"I see stupid people"

norm

decides2dream wrote:

norm wrote:

i don't understand why people fell bad hanging up on telemarketers....how are you being rude? the person being rude is the telemarketer calling you without your permission

and i did telemarketing once...in high school i sold newspaper subscriptions...my first call i made a sale and didn't make another one....i lasted 2 days...shitty job

i think that may be why some might feel *bad*...b/c we all know that overall, it IS a shitty job, and most who take said jobs probably really need em, otherwise why would you willingly take such a shit job? it's like customer service, man i feel for those people!

i've always been polite in my response, tho brief...and sure, hang-up. but really, as i said...to me, not ever GETTING telemarketers calls anymore = a little bit of bliss.

i always say"no thanks" and hang up....is that considered rude because i didn't give them a chance to respond? :? :?:

decides2dream

norm wrote:

decides2dream wrote:

norm wrote:

i don't understand why people fell bad hanging up on telemarketers....how are you being rude? the person being rude is the telemarketer calling you without your permission

and i did telemarketing once...in high school i sold newspaper subscriptions...my first call i made a sale and didn't make another one....i lasted 2 days...shitty job

i think that may be why some might feel *bad*...b/c we all know that overall, it IS a shitty job, and most who take said jobs probably really need em, otherwise why would you willingly take such a shit job? it's like customer service, man i feel for those people!

i've always been polite in my response, tho brief...and sure, hang-up. but really, as i said...to me, not ever GETTING telemarketers calls anymore = a little bit of bliss.

i always say"no thanks" and hang up....is that considered rude because i didn't give them a chance to respond? :? :?:

honestly, i think that is the most polite response possible if you have zero interest in any telemarketers. you don't waste your own time, don't waste theirs....and they can move on to the next call expediently.


i was merely discussing 'possibilities' as to why some would feel bad is all.

Heineken Helen

decides2dream wrote:

i'm truly amazed how many people pick up their phones! :P
we NEVEr answer our phone, and no we don't have caller ID. anyone who knows us, knows we screen our calls thru the answering machine before answering. now cell phones, sure..i can see answering, altho i really only get calls from my hsuband on that anyway.


(btw - i realize the OP was expecting a call, and from an unknown # - and makes total sense to answer...just that on an every day basis, i just can't see answering )

is it that bad? Fuck we get maybe one every few months... I have caller id anyway but some of my friends have their numbers on private... so there's no need to be afraid of the phone

Heineken Helen

Lizard wrote:

tybird wrote:

Caller I.D. is my friend.

I LOVE IT!!!

I also love the people who CALL BACK if you dialed wrong. Happens all the time at my work. They call back and say "yeah..someone just called my #". WTH??!!! If someone called me and hung up AND I did not recognize that # I sure all hell am NOT gonna call them back asking about it!!!!

"I see stupid people"

there may be someone they're waiting for to call them... or maybe they're applying for jobs or whatever... could be plenty of reasons

Lizard

Heineken Helen wrote:

Lizard wrote:

tybird wrote:

Caller I.D. is my friend.

I LOVE IT!!!

I also love the people who CALL BACK if you dialed wrong. Happens all the time at my work. They call back and say "yeah..someone just called my #". WTH??!!! If someone called me and hung up AND I did not recognize that # I sure all hell am NOT gonna call them back asking about it!!!!

"I see stupid people"

there may be someone they're waiting for to call them... or maybe they're applying for jobs or whatever... could be plenty of reasons

Never actually thought of that.....

Heineken Helen

Lizard wrote:

Never actually thought of that.....

seriously... i do call back the odd time, it could be somebody's work number or something if i'm waiting to hear from them. Maybe they have somebody who's missing and they answer every call :( could be waiting to hear from a client... or maybe they don't get many calls and they're just wondering who it might be

decides2dream

Heineken Helen wrote:

decides2dream wrote:

i'm truly amazed how many people pick up their phones! :P
we NEVEr answer our phone, and no we don't have caller ID. anyone who knows us, knows we screen our calls thru the answering machine before answering. now cell phones, sure..i can see answering, altho i really only get calls from my hsuband on that anyway.


(btw - i realize the OP was expecting a call, and from an unknown # - and makes total sense to answer...just that on an every day basis, i just can't see answering )

is it that bad? Fuck we get maybe one every few months... I have caller id anyway but some of my friends have their numbers on private... so there's no need to be afraid of the phone

who's afraid? :roll:


i have a phone in my home for MY convenience, not for others. i like to screen my calls and decide if i want to answer/speak to the person calling. it's quite simple. it's not just about telemarketers, it's just calls in general...interruptions, etc. if it's important, obviously i'll answer....or if i simply want to, but if i don't...then i won't. all about choice.


no 'fear' of telemarketers, b/c as i already stated we get NO telelmarketing calls ever since we registered our phones with the national do not call registry. it's fantastic!

DeLukin

The worst is when you donate to a charity and you get TONS of calls from other charities. I have a few that I trust and will donate to, but for the rest I've learned that if I say "I will not pledge a penny until you send me information about your organization" the telemarketers usually hang up on ME.

CHANGEinWAVES

I finally added my new home # to the do not call list.

I was starting to get nervous because there have been more calls about "security systems" being offered.
though the call comes up as Chris P. and what seems like a cell #.
finally I googled the # and read that they have been calling a lot of people in my area asking if they have a security system.... and offering them one if they don't.... each time they have mentioned different company names. It's obvious that it's a scam, but it reminded me to register when they called here 4 times in an hour. :roll:

iamsam_pj

my first job was working in telemarketing my freshman year of college...i lasted 3 months. i worked for a foundation at my school, calling alumni asking if they wanted to contribute money to their college w/in the university. it was the worst job for me to have being extremely shy at the time...even with a script to read from! we had to call at the worst time ever...from 6-9pm...so people weren't always receptive to my interrupting their dinner!

i was able to get a $1000 donation from a guy who just wanted his name on a brick outside of our administration building!! i thought the guy was crazy, but he did help me to win the sales competition for that month

decides2dream

CHANGEinWAVES wrote:

I finally added my new home # to the do not call list.

I was starting to get nervous because there have been more calls about "security systems" being offered.
though the call comes up as Chris P. and what seems like a cell #.
finally I googled the # and read that they have been calling a lot of people in my area asking if they have a security system.... and offering them one if they don't.... each time they have mentioned different company names. It's obvious that it's a scam, but it reminded me to register when they called here 4 times in an hour. :roll:

good job!
it IS so fabulous!



as to the scam, i would be more worried that they are looking into homes who do or don't have a security system, looking to see who doesn't...for possible 'targets'....b/c that would be perfect for someone looking for homes to rob. there are just way too many scams, and way too many people looking to get things, that i prefer as little info as possible to be given out about me, and sure...to make my home look as 'occupied' as best i can, and sure...2 dogs barking helps too. :P

The Juggler

jerry- "im sorry i dont have time to talk right now, can i call you back later at your home?"
telemarketer- "well, um, no we cant do that"
jerry- "oh okay. probably because you dont want people calling you at home right?"
telemarketer- "yeah..."
jerry- "well now you know how i feel"--hangs up