# How do you handle telemarketers? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 23, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331 "2003-01-23T01:12:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/121 "2003-01-26T21:09:18Z")
They start talking to me as if I am the one who would be purchasing anything from them. So I interupt them and say “Oh, would you like to talk to my dad?” then I set down the phone and go to the tv. I come back a minute later and see if they’re still there (they rarely are) and say “He’ll be here in a second.” Repeat. I’ve had one stay for a few minutes. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/122 "2003-01-26T22:32:11Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by glee_ > Telemarketers just phone everyone, including: > > - those who are waiting for an urgent call > - those who only want to be disturbed by an urgent call > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > Really? My mother sometimes phones me when I’m waiting for an urgent call, but I politely explain the situation. I guess you’d have me swear at her and make threats? I love hearing from my mother. I’m sorry you rank getting a call from yours with getting one from a telemarketer. And why on earth would I swear at her? I don’t even swear at telemarketers (though some have sworn at me on this thread.) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > Or, as a cold-caller, he says “Would you like cheaper gas?”. But we use only electricity. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > So say “I heat with electricity. Goodbye.” What’s so hard about that? Haven’t you read the thread? 😕 Look at how many calls innocent people get from telemarketers, and you’re not bothered that these pests may literally have nothing useful to offer. Why do you think there is a legal right in parts of the US not to get these irritating calls? You think there isn’t a problem, even though they’ve legislated against the entire industry? > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by glee_ > Surely, if he’s a good salesman, he leaves to work in a decent, satisfying sales job that identifies potential customers, not that simply alienates masses of people. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > Identifies potential customers? Sure, they could get their hit rate up a little bit by culling out the people who heat with electricity, don’t own a car, or whatever… but perhaps that would cost more than making a few wasted calls. Phone time is cheap. Yes, and quality work needs effort. Why bother when you have desperate people who just read from a script selling stuff that is so poor quality they can’t sell it by decent means. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > A telemarketer talks to a lot more potential customers every day than a car or appliance salesman. There’s no waiting around for someone to enter the store, and very little wasted time with customers who obviously don’t want to buy anything. Ah, yes, no waiting for customers who want your product. No effort to find them either. Just mindless dialling. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > Does telemarketing alienate people? Sure, a lot of people have made up their minds never to buy anything over the phone. But you’d be surprised how many of those very same people will change their minds, once the right person calls them. I realise there are many silly people who can be fast-talked into buying something they don’t want. I just don’t want to have anything to do with an industry that relies on finding them by irritating everyone else. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > Also, doesn’t a good salesman analyse why he got rejected, then do something about it. Since telemarketing automatically includes rude rejections, don’t the competent ones leave for a better job? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > You keep repeating that question, as if asking it over and over will change the answer. Annoying, that repetition,isn’t it? Why it’s just like…telemarketing! :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > The competent ones stay because they do well. The ones who can’t keep up go away. Perhaps we’re using different definitions of competent. I assume you mean ‘able to put up with endless hostility, while reading from a script, never getting trained and thinking this is a satisfying job because I can redial people who don’t want to speak to me’. I was talking about the competence of a real salesman (not unqualified cold-callers). I gave the example of my mate, who recently retired after a distinguished selling career. He analysed market trends, kept careful databases on customers and their needs, made selections of clients to invite to product launches and trained his staff to do likewise. A million miles from telemarketing, wouldn’t you say? > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by glee_ > Don’t you agree that telemarketing is has a massive turnover; and the competent quickly leave to get a better job? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > Massive turnover, sure. At the place I worked, we hired a few new people every week, and most of the time they couldn’t cut it, and were gone by the end of the week. But the ones who did well stayed. Funny, most industries would be concerned about massive turnover. Unless they were a low-standard company just looking for an endless stream of unqualified short-term employees… > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > Why would the incompetent ones stay? The managers don’t want to pay them if they aren’t making sales. See above for what competent means in this context. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > Don’t you think railroads have a useful function? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > Sure. And obviously some people think telemarketers have a useful function–after all, people keep buying stuff from them. Gosh, that’s your definition of ‘useful function’? :eek: So you must think confidence tricksters and swindlers have a ‘useful function’ too - after all people keep giving them money too. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > I got a phone to have interesting conversations, not get cold-called regularly. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > Do you go on an inane rant whenever a conversation turns out to be uninteresting? No, I’m not a telemarketer. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/123 "2003-01-27T01:30:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > **Look at how many calls innocent people get from telemarketers, and you’re not bothered that these pests may literally have nothing useful to offer.** Key word: **may**. You may heat with electricity, but if your neighbor heats with gas, he’s probably interested in getting cheaper gas. Obviously someone wants it, because someone keeps buying it. > [@](#): > > **Why do you think there is a legal right in parts of the US not to get these irritating calls? You think there isn’t a problem, even though they’ve legislated against the entire industry?** You’re using patterns of U.S. legislation as indication of a societal problem? I think you overestimate the intelligence of our government. > [@](#): > > **Yes, and quality work needs effort. Why bother when you have desperate people who just read from a script selling stuff that is so poor quality they can’t sell it by decent means.** Did you skip over the posts where I, and others, explained that it’s more than “reading off a script”? Next you’ll be describing surgery as “cutting people open and poking around inside”. :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > **Ah, yes, no waiting for customers who want your product. No effort to find them either. Just mindless dialling.** If you could spend $100 to dial everyone in a target area, or spend $75 to narrow down the list and another $75 to dial the remaining names, which would you choose? (Assuming you’re a rational businessman–feel free to correct my assumption.) > [@](#): > > **Perhaps we’re using different definitions of competent. > I assume you mean ‘able to put up with endless hostility, while reading from a script, never getting trained and thinking this is a satisfying job because I can redial people who don’t want to speak to me’.** Never getting trained? I could have sworn I was trained, monitored, and coached. My friend at a different place trained for a week before they’d even let him near a phone. I know this is IMHO, but some of these strawmen have to go. > [@](#): > > **I gave the example of my mate, who recently retired after a distinguished selling career. He analysed market trends, kept careful databases on customers and their needs, made selections of clients to invite to product launches and trained his staff to do likewise. > A million miles from telemarketing, wouldn’t you say?** Sure, it’s a totally different kind of sales. Driving a train is nothing like designing a bridge, but they’re both called “engineers”. > [@](#): > > **Funny, most industries would be concerned about massive turnover. Unless they were a low-standard company just looking for an endless stream of unqualified short-term employees…** That’s how it goes with ‘unskilled’ work. I imagine they have high turnover at McDonald’s, too. > [@](#): > > **Gosh, that’s your definition of ‘useful function’? :eek: > So you must think confidence tricksters and swindlers have a ‘useful function’ too - after all people keep giving them money too.** Except con men and swindlers are defrauding customers. I’ve never defended fraud, and if you’re being lied to, I encourage you to report whoever’s doing it. Marketing is about bringing customers and products together. If you see an ad on TV that informs you about something you want, you and the company are both better off. Telemarketing does the same for the people who want the product. It irritates the ones who don’t want it–but so do TV commercials, junk mail, and phone calls from annoying cousins. ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/124 "2003-01-27T02:13:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > **If you could spend $100 to dial everyone in a target area, or spend $75 to narrow down the list and another $75 to dial the remaining names, which would you choose?** Is the $50 dollars the company saves worth poisoning the public’s general opinion of an entire industry? ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/125 "2003-01-27T05:39:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > Look at how many calls innocent people get from telemarketers, and you’re not bothered that these pests may literally have nothing useful to offer. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Mr2001_ > Key word: may. You may heat with electricity, but if your neighbor heats with gas, he’s probably interested in getting cheaper gas. Obviously someone wants it, because someone keeps buying it. I think the key word is pest, actually. I already suggested that people who buy from fast-talking cold-callers are silly. Let me expand on that. I have a relationship with decent companies. I buy my computers from Dan, and my DVD’s from Amazon. I have favourite restaurants and I repeatedly buy from all these (and other) places. They keep a few simple details on me, which helps them offer me further quality products. Who on earth has a relationship with a telemarketing operation? Who eagerly contacts a telemarketing operator to ask about their new products? Which telemarketers care about who they sell to? (No sale? Phone another victim!) Aren’t telemarketers selling products that are so rubbishy they can’t be sold through respectable retail outlets? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > Why do you think there is a legal right in parts of the US not to get these irritating calls? You think there isn’t a problem, even though they’ve legislated against the entire industry? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > You’re using patterns of U.S. legislation as indication of a societal problem? I think you overestimate the intelligence of our government. I certainly don’t overestimate the intelligence of any government! (They’re better than telemarketing, but that’s not saying much.) However, the telemarketing industry has a unique honour among businesses. **It is the only one where Governments acknowledge that the business is so intrusive, and offers so little benefit, that decent people need the legal right to be protected from it.** What a condemnation! > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > … quality work needs effort. Why bother when you have desperate people who just read from a script selling stuff that is so poor quality they can’t sell it by decent means. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > Did you skip over the posts where I, and others, explained that it’s more than “reading off a script”? > > Next you’ll be describing surgery as “cutting people open and poking around inside”. Well we could do a comparison with the medical profession if you like: My mate is a doctor. He needed brilliant school results to even get into Medical School. He trained for 7 years, including extensive on the job training. His job has the respect of the public. He gets immense job satisfaction and works with a dedicated team to serve society. He will be a doctor till he retires. Perhaps you could correct any mistakes in the following: John Smith is a telemarketer :o. He needed no qualifications to get into telemarketing. He had simple initial training in dialling numbers, reading a script and typing answers into a computer. His job is loathed by the public. He hates his work and doesn’t know many of his co-workers (because they keep leaving). Society has banned his industry from even approaching any customer who makes a simple legal declaration. He will get out as soon as he can. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > Ah, yes, no waiting for customers who want your product. No effort to find them either. Just mindless dialling. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > If you could spend $100 to dial everyone in a target area, or spend $75 to narrow down the list and another $75 to dial the remaining names, which would you choose? (Assuming you’re a rational businessman–feel free to correct my assumption.) Of course **quality businessmen don’t use telemarketing at any price**. They want to have a pleasant relationship with customers and get the priceless ‘word of mouth recommendation’. If you know any rational businessmen, ask them how important ‘word of mouth recommendation’ is. (Clue: it’s a lot more than saving $50 and simultaneously annoying almost all potential customers.) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > Perhaps we’re using different definitions of competent. > I assume you mean ‘able to put up with endless hostility, while reading from a script, never getting trained and thinking this is a satisfying job because I can redial people who don’t want to speak to me’. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > Never getting trained? I could have sworn I was trained, monitored, and coached. My friend at a different place trained for a week before they’d even let him near a phone. Well I have a description of telemarketing from a telemarketer right here. Addressing the appalling employee turnover of the industry, he said: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* (bolding mine) > That’s how it goes with **‘unskilled’ work**. I imagine they have high turnover at McDonald’s, too. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > Marketing is about bringing customers and products together. If you see an ad on TV that informs you about something you want, you and the company are both better off. Telemarketing does the same for the people who want the product. It irritates the ones who don’t want it–but so do TV commercials, junk mail, and phone calls from annoying cousins. Stopping people in the street to thrust a leaflet in their hand is ‘marketing’? 😕 That needs less skill than telemarketing (and you can’t say that about many jobs!). Why do you think people go to Business School to learn marketing? I already gave a list of how I rank various advertising methods. (Amazon 5 stars etc…) I could add that TV commercials are designed to entertain by artistic professionals, and filmed using top actors and directors, many of whom are delighted to do the work. Telemarketing is ‘unskilled’ work, done by people with no qualifications, who don’t enjoy their work, and is aimed at everyone even if they can’t possibly want it (guaranteeing massive customer dissatisfaction). And I’m sorry to hear that you have an annoying cousin who is paid to phone you… ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/126 "2003-01-27T11:53:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > **I have a relationship with decent companies. I buy my computers from Dan, and my DVD’s from Amazon.** Would that be the same Amazon that claims to have invented the practice of buying products by clicking a button (“One Click Shopping”), and threatens their competitors with lawsuits because of it? Yeah, that’s decent. > [@](#): > > **Aren’t telemarketers selling products that are so rubbishy they can’t be sold through respectable retail outlets?** Some probably are, I wouldn’t know. Of course the same is true of TV commercials, magazine ads, newspaper ads, and direct mail. > [@](#): > > **Perhaps you could correct any mistakes in the following:** Sure. My comments in **bold**. John Smith is a telemarketer :o. He needed no qualifications to get into telemarketing. He had simple initial training in dialling numbers, reading a script and typing answers into a computer. **(Actually, he was trained to use the software; speak clearly and confidently; build rapport with customers; answer questions about his product/service; pick up on customer interest and cues; and respond to objections with persuasive rebuttals. He may start with a script, but as he becomes familiar with it, he’ll improvise on his own. His calls are monitored by managers, who take him aside and coach him on his technique when necessary.)** His job is loathed by the public. He hates his work and doesn’t know many of his co-workers (because they keep leaving). **(He knows most of his co-workers, because they’ve been there longer than he has. He knows which of them are good at their jobs, and tries to learn from them.)** Society has banned his industry from even approaching any customer who makes a simple legal declaration. **(Is that unique? Try approaching customers on the street outside a retail store after they tell you to stop, and see how quickly you get sued.)** He will get out as soon as he can. **(Only if he’s no good at his job, or something with better pay comes along.)** > [@](#): > > **Of course quality businessmen don’t use telemarketing at any price. They want to have a pleasant relationship with customers and get the priceless ‘word of mouth recommendation’.** Hmm… you might be familiar with a little organization called the Red Cross? How about Camp Fire or the Girl Scouts of America? They use telemarketing to collect donations. > [@](#): > > \*\*And I’m sorry to hear that you have an annoying cousin who is paid to phone you… \*\* Does it matter if he gets paid? According to you, all that matters is it’s **my** phone and **no one** should call without my prior consent. ---
**Author:** ![NailBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@NailBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NailBunny)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/127 "2003-01-27T17:02:11Z")
Sweet fancy Moses, is _this_ still going on? Can’t you just agree to disagree or something? Telemarketers need to realize that people are going to be annoyed by them no matter what they do, how nice they are or how hard they work. It’s definitely something to consider when you go into that job. People who hate telemarketers need to realize that this is not a blight on humanity or a plague of evil telemarketers bent on world domination; it’s a nuisance and unfortunately one of the many you have to deal with when you are an adult. Sorry 'bout that. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/128 "2003-01-27T17:17:23Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by glee_ > I have a relationship with decent companies. I buy my computers from Dan, and my DVD’s from Amazon. > [@](#): > > \*originally posted by Mr2001 \* > Would that be the same Amazon that claims to have invented the practice of buying products by clicking a button (“One Click Shopping”), and threatens their competitors with lawsuits because of it? Yeah, that’s decent. You seem to have a deeply misguided idea of business. I don’t know anything about the facts of this dispute, but are you saying Amazon didn’t invent and copyright this practice? Or that companies shouldn’t be allowed to protect their copyrights and patents in the courts? In any case, they’re not offending masses of **customers** daily with shoddy business practices. > [@](#): > > _originally posted by glee_ > Aren’t telemarketers selling products that are so rubbishy they can’t be sold through respectable retail outlets? > [@](#): > > _originally posted by Mr2001_ > Some probably are, I wouldn’t know. Of course the same is true of TV commercials, magazine ads, newspaper ads, and direct mail. Ah, but my point was that quality products can be sold without offending customers. Telemarketing relies on fast-talking, not on the product. > [@](#): > > _originally posted by glee_ > Perhaps you could correct any mistakes in the following: > [@](#): > > _originally posted by Mr2001_ > Sure. My comments in bold. > > John Smith is a telemarketer . He needed no qualifications to get into telemarketing. He had simple initial training in dialling numbers, reading a script and typing answers into a computer. > ( **Actually, he was trained to use the software; speak clearly and confidently; build rapport with customers; answer questions about his product/service; pick up on customer interest and cues; and respond to objections with persuasive rebuttals. He may start with a script, but as he becomes familiar with it, he’ll improvise on his own. His calls are monitored by managers, who take him aside and coach him on his technique when necessary.** ) > His job is loathed by the public. He hates his work and doesn’t know many of his co-workers (because they keep leaving). > ( **He knows most of his co-workers, because they’ve been there longer than he has. He knows which of them are good at their jobs, and tries to learn from them.** ) > Society has banned his industry from even approaching any customer who makes a simple legal declaration. > ( **Is that unique? Try approaching customers on the street outside a retail store after they tell you to stop, and see how quickly you get sued.** ) > He will get out as soon as he can. > ( **Only if he’s no good at his job, or something with better pay comes along.** ) So you admit telemarketers need no qualifications- and this telemarketer agrees: > [@](#): > > _originally posted by AfterAugust_ (bolding mine) > Also keep in mind that people who are telemarketers don’t do it because they like it, they do it because they need a job, and **it’s something anyone can do**. As for ‘trained to use the software’, isn’t this a simple program that just responds to customer prompts? They don’t write the software, do they? What further training do telemarketers get? ‘build rapport with customers’ - what, like this telemarketer: > [@](#): > > _originally posted by Snooooopy_ > And I’m going to be very happy at the thought of having inconvenienced you yet again. ‘pick up on customer interest and cues’ - what, like this telemarketer: > [@](#): > > _originally posted by Mephisto_ > At the end of a rude call, most telemarketers would hit the “Call Back” button on their keyboard instead of one of the buttons that would prevent somebody from getting called back. Most telemarketers didn’t mind wasting a few seconds to irritate somebody who was perceived to be a jerk. ‘respond to objections with persuasive rebuttals’ - what, like this telemarketer: > [@](#): > > _originally posted by Lissa_ > …my company actually listened to calls we made and would chastize us for taking “no” for an answer. We actually had a chart of responses for such cases, and were told to keep talking until the customer hung up on us. Next comes ‘(a telemarketer) knows most of his co-workers, because they’ve been there longer than he has. He knows which of them are good at their jobs, and tries to learn from them.’ [/quote] Ah, those ‘long-serving’ ‘helpful’ telemarketers - like these: > [@](#): > > _originally posted by Lissa_ > Having worked as a telemarketer for four, terrible, long days… > [@](#): > > _originally posted by Mephisto_ (bolding mine) > It’s a sucky job. Few people choose that line of work because they think it’s a fun way to spend a life. **Most of my co-workers were people who lost their jobs because of things like plant closures or were unable to find “real” work for one reason or another.** > [@](#): > > _originally posted by NailBunny_ > I was once a telesurveyor, and when I think of the laaaaaughs we had making fun of people like you who thought they were making us soooooo saaaaaad…I must admit it makes me chuckle every time. > [@](#): > > _originally posted by AfterAugust_ > Just because I was one for a whopping 5 weeks, doesn’t mean I liked what I did… > > …As for the sales skills question, there really isn’t any. It’s basically all luck. On any given day, I could make the same amount of sales, or even less, than the person next to me who talks in monotone, can barely speak english, and is eating a bag of chips while taking calls… I am puzzled by your comparison of the unique legal right to ban all telemarketers with ‘…approaching customers on the street outside a retail store after they tell you to stop…’. Does that happen to you a lot? You also claim that telemarketers are waiting for e.g. a better-paid job to come along. Could you give an example of another job, paying the same, which you would **not** give up telemarketing for? > [@](#): > > _originally posted by glee_ > Of course quality businessmen don’t use telemarketing at any price. They want to have a pleasant relationship with customers and get the priceless ‘word of mouth recommendation’. > [@](#): > > \*originally posted by Mr2001 \* > Hmm… you might be familiar with a little organization called the Red Cross? How about Camp Fire or the Girl Scouts of America? They use telemarketing to collect donations. I am sorry to hear that. Presumably charities feel they should use the cheapest alternative, and that people will understand why. I personally make allowance for worthy causes - but **not** for businesses run for profit. > [@](#): > > _originally posted by Mr2001_ > According to you, all that matters is it’s my phone and no one should call without my prior consent. I look forward to you finding that quote. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/129 "2003-01-27T17:25:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NailBunny \* > Sweet fancy Moses, is _this_ still going on? Can’t you just agree to disagree or something? Well that’s sensible. (But I am making slight progress - one telemarketer accused me of being boring through constant repetition, so now he has at least had a taste of what telemarketing is like.) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NailBunny \* > Telemarketers need to realize that people are going to be annoyed by them no matter what they do, how nice they are or how hard they work. It’s definitely something to consider when you go into that job. Very true. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NailBunny \* > People who hate telemarketers need to realize that this is not a blight on humanity or a plague of evil telemarketers bent on world domination; it’s a nuisance and unfortunately one of the many you have to deal with when you are an adult. Sorry 'bout that. Don’t hate the sinner - hate the sin! Are you saying we shouldn’t protest about nuisances? Surely that’s one of our democratic rights! ---
**Author:** ![NailBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@NailBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NailBunny)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/130 "2003-01-27T17:53:51Z")
Protest all ya like, **glee** , not that you need _my_ permission…you’ve certainly been dilligent enough about it so far. However, you can rant and rave and plan and plot all you like, and it will not change the fact that you’re going to get these calls for the rest of your life, especially if you don’t even tell them No Thank You Take Me Off Your List. Maybe there’s something wrong with me; maybe I just don’t mind speaking to other humans on the phone as much as most people do; maybe I’m just way too forgiving or friendly…I can just think of so many other way more annoying things than having to take six seconds of my day to refuse a sales call. Just doesn’t bother me that much. It takes different strokes to move the world, yes it does. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/131 "2003-01-28T02:45:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > **You seem to have a deeply misguided idea of business. > I don’t know anything about the facts of this dispute, but are you saying Amazon didn’t invent and copyright this practice?** Absolutely. Patenting the process of buying something online by clicking a button is akin to patenting the concept of putting products in boxes for retail sale–it’s plainly obvious to anyone in the field. The patent should never have been granted, of course; but the fact that Amazon applied for it, and has used it to threaten their competitors, calls their “decency” into question. > [@](#): > > **Ah, but my point was that quality products can be sold without offending customers. Telemarketing relies on fast-talking, not on the product.** Or both. That guy on the Micro Machines commercial talked pretty fast, but I never bought any of those little cars because I didn’t like the product. > [@](#): > > **So you admit telemarketers need no qualifications** You don’t need a degree. It’s “unskilled” work in the same sense as flipping burgers, typing letters, answering phones, hauling boxes, or waiting tables: it doesn’t mean they’ll literally take anyone off the street, nor that there are no skills involved; it means anyone can do it with a little training, if they’re motivated. > [@](#): > > **As for ‘trained to use the software’, isn’t this a simple program that just responds to customer prompts? They don’t write the software, do they? What further training do telemarketers get?** Yeah, it’s a simple program. But you’d be surprised how many people can’t use computers, even at that level – some people have to take classes to learn Word and Outlook. > [@](#): > > \*\*‘build rapport with customers’ - what, like this telemarketer: > > ‘pick up on customer interest and cues’ - what, like this telemarketer: > > ‘respond to objections with persuasive rebuttals’ - what, like this telemarketer:\*\* Care to take another shot at understanding what I actually wrote? > [@](#): > > **I am puzzled by your comparison of the unique legal right to ban all telemarketers with ‘…approaching customers on the street outside a retail store after they tell you to stop…’. > Does that happen to you a lot?** Never has. I’ve never been called back by a telemarketer after asking them not to call back, either. > [@](#): > > **You also claim that telemarketers are waiting for e.g. a better-paid job to come along. > Could you give an example of another job, paying the same, which you would not give up telemarketing for?** I wouldn’t have left for anything in foodservice, sanitation, or a job that would put me at risk of physical harm (e.g. working with machinery). Telemarketing was frustrating at times, but I never worried about getting sick or injured from it. ---
**Author:** ![consolid8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@consolid8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/consolid8)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/132 "2003-01-28T04:41:30Z")
Usually we just say no to anyone who solicits us, but sometimes we jab back at the caller, especially if they don’t accept a simple no. We live 10 miles out of town and on the second infraction we allow the window salesman or water conditioner people to set up appointments and then ‘forget’ and leave the house when they’re scheduled. Most don’t call back after two rounds of that game. One rainy saturday I talked to someone for over an hour about some cruise and when she finally asked if I was really interested I told her no, but I was bored and stuck home with a sick kid and just enjoyed talking with an adult for awhile. She had the nerve to hang up on me! How rude can a caller get? I find that asking a female caller what she’s wearing is an effective deterrent as well. Especially if I get to ask about details. And asking the caller if he’s ‘saved’ can really shorten a call, too. No matter what they say, keep asking about their salvation. And here’s a really bad but effective thing we did once: Shortly after our 3rd child was born my wife picked up the phone, listened a bit, then said, “The baby died.” She listened a bit more then said, “EXCUSE ME, THE BABY DIED!” She listened a little bit more, then hung up. “What the heck was that?” I asked her. The telemarketer lady was selling whatever it was to new parents and had asked how the new family member was. She then ignored the response and went happily into her spiel. When my wife interrupted her with the second comment the caller gasped, went totally silent, then quietly hung up. We didn’t get any more baby stuff calls and I doubt the lady on the phone line enjoyed the rest of her day too much…I like to think she went out and found some honest work instead. (The baby is now seven years old, BTW.) ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/133 "2003-01-28T05:21:35Z")
I got a telemarketing call today … from “Seventeen” magazine. I wound up with a subscription a little while back, even though I’m a 29-year-old male, after a sports magazine I was subscribing to went out of business. In such cases, they offer to give you the balance of the subscription in any number of magazines, but if you don’t send back the little card that they send you with all of the choices, they pick a magazine at random. I did learn a lot about prom dresses, I have to admit. Oh, and what to do if I get pregnant. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/134 "2003-01-28T10:11:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by consolid8 \* > \*\* > [snip] > > And here’s a really bad but effective thing we did once: > > Shortly after our 3rd child was born my wife picked up the phone, listened a bit, then said, “The baby died.” She listened a bit more then said, “EXCUSE ME, THE BABY DIED!” She listened a little bit more, then hung up. > > [snip] > > We didn’t get any more baby stuff calls and I doubt the lady on the phone line enjoyed the rest of her day too much…I like to think she went out and found some honest work instead. (The baby is now seven years old, BTW.) \*\* Hey **consolid8** , yer a real comedian mate. Y’know what? The lady that you spun your bullshit too probably DID have a very bad day after that. While you might have considered it a bit of sport, did you consider that the person you were egging-on might have felt for YOU?? There have been a number of occasions when I have been moved to tears of grief and/or admiration for the folks I have spoken to on the phone in my role as a telemarketer. I have spent hours in some instances ‘counselling’ people who have had shitful things happen to them: in one case it was a woman who’s daughter had committed suicide a few days before and didn’t have anybody else in her life to talk about it to. I have rung ‘emergency services’ wen somebody picked up the phone but did not answer (and the noises that I heard indicated that they had fallen or collapsed). Just yesterday one of my coworkers spoke to a five-year old kid who was home alone while her parents went out to work…we kept ringing and ringing every five minutes until we found another adult home…(turned out that the NES grandma was at home all the time, but WE weren’t to know that!!) Every day at least once I chat to an elderly or lonely person who is more than happy to give me their life story in exchange for my time on the phone. I enjoy those conversations more than anything. I like having to step out of my ‘automaton’ role and truly engage with people…it’s what makes my job really worthwhile. And ALL of my coworkers have the same attitude. So, sure, if it gets a telemarketer off your back, then chuck them some bullshit whenever you feel so inclined. But just remember that we don’t ALWAYS forget our conversations with you immediately, and we share tears amongst ourselves when people share their troubles with us (and their joys too funnily enough). Your baby’s ‘death’, while fucking hilarious to you, might have had greater repercussions than you might imagine. Hope you enjoyed YOUR laugh **consolid8**. I just reckon you are a complete fucktard, but, hey…I’m just a telemarketer. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/135 "2003-01-30T04:39:48Z")
Well \*\* kambuckta\*\*, it sounds like you’re a nice person, but I still don’t want to get telemarketing calls from you. I hope you quit your telemarketing job and get a job where you don’t call me. And I hope you volunteer with Meals on Wheels or donate some time at a local retirement home. That way I’m happy and you still get to help people who really appreciate you. What if a hit man said he was proud to kill people since one time he killed a guy who was suffering from cancer. (Obvious clarification of analogy here. I’m not saying telemarketers are hit men. I’m trying to say that having one beneficial outcome does not make the all occurrences justified.) Think if you had a job clubbing baby seals (Obvious clarification of analogy here. I’m not saying that telemarketers kill baby seals or anything. I’m saying that they have a job that’s legal, but it’s a job that most people don’t like them to do.) A seal clubber probably says he’s just trying to make a living and that it pays well and that he tried to get other jobs but he just couldn’t find any. But I doubt if you’d find many people who would praise him for the job he had. Other than those people who benefit from the seal fur trade that is. So **kambuckta** , nothing personal, but I hope you quit your job and never go back. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/136 "2003-01-30T17:27:33Z")
And check [this yahoo story](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030130/ts_nm/telecoms_telemarketers_dc_4) out. Four telemarketing groups are suing to prevent the creation of a national do-not-call list. The telemarketing groups want to make sure they are able to call people who don’t want to be called. Currently many states have a do-not-call list, but it only prevents businesses within that state from calling people on that list. So, for example, if a telemarketing company is in Kansas, it only has to obey the Kansas do-not-call list. It can call people in all the other states without regard to those states’ do-not-call lists. The national do-not-call list would be a way to close that loophole. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/137 "2003-01-31T01:02:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NailBunny \* > However, you can rant and rave and plan and plot all you like,… Rant? Rave? Plan? Plot? You seem to read too much into my simple idea of leaving the telemarketer hanging. Anyway a friend just told me that here in the UK we can now deal with this nuisance: Just phone BT and ask for ‘Telephone Preference Service’. Ah, the peace and quiet! > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NailBunny \* > and it will not change the fact that you’re going to get these calls for the rest of your life, especially if you don’t even tell them No Thank You Take Me Off Your List. As I said previously, I have tried asking them to take me off their list. It didn’t work. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NailBunny \* > Maybe there’s something wrong with me; Maybe - you did work as a telemarketer… > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NailBunny \* > maybe I just don’t mind speaking to other humans on the phone as much as most people do; maybe I’m just way too forgiving or friendly…I can just think of so many other way more annoying things than having to take six seconds of my day to refuse a sales call. Just doesn’t bother me that much. Ah, if only it were six seconds (incidentally you can stop what you’re doing, reach the phone, identify the caller, refuse the spiel and get back in just six seconds?) a day. As I said previously (do read the thread next time), Motorgirl has had 37 calls in a day - would that bother you? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NailBunny \* > It takes different strokes to move the world, yes it does. Maybe - I wouldn’t work as a telemarketer… ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/138 "2003-01-31T01:31:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > Patenting the process of buying something online by clicking a button is akin to patenting the concept of putting products in boxes for retail sale–it’s plainly obvious to anyone in the field. The patent should never have been granted, of course; but the fact that Amazon applied for it, and has used it to threaten their competitors, calls their “decency” into question. Wow! So (if I understand you correctly) a company applies for a patent, is awarded it and uses its legal right to defend itself against patent infringement. You state that: a) they shouldn’t have applied for the patent b) they shouldn’t have been granted the patent c) it is not ‘decent’ of the company to protect its patent Have you much experience of patent law? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > Ah, but my point was that quality products can be sold without offending customers. Telemarketing relies on fast-talking, not on the product. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > Or both. That guy on the Micro Machines commercial talked pretty fast, but I never bought any of those little cars because I didn’t like the product. Surely a **quality product from a reputable company** doesn’t need random cold-calling, causing irritation to most of the potential customers? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > So you admit telemarketers need no qualifications > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Mr2001_ > You don’t need a degree. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > (Sigh) Do you need a High School Certificate? > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Mr2001_ > It’s “unskilled” work in the same sense as flipping burgers, typing letters, answering phones, hauling boxes, or waiting tables: it doesn’t mean they’ll literally take anyone off the street, nor that there are no skills involved; it means anyone can do it with a little training, if they’re motivated. So you admit telemarketers need no qualifications? > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Mr2001_ > Yeah, it’s a simple program. But you’d be surprised how many people can’t use computers, even at that level – some people have to take classes to learn Word and Outlook. I am surprised that every US school pupil doesn’t have computer training. [QUOTE] \*Originally posted by glee \* ‘build rapport with customers’ - what, like this telemarketer: ‘pick up on customer interest and cues’ - what, like this telemarketer: ‘respond to objections with persuasive rebuttals’ - what, like this telemarketer: > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Mr2001_ > Care to take another shot at understanding what I actually wrote? Let’s see. You claim telemarketing needed the above skills. I quote telemarketers who patently **don’t** use them. And this means I don’t understand you? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > I am puzzled by your comparison of the unique legal right to ban all telemarketers with ‘…approaching customers on the street outside a retail store after they tell you to stop…’. > Does that happen to you a lot? > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Mr2001_ > Never has. I’ve never been called back by a telemarketer after asking them not to call back, either. Let’s see. I point out that telemarketing is the only industry that has had a law passed protecting the public from it. Actual legislation to defend the public against a nuisance! You reply with an example of **something that has never happened**. 😕 I point out this is a silly example. You reply that you personally haven’t experienced a problem (even though others on this thread have). And your point is? > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Mr2001_ > I wouldn’t have left for anything in foodservice, sanitation, or a job that would put me at risk of physical harm (e.g. working with machinery). Telemarketing was frustrating at times, but I never worried about getting sick or injured from it. You don’t feel you might have been emotionally damaged by the constant hatred from the public? You don’t feel you might have had to take time off to cope with depression, stress or anxiety? You don’t feel telemarketing has affected your ability to argue cogently? ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/139 "2003-01-31T05:44:27Z")
Another good way to repel telemarketers is to pretend to be practically deaf. God, I’m not EVEN going to try to bother if I think I’m gonna be shouting throughout the conversation. Besides, most of the practically deaf people I talk to are also old, and it’s hard to pry credit card numbers out of old people. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331/140 "2003-02-01T23:56:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > \*\*Wow! > So (if I understand you correctly) a company applies for a patent, is awarded it and uses its legal right to defend itself against patent infringement. You state that: > > a) they shouldn’t have applied for the patent > b) they shouldn’t have been granted the patent > c) it is not ‘decent’ of the company to protect its patent > > Have you much experience of patent law?\*\* I know how patent law works. I’m sure someone at Amazon thought it was a great business decision to apply for such an obvious patent. However, the problem here is that the patented “technology” is blatantly obvious, on the same level as [Microsoft Patents Ones, Zeroes](http://www.theonion.com/onion3311/microsoftpatents.html). The latter is a funny story in _The Onion_ that we read for a laugh; the former is a tragic indictment of our patent bureau. > [@](#): > > **Surely a quality product from a reputable company doesn’t need random cold-calling, causing irritation to most of the potential customers?** Does any product _need_ any specific form of marketing? > [@](#): > > **So you admit telemarketers need no qualifications?** Yawn. “Have you stopped beating your wife?” > [@](#): > > **I am surprised that every US school pupil doesn’t have computer training.** Some schools are a little more concerned with fixing leaky roofs than buying computers. > [@](#): > > **You claim telemarketing needed the above skills. I quote telemarketers who patently don’t use them. > And this means I don’t understand you?** If they don’t use those skills, they don’t make sales. That’s how it works. You listed a handful of examples, but you must try to see the forest instead of the trees. Rudely dispatching an irate customer once in a while isn’t going to harm your sales, but if you rudely dispatch _everyone_, you’ll be looking for another job soon. > [@](#): > > **I point out that telemarketing is the only industry that has had a law passed protecting the public from it.** Um… meat packing? Drug manufacturing? There are regulations and restrictions on _hundreds_ of industries. Restaurants, like telemarketers, can also be fined if they don’t follow strict guidelines; does that mean there’s something wrong with restaurants? > [@](#): > > **You don’t feel you might have been emotionally damaged by the constant hatred from the public? > You don’t feel you might have had to take time off to cope with depression, stress or anxiety? > You don’t feel telemarketing has affected your ability to argue cogently?** There were people who had been there much longer than I had, and they seemed all right. “Constant hatred” is an overstatement. I made dozens of calls a day–perhaps a hundred–and only a few people were rude. There were a lot more people who went out of their way to be nice to me than to be rude. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-telemarketers/150331.md?page=8)