# I am a telefundraiser
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [December 14, 2002, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734 "2002-12-14T15:41:20Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2002, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/41 "2002-12-16T19:35:55Z")
For those of you in telemarketing, you have to know that some number of the people you’re calling resent the intrusion. Some of you have said that some people like getting the calls. Is there some ratio which you think makes it alright? Like as long as you get one person who liked the call, it’s okay to deal with five “toerags”? What if 50, 75, or 100 percent of the people were toerags. Would you stay at your job if 100 percent of the people were upset that you called?
If you’re so concerned with brightening people’s day, just stay at home and call random rooms at a nursing home. I’m sure they would all love to speak with you. And it’d be even nicer since you’re not trying to sell them something.
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### Author:  [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2002, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/42 "2002-12-16T20:09:28Z")
Just as long as you don’t call me at 9am sunday morning asking for money we’ll get along just fine.
Well fine being defined as me screaming obsenities if called any time other than between 9pm and 10 pm.
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### Author:  [@elfoldo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfoldo)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2002, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/43 "2002-12-16T21:05:33Z")
I consider telemarketers like spammers. I’m sure the spammers have similar arguments about how they’re just doing a job and that some people like to get email, etc. I don’t understand how some people here are patting this guy on the back.
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### Author:  [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2002, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/44 "2002-12-16T21:20:39Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by heresiarch \*
> \*\*I know this thread isn’t entitled “Ask the telefundraiser,” but how much of a cut does the telemarketing company take from the charity? Is it a percentage or a fixed rate or some other arrangement?
> \*\*
AFAIK, the t/m company recieves a ‘fixed’ rate, the advantage to raising lots of money being the assurance that the company will keep the contract in future years and perhaps attract new ones. We phone workers only recieve an hourly rate, with no commission or bonus’ paid regardless of our ‘success’, but nor are we ‘docked’ if we have a lousy day/week.
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### Author:  [@Rug\_Burn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rug_Burn)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/45 "2002-12-16T21:23:55Z")
This thread reminds me why I got my home phone disconnected about a year ago. The wife and I both have cell phones and with the money I was paying each month for the opportunity to answer untold number of telemarketer calls, I am paying for my cable modem connection. Life is bliss.
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### Author:  [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2002, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/46 "2002-12-16T21:31:49Z")
**Kambukta** , I think that is one of the things that makes a difference. As I have understood it, many of the actual telemarketers in the States work mainly/only by commission which is probably where some of the rabidity comes from. Since you and I are on flat-rate pay we have no advantage in being aggressive or trying to convince people who don’t want to know.
For the people who have missed it, please notice that none of the 3 people who have stated in this thread that they work with the phone are selling anything. Also, only one of them is based in the USA, where the majority of the complaints appear to be coming from. I at least am working in (my wag) a very different situation to the ones you describe.
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### Author:  [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2002, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/47 "2002-12-16T22:17:47Z")
What you might not understand is that I don’t care why you are calling. I don’ t want to hear from you. So whether you’re selling time shares or collecting money for children with cancer, I don’t want you to call me.
I wouldn’t have a problem with telemarketing if you could only call those people who wanted the calls. Like, it’s no skin off my nose if people watch the Home Shopping Network. But you’re calling a huge pool of people to try to find the few who will pay.
What is your success rate anyway? I would guess it’s less than 10%. So you’re probably pissing off a large number of people to find the few who want what you’re offering.
How many telemarketing calls do you want a day? The number of calls I want is 0. Somehow in your head you’ve rationalized a justification for pissing me off just because it’s your job or because someone down the street from me is lonely and likes to talk. Maybe that lonely guy liked talking to you, but I think your job is scummy and I wish you would quit. (That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re scummy. You can go on to other things. Leave now before you’re jaded.)
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### Author:  [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2002, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/48 "2002-12-17T00:12:47Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \*
> \*\*I was a sportswriter for several years, so it’s not like it’s terribly important to me to have a job where people like me.
>
> And it almost goes without saying that earning your respect isn’t terribly important to me, either. \*\*
Right on!
You’ve got a tough job, but admitting to it on SDMB, earns you a place in the “Secure Person Hall of Fame.”
And a question to everyone else. Why do people answer the phone when they’re eating dinner, on the toilet, making love, in the middle of their favorite rerun of MASH? If it’s that sacred of a time, let the machine answer for you, and return the call later.
I just don’t understand that.
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### Author:  [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2002, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/49 "2002-12-17T00:28:28Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Ice Wolf \*
> \*\*It’s a poor show when people can’t start a thread, expressing pride in what they do, without having naysayers come in and try a trampling all over them.
>
> I’ve said it before in another, nastier thread – I don’t give money, or buy stuff, from telemarketers (pleading poverty, here), but I am polite to them, firm in my denial, but without being rude. Good on you, **Snooooopy** , for starting this thread, and telling us why you like your job.
>
> Ignore the grizzlers. \*\*
What if he had started a thread saying he sold crack for a living? Frankly, I consider crack dealers and telemarketers on the same level. Neither is hurting anyone, really (People aren’t forced into buying crack, and telemarketers are just annoying, not really hurting anyone). But the reaction wouldn’t be “So what? He’s finally found a job! Why don’t YOU hire him, if you find what he’s doing so objectionable?” It would be “Why don’t you get a good job? A real, honest job?”
I really don’t see why I have to be POLITE to someone who is, to me, annoying at best, infuriating at worst, and really, does the same amount of approximate harm to me, as an individual, as the crackhosue that I always try to avoid when I’m walking in the sleazy part of town?
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### Author:  [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2002, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/50 "2002-12-17T00:36:59Z")
**Snoooooooooooopy** , you’re a much better and stronger person than I. I can count on one hand the number of ‘virtual friends’ who knew I spent a couple of months raising money for the Democrats after I got laid off last spring.
I’m not sure what made me feel worse - the idea I was telemarketing, or the idea that people who hardly knew me would shun and think less of me for coming up with a way to pay my car insurance.
Good on ya, hon. Hang in there 🙂
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### Author:  [@Essured](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Essured)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2002, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/51 "2002-12-17T00:56:35Z")
I personally can not stand telemarketing. I hate it with a passionate (and occasionally irrational) burning hate.
Please note, I did not say I hated telemarketers. I think telemarketers are no different from any other sales person or spammer. They are people and I believe they deserve at least initial politeness, as does every other human being, IMO.
That said, as long as people buy or donate when a telemarketer calls, the job of telemarketing will continue to exist. I do my best to ensure I am not subject to too much telemarketing, but I do not take my frustration out on the telemarketer. I am annoyed that _I_ have to take action to try and minimise this irritant, but I realise that that is currently how the world is and I can’t change that.
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### Author:  [@badmana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badmana)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2002, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/52 "2002-12-17T02:16:07Z")
I think some people have an irrational hatred of telemarketing.
I used to work as a proxy solicitor…which means I’m calling people too lazy or dumb to vote on their shares of whatever company. I didn’t really mind it (good pay) and it’s funny when I got someone who went nuts on me. I mean, I couldn’t say it to them but it’s THEIR money that’s paying ME to call them. The only reason why I’m calling is because 10% of people vote via mail, and they need 50% or more. Why the hell shout at me to get a real job? I’ve got a job, it pays well, and I get to watch as people who don’t vote hold up changes to the fund…which in turn loses more money (the longer we have to work at getting votes, the more money they lose).
I can understand when someone’s trying to SELL you something but when you go all crazy on people helping you make money, I dunno, I just have to shake my head.
I now work for an inbound call center and I don’t deal normally with regular customers (thank the gods). I have the perverse pleasure in cold transferring any customers who calls my line for help to CS (customer service) whose hold time is probably 20+ minutes.
MUAHAHAHAH!
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### Author:  [@Tretiak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tretiak)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2002, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/53 "2002-12-17T02:25:08Z")
I don’t hate telemarketers. I simply, early in the call say I am not interested and hang up. Call over, time elapsed, maybe 10 seconds.
Good luck Snoooooopy.
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### Author:  [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2002, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/54 "2002-12-17T10:39:43Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Flymaster \*
> \*\*I really don’t see why I have to be POLITE to someone who is, to me, annoying at best, infuriating at worst, and really, does the same amount of approximate harm to me, as an individual, as the crackhosue that I always try to avoid when I’m walking in the sleazy part of town? \*\*
I must have missed where you were asked to be polite Flymaster? In fact, I must have missed where you were asked to open your mouth at all? This is like the people who open threads marked TMI and complain about the contents.
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### Author:  [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2002, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/55 "2002-12-17T13:32:14Z")
Allright, here is the scenario:
A telemarketer calls me and I say “I am sorry but I am too busy to talk to you right now, why don’t you give me your home phone number and I will call you later while you are eating dinner”.
How many telemarketers would give me the number?, I thought so.
IF I CAN’T CALL YOU THEN YOU SHOULDN’T CALL ME!.
unclviny
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### Author:  [@heresiarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heresiarch)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2002, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/56 "2002-12-17T13:49:49Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Flymaster \*
> \*\*What if he had started a thread saying he sold crack for a living? Frankly, I consider crack dealers and telemarketers on the same level. Neither is hurting anyone, really … \*\*
🙂 This is great! Satirically comparing telemarketers to crack dealers is a light-hearted but thought-provoking way to point out that some people get just a little too worked up over minor intrusions.
I like how subtle your post is. It’s such an over-the-top comparison, but you almost make it sound reasonable. I just wonder if it’s so subtle that people might actually think you were serious.
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### Author:  [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2002, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/57 "2002-12-17T17:43:21Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by unclviny \*
> \*\*Allright, here is the scenario:
> A telemarketer calls me and I say “I am sorry but I am too busy to talk to you right now, why don’t you give me your home phone number and I will call you later while you are eating dinner”.
> How many telemarketers would give me the number?, I thought so.
> IF I CAN’T CALL YOU THEN YOU SHOULDN’T CALL ME!.
>
> unclviny \*\*
My home number? No problem. It’s 976-ANAL.
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### Author:  [@Azure\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azure_Eternity)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2002, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/58 "2002-12-17T18:05:52Z")
Why get so worked up about telemarketers? As long as people keep buying or donating over the phone, there will be telemarketers. Yeah, it’s annoying. But complaining about it all the time and yelling at the people who do it wastes your time and elevates your blood pressure. With all the stupid, unfair things that go on in the world, telemarketing is the least of my worries.
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### Author:  [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2002, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/59 "2002-12-17T18:31:28Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \*
> \*\*My home number? No problem. It’s 976-ANAL. \*\*
Thanks for making my point for me, it IS an intrusion for me to call you, but you are “just doing your job”, I go back to my first statement:
GET A REAL JOB.
unclviny
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### Author:  [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2002, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-telefundraiser/142734/60 "2002-12-17T18:51:51Z")
Huh huh huh huh … I said “anal.”
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