Probably what would’ve happened on the TM’s end is as soon as Inky’s hijinks began and she realized he would not let her disconnect, she’d raise her hand and jump up and down in her cubicle to get the supervisor’s attention. Then, usually the supervisor would take over the call, and the TM would either hang around to get in on the excitement, or take a short smoke/bathroom break. Usually, TM’s don’t have internet access, or if they do, it is limited to only the sites used for the product being sold, etc. They’d rather have the extra (paid) break time anyway.
I must tell you that these calls are VERY entertaining in a call center, especially ones where the customers are going off the deep end and they are causing the supervisor to be flustered, too. It can be pretty funny.
There is a very simple solution, folks. Rather than being rude to the poor sap trying to make a living, just sign up for your state’s Do Not Call list. It’s not hard, and only costs a few dollars a year. It is a nice solution until the laws are changed. I haven’t had a telemarketing call since I signed up for it. For Floridians, you can go to this site: http://doacs.state.fl.us/~cs/permit/phone.html I don’t know about other states, but there must be something similar available.
I worked as a telemarketer and lasted for 2 days (back in high school) before I quit. Our situation was a little different, because I sold timeshares and was actually paid more the longer I kept someone on the phone, because the whole idea was to get you to come to the “free seminar” and there was no way of knowing at the time who would actually show up. Our calls were timed and we were paid accordingly…Inky would have been my dream call! $$$ I always assumed all telemarketers benefited from longer calls, that’s why they won’t let you get a word in…but it seems my case is not the norm. But who knows…Inky could have given someone a very big bonus!
Despite my experience on the other side, I have no patience for telemarketers and usually just say “no thanks” and just hang up. But I do think the anger should be directed toward the company, not the individual on the phone (unless they are rude).
I worked as a telemarketer for a while. I went home from work every single day in tears. I was 18 years old, it was 1990 (remember the recession? Jobs were hard to find) I lived in a big city (Phoenix) where I knew NO ONE. I finally left that job and took another where I got to drive into scary bad neighborhoods late at night to collect money from people. At age 18, at 115lbs with a 34-22-36 figure and a long blonde wig (my head was shaved, I had to wear a wig to work) Hey, sure I put my life on the line every night, but it was better than calling people who tore apart my self esteem every minute of the day. And sure, I got paid only $4.25/hr as opposed to the $5/hr that telemarketing paid, but it was still better because walking down a dark alley behind downtown past ripped up abandonned couches to meet someone at their back door to deliver their photo coupon and collect thier $14 was better than crying all night.
Eventually I lost that job because they only needed one person, not two to do it, and since I was in college (though not during working hours) they figured the other person had better availability and so they let me go. Despite the fact that I worked about twice as fast as she did. sigh
I could have gone back to telemarketing, but instead I applied for other jobs every day. In the meantime I lived on handout food because I had literally NO money. I had no electricity either, in an all electric apartment, in winter. So I had no refrigerator, no way to cook, no light, no heat, no hot water… for almost 2 months. Then the Salvation Army got my electricity turned on. I lasted about another month and a half in Phoenix before I finally moved back to Tucson, where at least I knew people.
The people on the other side of the phone may very well be doing the only job they can get. The things you say to them can hurt. They may go home in tears every night. They may feel like total worthless scum because of what they have to do. I was suicidal during that time.
I use the following: “I’m sorry, but this phone is used for business purposes and we have a No Solicitation policy.” This is said politely and a trifle sorrowfully, as if there is nothing you’d like more than to discuss vinyl siding, if only policy would permit it.
This has a success rate close to 100% – the call ends pronptly and without rancor.
As all phones are occasionally used for business, and most people prefer not to be solicited, this is the truth.
While I strongly agree that one should never be rude to the poor sack actually making the calls (telemarketing is a horrible job, and those doing it need no further punishment), I also think telemarketing as a form of advertising is intrusive and wrong, and should be fought.
I hadn’t realized before this thread that they weren’t allowed to hang up the phone. This is great! From now on, my conversations will go like this:
TM: Blah blah blah?
Me: No offense to you personally, but I find telemarketing to be morally reprehensible. Therefore, in protest, I will not hang up the phone. Hopefully, you’ll get a coffee break out of the deal.
(leave phone off hook)
How could this be wrong? It’s polite. The employee gets a break. The telemarketing company loses money. Telemarketing hopefully becomes a less viable form of advertising.
So the other day my phone rings for the forth time in 2 hours. I snatch up the receiver to stop it ringing so my baby won’t be awakened abruptly, thereby necessitating 20 mintues of crying, screaming and general cayings-on.
LG: Hello?
TM Hi, may I speak to Mrs. Lennygirl?
LG: Speaking.
TM Mrs. Lennygirl, this is Captain Hoosimawhatchis from the local fire department. . .
LG: (heavy sigh) I’m sorry, I can’t donate any money right now.
TM: Oh no, no, no, no,no! We just wanted to remind you to change the batteries in your smoke detector! You have a nice day now!
LG: (in small voice coming from below, because she now feels 2 feet tall) Oh. Thank you.
