Yeah! those are pretty funny. How many times can I get the exact same pre-recorded: “Uh… hi, this is Bob, from the wireless account center, and … um…” before noticing something’s up?
I always ask to go on the do not call list. I just wish I could do so on my answering machine. Seems they either automatically hang up, or leave the same stupid message all the time. I doubt anyone actually listens to my message.
Oh yeah, another trick they’ve been using lately is when they act like they’re a friend of my husband. “Hey, this is Mike. Is Jeff there?” So I hand him the phone, and it turns out to be a telemarketer. :mad: My husband has many friends and co-workers and paddling buddies who don’t necessarily know me, so they don’t say hi to me when I answer the phone. I certainly don’t want to have to ask people who they are and what they want before I hand off the phone to Jeff.
ummmm
Here is a new one. I have caller ID, and call blocking for anyone that has their ID blocked. In order for them to get through, they must enter their phone number so I can see who it is. Lately I have been seeing MY OWN NAME AND NUMBER come up on the ID box. Unless my wife is calling from the other phone, I ain’t a pickin up, Joe. Nice try skippy.
Scabby dorkknobs.
You might try a few suggestions from Antitelemarketer.com. While these are listed under “Cable TV” they can easily be applied to someone trying to sell you satellite TV services.
Another way to get rid of most telemarketers - go cellular. I’ve been exclusively cellular since getting broadband ten months ago. The telemarketer calls stopped immediately, and haven’t picked since. The few calls that do come in are cut off as soon as I pick up - its almost as if the computer controlling the dailer won’t let it connect to a cell phone. I haven’t heard a spiel in almost a year.
Okay, change"paddling buddies" to “friends with whom he enjoys whitewater kayaking and rafting.” Howzat? 
I knew what you meant.
My dad kayaks. For awhile, he had a vanity plate that said “PADDLER”. He must have had it two years before I realized that it could be a double entendre.
:smack:
I like the ones that pretend to be “updating your information in their database.” The last few wouldn’t even tell me what their company sells when I asked. Um, bzzt. Not gonna do it…
How about when they take advantage of you?
I called because our phone kept cutting out…we couldn’t get a dial tone. (We used our cell phone to get through.)
While I’m discussing the situation with the repair center, the guy says, “I see you’re on Blah Blah Calling Package. We can upgrade you to Blah de Blah for only…”
I snap, “Fix the damn phone, then we’ll talk!”
Sheesh.
I got one of those “regular conversation” calls the other day and I fell for it. That is, I really thought it was a live person, and I was just waiting for him to take a breath so I could tell him I wasn’t interested. He had a really worried tone, and he said he was just trying to grow his small carpet-cleaning business, and he had just hired some workers but was seeking additional contracts to keep them on full-time. If we would JUST let them come for this really great price he is SURE we would be satisfied and if not we could have our money back…
I really thought this was legit (although annoying) because the guy sounded desperate. Then he started to give the number I could call if I was interested and at THAT point I realized it was a recording! Not that I was going to say yes in any case, but I thought it was especially galling that a company that had enough money to invest in one of these marketing ploys was putting itself out there as some guy’s small struggling local business.
It might have sounded more legit if it were recorded on our machine–the leaving the number and all.
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Point well taken. And BTW, have you seen this famous post regarding telemarketers? I think it sums up our collective opinions on this issue the best.
Good stuff in that antitelemarketer.com page - thanks for the info. dwc !
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