I had the same problem with telemarketers not that long ago. What was worse is they were calling at all hours of the day and night, and when I’d answer I’d bo on hold!!! So, I called the phone company and they put a block on the phone for the auto dialers these companies use, problem solved.
Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.
I’m just itching for a telemarketer to call so I can put them on the phone with my son (he’s four). I don’t get that many calls though.
Now, I used to be a telemarketer. It was in 1990 and I’d been looking high and low for jobs, but if you remember that year you’ll recall jobs weren’t easy to come by, especially for an 18 year old with no experience. I took the telemarketing job and kept looking for a job until I found a better one (Pizza Hut) and then I quit. I was there a month and it is a horrible horrible job. It was either that or not eat though, so I did it for the short while that I had to.
–
From an actual catalog: “Disco balls create an enchanting, dazzling effect of light shafts, adding movement and glamour to any occasion”
the Abrams’ bris was certainly memorable
O p a l C a t
www.opalcat.com
Yes, I also was once a telemarketer. Thought that I would give it a go and see what it was all about.
The first time I just took surveys. That was a pretty cool gig for a while. You meet some pretty interesting people when they find out you are not after their money.
The second time was for sales. Found out that I didn’t have the stomache for it. The guy who trained me was a real jerk about talking to people. He was rude sometimes for no reason.
It was for windows and siding no less. After the first few questions you get to ask them about their income, and then people who get that far get upset. One guy started to rant and my trainer told him that if he didn’t get the info from the guy himself, he could just go down to the public library and look it up anyway. We were just calling out of the phone book anyway.
I worked with one girl who would tell people that asked her why she couldn’t get a better job, that she was in a wheelchair and this was the only job she could get. Untrue. She is also the one who came to work a few minutes late one day bitchin about the damn telemarketers calling her and making her late for work! Can you believe it?
Anyway, when I get those calls now, I just tell them that I am not interested, and have been there before, and I will let them go so they can get on with their jobs.
I had one guy try to sell me lawn care, after I told him that I rented sorry. He kept on going, and I said it again. I live in an apartment sorry! Once again he tried, and then finally said do you rent or own your home? Hello, are you listening? If I could grow a lawn on the second floor of my apartment building I still don’t think I would have any use for your services. Oh, so you rent? Click.
I think he was the only one I was rude to so far. Who knows there might be others out there who need to pick up the clue phone!
Okay, I’m done now. Next!
Mistress Kricket
ps, I would never do telemarketing again. I much prefer to serve food, and be harrassed in person by the late nite drunks! LOL
I don’t get to plug my web site in the Pit very often, but I have an article that ran in 1909 about a woman complaining about telephone solicitors:
Housekeeper Objects to Telephone Advertising.
This means that the 100th anniversary of selling over the telephone is fast approaching. Any suggestions about what should appear on the “Telemarketing Centennial” commemorative postage stamp?
We get a certain magazine sent to us at work free of charge. Every year they call to verify that we are still the same salon and still have the same address. This year when they called I had a shouting match with them.
I verified everything and the man asked me if our customers would like the magazine sent to them. Now, it is a trade publication. No articles per se to speak of. It mostly updates what is new in the business and reviews other things that have to do with the business. Boring stuff if you’re not in the business.
I told the guy no, he asked why and I told him what I just told you and that I was sure they wouldn’t enjoy it. And he said, “But it’s free.” I had another reason for saying no. I wasn’t about to give out our customer’s names and addresses. He just kept saying that it’s free and I kept refusing to give the info out. We went on and on and our voices got louder. I finally hung up on him. I am SO SURE that I’m going to give out our client’s name and addresse! :rolleyes:
MaryAnn
“I don’t care if it’s the queen!”
Jeannie and Green Bean,
I just wanted to let you know that your spirited defense of telemarketing scum has convinced me to have fun with the next person asinine enough to call me with a sales pitch, rather than just saying ‘I don’t buy anything over the phone’. The very concept that I should feel sympathy for someone deliberately annoying me is repugnant enough that I feel I now have an obligation to annoy them back.
If they think their best choice in ‘making a living’ is deliberately annoying me, then I have no problem with annoying them back. Their stated purpose may not be annoying me, but the job they have chosen to do intrudes into MY house during MY personal time, which bothers me personally. When someone is deliberately bothering me personally, I have no sympathy for them.
I know the relevant part of their situation, which is that they are being an asshole to me. That’s really all that matters.
What difference does it make? If they are a big enough asshole to take a job to annoy me, then I will make their l
I am - owing to the defense of telemarketers put forth in this thread, it is now my goal to make calling me with some asinine sales pitch as miserable as I can. If I make enough of the scum miserable, then no one will want the job and it will die a slow death.
An asshole in a wheelchair is still an asshole, and I don’t have any obligation to show the least shred of courtesey to someone who refuses to show any to me. You see, I believe in treating people equally without regard to things like skin color or handicapped status, so a midget lesbian in a wheelchair who is an asshole will recieve the same sort of response as a straight white guy who can walk normally.
Thank you for making me feel better about my new decision to annoy telemarketers as much as possible. If some scum can make more money by annoying me than by doing something else, then I will be sure to turn the situation around and gain amusement at their expense. The fact that some slime is annoying me for financial game only increases my contempt for them.
Kevin Allegood,
“At least one could get something through Trotsky’s skull.”
Umm, did you actually read what I wrote, or do you have comprehension difficulties?
Green Bean,
Yes, I read what you wrote and comprehended that you were trying to say that we should be sympathetic to telemarketing scum and not do anything to make their lives miserable. Because of the sheer offensiveness of your defense of telemarketers, I have decided that simply hanging up on them is much to kind for the sort of wretch that deliberately harrasses people.
Doe anyone have any good ideas about good ways to annoy telemarketers? I think I’m going to use that line from before about how I was having sex with my GF when they called, but expand it a bit. I’ll do a little bit of graphic detail (I’m thinking we should both have some sort of disease for this tale), then ask them if they mind if I continue while they give the sales pitch. When they say no, I’ll demand to talk to their supervisor and complain to the supervisor that the person is trying to tell me how to run my sex life. That should be amusing, if I can keep from laughing all the way through it.
Kevin Allegood,
“At least one could get something through Trotsky’s skull.”
Update: Just an hour ago, I got a call from a telemarketer for the Discover card. They call me a lot. What follows is an actual transcript of that call:
“Hi, I’m calling for Discover Card, and we’d like to offer you…”
“Hey, what a coincidence, I already received a Discover card that I didn’t ask for a few days ago. Would you mind cancelling that for me?”
“Um, you’ll have to call the customer service office.”
“Okay. Bye.”
Nope, I didn’t lie to him. This weekend Discover sent me a card that I didn’t ask for or want. I get a call from Discover about every third day. Anyway, it was a great excuse to get the guy off the phone. Sorry, already got one, you inadequate-record-keeping dolts! Buhbye!
This post brought to you by the US Department of Overprotective Paternalism.
OK, my turn to rant. Most of this has been covered already, but just bear with me.
First, a telemarketer is lower than maggot infested worm shit. I don’t give a fuck how long you’ve been in a wheelchair, you’re a fucking shit bag if you think you have the right to invade my privacy.
Yes, it is true about the $500. Get the shitbags companies name and try to get the number. Then ask for their supervisor. Tell them to put you on their Do Not Call List and tell them you want them to mail you a copy of their do not call policy. If they hang up on you, dial *57 and the phone company will trace the call and release the number to the proper authorties. Federal law mandates that you recieve the do not call policy within 90 days. They must also get you on the do not call list within 90 days.
If they fail to mail you the policy or they call back, contact the nearest office of the Federal Trade Commission. Give them all your info including the name of the company and the date and time they called.
You do not sue the caller, however they are fined by the FTC $500 for each occurance and you get to keep it. They will investigate phone records to verify that the call was made when you say it was. One woman on the news made $7000 in one year. It is very important that you document as much info as possible.
Your phone number is private. It belongs to you, not anyone else. Stand up for your rights.
I said it. I did it. But it didn’t go smoothly. It went like this:
TM: Hello, is Mr. or Mrs. Drollman there please?
ME: THis is Mr. Drollman.
TM: Hello, Mr. Drollman. I’m calling from Cancom.ca. Are you familiar with e-commerce?
ME: Sorry?
TM: E-commerce.
ME:Yeah, I know what it is but I’m not interested. (calm & polite) Could you please put me on your do not call list?
TM: But, sir, surely you’re aware of the power of the internet…
ME: (calm & polite) No thanks, really. Could you put me on your do not call list.
TM: But, sir…
ME: Is there a chance I could talk to your supervisor, please.
(click/click)
BOB: Bob, here. How can I help you?
ME: Hi, Bob. I’m Mick Drollman. Could you please put me on your do not call list?
BOB: But, sir…
ME: (no longer calm nor polite) I’m not interested!
And I hung up. Is it any wonder my doctor is trying to lower by blood pressure?
At leasy by messin’ with their minds I could have some fun!
My fate keeps getting in the way of my destiny.
My answer? Phone answering machine. It answers after two rings. You leave a message (or start to) or I don’t pick up. You can ring me all day long; don’t leave a message? I won’t return your call or pick up if I’m home. It’s that simple.
I had an unlisted number for YEARS and still got calls. I was paying almost 2.00 a month for the privilege of being unlisted. Did you know that you can be listed under a name other than your own? For free? Cool, huh? Try it, I did and it’s even better!
Everyone in my “family or friends” group know this “rule” of my house (that they will hit the answering machine first, I NEVER directly pick up my phone). My number is listed (under a different name) but if you don’t identify yourself, I don’t pick up. That’s my rule since I refuse to pay U.S. West 9.00 a month for caller ID (which most people can block anyway). Or the even more (in my opinion) ridiculous 6.00 a month to BLOCK the telemarketer calls. Fuck you, U.S. West! I can do all of that with a thirty dollar answering machine!
As Gr8Kat said, “You have the power”
Best!
Byz
Voted most sex obsessed. (Yeah, blow me smart ass!)
Drollman, go to this page:
http://www.junkbusters.com/ht/en/script.html
Print it out, and use it as a script the next time they call. Make sure to speak with authority (they are legally required to answer all of the questions on the page). If they try to dodge a question, just use the broken-record method:
TM: Hi! I’m Tom with the Denver Post, and I’m calling you tonight to tell you about-
YOU: Could you please tell me your full name?
TM: My what? I’m just calling to tell you about this great-
YOU: Could you please tell me your full name?
TM: My name is Tom, I already told you that, but let me-
YOU: Could you please tell your full name? You are required to do so under Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 64, subpart L.
TM: Umm…
YOU: Could you please tell me your full name?
Just keep going, either they’ll hang up on you (in which case you have won!) or they will eventually answer all of the questions (and then you’re on their do not call list, and you’ve still won!)
It’s fun.
To have your name removed from most telephone and mailing lists you should contact :
Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
PO Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008
(on the web: “http://www.the-dma.org”)
The DMA compiles a list of people who do not want to be solicited. Most companies use this list to remove names before before they contact you.
The “line” works for as well.
I always tell the telemarketers “the person your are calling for is dead and please remove them from your list”
It works!
How To Get Rid Of Jehova Witnesses
A chalk outline of a human body on the sidewalk, and a few copies of The Watchtower scattered around…
My mother (a second-generation atheist) used to say (in a very sweetvoice): “I’m sorry, I don’t give a damn about Jesus.” Worked everytime. The Witnesses just backed off the porch in slack-jawed, bug-eyed disbelief.
Agreed, we are not prepared for this one, but it has to be carried off perfectly. The more sincere you appear, the more baffled the Witness will be: Answer the door with an automatic weapon and say ‘Allah be Praised!!!’ and just see what happens.
A friend claims that when Jehovah’s Witlesses knock on her door,her first response is to ask for their address. When they ask why she wants to know,she says it is so she can visit them to push her beliefs. So far, none of them have given their address.It also marks the end of the interview. SLAM!
A guy goes up to my friend’s friend and asks, “Can I talk to you about God?” She says, “Sure, what would you like to know?”.
JW ladies come to the door. One of them has small child in tow. InterruptsSIW’s dinner. If you knew SIW like I knew SIW, you wouldn’t do that. SIW: Thank you, but I already have a religion. JW: May I ask what it is? SIW: I’d really rather not say. {Pregnant pause} I’m not sure if it’s legal in this country. Supposedly they gave her a real strange look on their way back down the stairs.
Life is a tragedy for those who feel and a comedy for those who think.
Right.
I’d venture to guess that a fair number of people who are bitching about telemarketers and how they personally (not the company they’re working for, but them personally) are assholes, why can’t they get another job, etc, are not and never have been poor.
Nope, matt, and they probably haven’t had to work as a telemarketer because it was the only third job that was available after working one full time and another part time (on weekends) at the time that would work (9PM - 11PM) while trying to support a family.
Must be nice.
Just want to throw my two cents in:
I work in the Market Research Industry and we hate telemarketers as much as that “maggot infested worm shit” guy does.
Becuase they give us a bad name. We’re the one’s that call and politely ask you for your opinions. If you give them to us, we often pay you. If you don’t want to, we politely hang up. I stress the politeness because we certainly can’t afford to offend you, the respondents, our bread and butter.
That is why I am posting - federal legislation now mandates a national DNC (Do Not Call) database - that is the one that takes 90 days to get your number onto.
The next time a telemarketer calls you, ask them to put your number on that list. 90 days later… PRESTO! No other telemarketer can call you. 
BTW, if a researcher happens to call… if you have the time, why not answer the questions. You’ve got nothing to lose but a few minutes (if you ask, they will tell you how many) and you could make things better for yourself and other consumers!
Just hadda get it in there… 
Just had to share this little anecdote from years ago when I worked as a telemarketer. For clarification’s sake, I sucked at it and quit because it gets pretty depressing being the last person in the world anyone–myself included–wanted to talk to.
I worked for a phone company–doesn’t matter which one–and had a jewel of a refusal. An elderly woman answered the phone and I jumped into my little scripted message. Her answer to my offer for better long distance was that she had no one left to call. Her husband had died the year before; her brother had died earlier that spring and there was really no one left for her to bother calling. Except a great-niece in California. With my supervisor standing over my shoulder, I begrudgingly proceeded to tell her that perhaps with better long distance rates, she might take the opportunity to stay in touch with said great-niece.
Her answer? “Aw, I don’t think so. Y’know, I don’t even have a phone.”
How can you argue with that? She was so earnest that for a split second I believed her. And when my supervisor asked why I was laughing so hard, I told him that I wasn’t cut out for pestering little, old ladies or anybody else for that matter. May be a great job for some people, but not me. sorry, no thanks.
I’ll tell you what. I’m not rich. I’m not poor, either. I’ve worked my share of shitass jobs for ~$10/hour. I have known a goodly number of ~30 year old men, both ablebodied and handicapped (mentally, physically, or otherwise(and no, I can’t think of an example for “otherwise” either, but that’s besides the point. It sounds right)) who worked the same jobs. NONE of these jobs (parking lot attendant, busboy, janitorial work) pisses off anyone (myself excluded, but that’s my own damn problem, isn’t it?).
I say one thing. If the best job the poor can get is telemarketing, then, in all honesty, FUCK THE POOR. I cannot envision a single instance under which the poor would need to resort to working as a telemarketer.
Truth does not change because it is, or is not, beleived by a majority of the people.
-Giordano Bruno