# The end of telemarketing?!?! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 27, 2003, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738 "2003-06-27T12:22:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/1 "2003-06-27T12:22:53Z")
I’m not sure if anyone posted this yet, but signup for the national do not call list starts today. The list should be enforced by Oct. 1st. The website to sign up is located [here](http://www.donotcall.gov/). An article about it can be found at [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/06/27/do.not.call.ap/index.html). yay. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/2 "2003-06-27T12:57:25Z")
Definately not the end yet. Many organizations are exempt, although they say they are looking to unexempt some of them. But still a good thing to sign up for. I already took the opportunity and will encourage every one I know to do so as well. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/3 "2003-06-27T14:27:48Z")
Yeah, political calls are specifically exempt. And it only really starts today for those states west of the Mississippi River. Those of us in the east have to wait until the 7th or 8th. Be warned. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/4 "2003-06-27T14:35:52Z")
It probably won’t be the end of telemarketing. This morning on NPR they cited a figure that on average the typical American (family?) buys 3 things over the phone a year. I can tell you I’m one that’s dragging down the average. And since I never bought anything that was solicited to me over the phone, they won’t be losing any money in sales by having me on the Do Not Call list. So as far as they’re concerned about me, it’s same as it ever was. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/5 "2003-06-27T14:37:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > \*\*Yeah, political calls are specifically exempt. > > And it only really starts today for those states west of the Mississippi River. Those of us in the east have to wait until the 7th or 8th. > > Be warned. \*\* Only if you sign up by telephone. You can sign up online starting today from anywhere in the US. [http://www.donotcall.gov/](http://www.donotcall.gov/) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/6 "2003-06-27T14:41:21Z")
Other exemptions include charities, surveys and businesses the call recipient has engaged in commerce with sometime in the past 18 months. Now, when are they going to get around to spam? ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/7 "2003-06-27T14:51:30Z")
I have been on the Wisconsin DNC list since the first of this year, and my telemarketer calls have dropped way down. I still get a few, but not very many. Maybe 2 a month, and my caller ID usually weeds those out. The DNC lists do work. It has been a sweet relief. I signed up for the National DNC list last night, as soon as I heard I could. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/8 "2003-06-27T15:01:01Z")
NPR just reported that 100 people a second are signing up. To any telemarketers out there, yes, you are that annoying 😃 ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/9 "2003-06-27T15:04:13Z")
Bout time, I’m off to sign up. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/10 "2003-06-27T15:14:20Z")
I’m in. Don’t you just love how they exempted political calls. :rolleyes: Haj ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/11 "2003-06-27T15:22:42Z")
I live in a state bisected by the Mississippi; am I in on it right now or not? (Actually, I live on the west bank of the Mississippi, but the east bank is…due west of me. Riiight.) Here in Louisiana, they’ve had a statewide DNC list that we’ve been on for the past year or so. Alas, the governor just signed a bill gutting it rather thoroughly. Gotta love this place. Louisiana, home to the best politicians money can buy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/12 "2003-06-27T15:28:57Z")
Anyone notice how they ask for your email? Does this mean I will be getting more spam? ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/13 "2003-06-27T15:52:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Edward The Head \* > \*\*Anyone notice how they ask for your email? Does this mean I will be getting more spam? \*\* They ask for your email because they need to send you a verification message, which you need to respond to in order to complete the process. ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/14 "2003-06-27T16:50:25Z")
I can’t get the frigging registration to work at that damn site. I think the hamsters are dead. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/15 "2003-06-27T17:00:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Edward The Head \* > \*\*Anyone notice how they ask for your email? Does this mean I will be getting more spam? \*\* This is either a very clever and witty bit of cynicism, or the most sweetly optimistic thing that I have read in a very long time. Either way, thanks for bringing a smile to my face! ---
**Author:** ![Reus\_Mean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/47e85d/32.png) [@Reus\_Mean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reus_Mean)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/16 "2003-06-27T17:04:51Z")
I used to get nearly 3 calls a night from telemarketers, But no more I say! And I say it loud, with a raised hand and finger pointing to the sky accompanied with bellowing laughter aplenty YAAHAHAHARR! (cause I’m a pirate) ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/17 "2003-06-27T18:31:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scout1222 \* > \*\*It probably won’t be the end of telemarketing. > > This morning on NPR they cited a figure that on average the typical American (family?) buys 3 things over the phone a year. > > I can tell you I’m one that’s dragging down the average. And since I never bought anything that was solicited to me over the phone, they won’t be losing any money in sales by having me on the Do Not Call list. So as far as they’re concerned about me, it’s same as it ever was. \*\* I personally find this hard to believe. Virtually everybody I know, strictly on a matter of principle, refuses to buy _anything_ from a telemarketer. Ever. Telemarketers are unanimously hated amongst my family, friends and co-workers. If this statistic were determined by the people who place an inbound call to order something, then 3 things per year would sound a lot more realistic. As far as families buying from an outbound caller is concerned, I’d say the average is vanishingly close to zero purchases per year. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/18 "2003-06-27T18:43:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Binarydrone \* > \*\*This is either a very clever and witty bit of cynicism, or the most sweetly optimistic thing that I have read in a very long time. Either way, thanks for bringing a smile to my face! \*\* You’re welsome. I’m not sure which it is supposed to be, a bit of both I suppose. All I know is that I haven’t gotten any email since I registered this morning. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/19 "2003-06-27T18:48:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dwc1970 \* > \*\*As far as families buying from an outbound caller is concerned, I’d say the average is vanishingly close to zero purchases per year. \*\* Either that, or the few people that _do_ buy stuff from telemarketers buy a LOT of stuff every year. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738/20 "2003-06-27T19:47:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*Either that, or the few people that _do_ buy stuff from telemarketers buy a LOT of stuff every year. \*\* They must have talked to my mom. She’s the only person I know who LIKES getting spam and telemarketing calls. Robin [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-telemarketing/184738.md?page=2)