Awesome thing to do/say to a telemarketer

[ApK]

"Take me off your list and never call me again, you lying crook."
then I hang up and file a complaint at donotcall.gov.

It probably doesn't accomplish anything, but it makes me feel better.

[Mortis]

I read a study that said that most people won't hang up either out of trying to be polite or just out of curiosity.

In Canada we used to get called about a vacation club and they would always offer a free weekend at their resort if you were willing to sit through a 45 minute presentation. I went a couple of times as a lark when I was young, I went enough times that they refused me the 4th time Hey I was young and the drinks were free and we could golf, what more could I ask for?

I don't have a fixed line anymore so I haven't heard from a telemarketer in 10 years.

[Alm Hlgh]

Speaking of telemarketers, did you guys see the prank that Tom Mabe played on one? It is the funniest thing I've heard... Wait let me find that link... just a sec...

This is a Must See


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkdoogjic4I

[Salgueiros]

None of you guys ask for the home phone number of the marketer? I saw that one in a Seinfeld episode and i found it hilarious.

[thrawn_aj]

What are these telemarketers of whom you speak?
//No landline
///No telemarketers

[Spartacus2112]

I put them on hold and leave the phone on the counter.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Best line I heard was several years ago when we got called by a pest control company and my ex replied we didn't need any pests today.

[James_Wilde]

Originally Posted by Salgueiros

None of you guys ask for the home phone number of the marketer? I saw that one in a Seinfeld episode and i found it hilarious.

Thanks, Salgueiros, that's the one for me! I can't be bothered going through the five minutes or so of the murder scene call.

[altworld]

I spent my first two months in the USA as a Telemarketer, I hated every moment of it. You know you are calling when people are eating and you know your selling a product that is frankly crap, unwanted or wrong for the demographic your calling. Worse yet I'm English and had a heavier accent than I do now.

I got called everything under the sun and then some, it really wasn't my fault I knew my calls were disturbing you and even suggested to the Call Manager to push the calls forward an hour. The job is horrible, the Managers are horrible and only care about conversion rate. It is not a fun job.

So, do Telemarketers a favor, the ones you may pick up on by accident just politely say no thank you and confirm that your number is being removed from the call list. Don't make their life any more sucky than it already is, they are just like you trying to earn a dollar to live.

My last night with the Telemarketer group I was with was extra special. I got called into the Call Managers Office and got chewed out over my conversion rate despite coming in the top three that entire week. He called me some interesting names during that meeting. I guess he thought it would motivate me to get more. He was right, I aced the evening got the highest ever total conversions they ever got, won all the Cash bonuses, the Call Manager shook my hand and then right infront of him I told him I quit and will not tolerate being talked to like a dog at any job.

Two weeks later I finally got a job in the field I got my degree in.

The Call center closed down about 6 months into the Bush Do Not Call List policy, felt sorry for the Employees, but the Manager deservered it.

So be nice, its really not there fault.
Arigato,
Nick Davis

[ApK]

Originally Posted by altworld

it really wasn't my fault

Some one put a gun to your head an forced you to take that job?

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by altworld

I spent my first two months in the USA as a Telemarketer, I hated every moment of it. You know you are calling when people are eating and you know your selling a product that is frankly crap, unwanted or wrong for the demographic your calling...

You knew all that and yet you feel people should have been nice to you? If it had been up to me, you would have been deported.

Telemarketers, including telephone survey takers and political camPAINers (sic), are parasites who steal time from the people they call, also using phone services their victims have paid for to further the caller's own selfish purposes. Why don't you give us your home phone number so we can all call you?

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

Telemarketers, including telephone survey takers and political camPAINers (sic), are parasites who steal time from the people they call,

Well, let's not go overboard. Any one who calls you might be "stealing time" and if you didn't want that, why not just block incoming calls.

I have no problem with the ones who obey the do not call rules, put accurate caller id info on the screen, and who stop calling if you ask them not to.

It's the ones who deceive, lie, cheat, and break the law that I have a problem with. They give the other .01% a bad name....

[bevdeforges]

Telephone calls are really difficult for those of us in a country where we are speaking our second or third language and not our own. Plus, there is apparently no "do not call" list here in France - and even if there were, we can't really put our business number on a do not call list...

We get fairly frequent calls from investment companies pushing their latest tax-saving schemes to small business owners. Usually their pitch includes some kind of question about "wouldn't you like to cut your taxes?" To which I respond, "we don't pay income taxes anyhow - hard to reduce them much past zero."

Then there are the fast talkers and the mumblers. I'm fearless about telling them that I didn't understand a word of their pitch and that they're going to have to slow down and speak more clearly. They usually rattle through the same pitch at the same rate so then I tell them I still can't understand a word they're saying and I thank them for their call and hang up.

But my favorite is when the folks call to pitch their collection services for our business. I listen to their pitch and then ask them "do you break knees?" They normally act confused, so I explain, "the only customers who are slow paying are those who will only respond if someone goes over there and threatens to break their knees. Now, if you break knees, we might have some business for you." Often they hang up at that point. (Obviously collection agents in France are not often referred to as "knee breakers" but it was a common term of "affection" back in the States when I was working there...)

For the contest ones, "wouldn't you like to win a weekend in Toulouse?" I usually respond, "no, not really." That always seem to throw them - guess the French aren't really into playing with the telemarketers like I am. Ah, my "contribution" to French culture!

[Salgueiros]

Originally Posted by altworld

I spent my first two months in the USA as a Telemarketer, I hated every moment of it. You know you are calling when people are eating and you know your selling a product that is frankly crap, unwanted or wrong for the demographic your calling. Worse yet I'm English and had a heavier accent than I do now.

I got called everything under the sun and then some, it really wasn't my fault I knew my calls were disturbing you and even suggested to the Call Manager to push the calls forward an hour. The job is horrible, the Managers are horrible and only care about conversion rate. It is not a fun job.

So, do Telemarketers a favor, the ones you may pick up on by accident just politely say no thank you and confirm that your number is being removed from the call list. Don't make their life any more sucky than it already is, they are just like you trying to earn a dollar to live.

My last night with the Telemarketer group I was with was extra special. I got called into the Call Managers Office and got chewed out over my conversion rate despite coming in the top three that entire week. He called me some interesting names during that meeting. I guess he thought it would motivate me to get more. He was right, I aced the evening got the highest ever total conversions they ever got, won all the Cash bonuses, the Call Manager shook my hand and then right infront of him I told him I quit and will not tolerate being talked to like a dog at any job.

Two weeks later I finally got a job in the field I got my degree in.

The Call center closed down about 6 months into the Bush Do Not Call List policy, felt sorry for the Employees, but the Manager deservered it.

So be nice, its really not there fault.
Arigato,
Nick Davis

I totally understand you. Anyone with a IQ high enough to tie a shoelace understands that most, if not all people working in that business are either just doing it to pay their bills before they find something better, or unfortunately have no way to find something better. As a European that came to Canada, i know very well that you don't immediately find a top job in your area, so the suggestion from someone here of deportation just because you accepted a job is plain ignorant and stupid...
And they do what they do because it is what their bosses want them to do.

So, even though i myself get annoyed sometimes with these calls, i never blame the marketer, but instead the company. And i do realize the marketer is the weakest link in this whole scheme.

So, even though some of the pranks are funny, they are just punishing someone who is the easy target....

[altworld]

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

You knew all that and yet you feel people should have been nice to you? If it had been up to me, you would have been deported.

Telemarketers, including telephone survey takers and political camPAINers (sic), are parasites who steal time from the people they call, also using phone services their victims have paid for to further the caller's own selfish purposes. Why don't you give us your home phone number so we can all call you?

A little harsh don't you think? An example of one bad side of the internet in this post, me thinks.

You want me deported for taking a job and not living off welfare? Did I steal some of your money or something? Been here 10 years and paid taxes for 10 years

I worked a temporary job for a crappy company, to pay my way, to support my wife and child. I hated every moment of it and it was a total waste of my hard earned education. I was nice, polite, took people off the lists to see them get put back on again.

I did all this for two months while waiting out applications for jobs in the field I actually do work in. Certainly been a very productive member of this society without being an dick about it.

My message was simple, remember the person on the phone is just doing his job and frankly it is not worth your time to get mad at them. Simply just be nice and the calls go away. Does wonders for your blood pressure too

Apart from the oversea calling mills, 90% of the Telemarketers workers in the USA are either females or students. Is it really worth busting them to make yourself feel big?

Ever onwards, getting bent out of shape to this degree in your post is jsut not worth it.

Right, got some writing to do.
Arigato,
Nick Davis