How to deal with a telemarketer

[jroc]

Originally Posted by the crispy badger

Well Mr.Originality..when someone says that to me at my call center job..I give them the office #..that shuts them up quickly.

Not trying to be "Mr. Originality" i just thought that Seinfeld moment was kinda comical... i promise i won't laugh at it ever again though because i guess it's none too original... sorry Mr. Badger...

By the way... does anyone call the office number back ever?

[J pold]

Pull a Jim Rome….. Telemarketer calls whip out the manual Buzzer

“Hello I was wondering if you are interested in…”

“EEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAHHHHH”….Than hang up

[Sled]

I stumbled upon this one when I was working for TELUS. They call and ask for furnace cleaning, long distance or what ever, you simply say "I work for your competition." Their scripts have nothing to overcome this objection as it is about the only that discourages them from trying.

I did have one person try to use their pitch for long distance to which I said "Get your best rates and beat that by 30% because that's what I get on my TELUS bill every month." At which point they wished me a goodnight.

Works for Charities as well when you tell them that you support one specific one. Morally you feel better that you actually support that cause but they generally accept that on continue on down the list.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I don't like to bug telemarketers because I used to be one. Tough way to make a living, and the only reason it's tough is because people decided it's funny to be pricks. Everyone has a right to make a living, IMO.

The ones today are pushy and rude. When I politely say i'm not interested they ask why not and try to continue their sales pitch.. I interupt and say what part of no don't you understand? Then I hang up. If you ask me the telemarketers are pricks.

Even worse is when they phone during the supper hour. My forst repsone is to ask them what do people normaly do between 6 and 6:30? There's a short pause and an answer of well I guess they're eating dinner. Click!

[Dion]

The best is when they phone my mother. My late father passed away a few years ago and mother decided to leave the phone number in his name for saftey reasons. So when they call they ask for my late father. Mother replies, "He's dead!" lol There's a long pause then a click as the person hangs up. Works like a charm!

[GreenTeaFrapp]

I've started telling telemarketers that I charge a $50 solicitation fee and if they want to continue they'll be billed. Usually gets them confused and then if they continue I tell them that the call is being recorded and I press them for an address that the bill will be sent to. They usually end up hanging up on me.

[the crispy badger]

Originally Posted by jroc

Not trying to be "Mr. Originality" i just thought that Seinfeld moment was kinda comical... i promise i won't laugh at it ever again though because i guess it's none too original... sorry Mr. Badger...

By the way... does anyone call the office number back ever?

All the times i've ever said this...not once has the person called back.I was a market reseacher trying to collect useful data and I was callled every name in the book, I sure wouldn't want to be a telemarketer

[Devils'Advocate]

Wow. Such anger. Can't say I disagree, but just interrupt and say you want to be on their "Do Not Call List". I haven't had a live telemarketer in over a year.

Now I get those stupid recorded telemarketing things.

"Hello. This is Leons Furniture. We have a special deal for our valued customers. Come in this weekend and get 10% off."

Okay, I can just hang up and not feel that I was rude to someone, but I just hate getting unnecessary phone calls in the middle of dinner.

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As for "everyone needs a job", what are you going to defend next? Spammers? If you are so hard up for a job that you need to be a telemarketer maybe you should take out a loan and go back to school. Telemarketer is somewhere between fluffer and "con man bilking seniors" in the respectibility scale.

[Eastern Girl]

Originally Posted by the crispy badger

All the times i've ever said this...not once has the person called back.I was a market reseacher trying to collect useful data and I was callled every name in the book, I sure wouldn't want to be a telemarketer

Yeah, I did market research too, for a very brief period of time when I was in school. I was absolutely astonished at the things people would say. I had someone wish cancer on me and my family, people hoping that I died a slow painful death, calling me every kind of vulgar name you could think of, being generally threatening. It was shocking.

[Devils'Advocate]

I don't understand the irrational rage against market researchers and/or survey takers. I work at Statistics Canada and I hear some horror stories.

Telemarketers who are taught to keep you on the phone until you cave and buy their product... thats GD annoying. There is a big difference between someone trying to get your opinion and someone trying to get your money.

[algernon]

I always ask what's this about? If it;s 8ull5hit, I ask for them to put me on the DO NOT CALL LIST. I haven't had any repeaters, that I know of... But I did have a vacume company ask what % of my home was carpeted? to which I replied the correct answer of 0%. They called me back 4 times...
They (Star Industries, BTW, via Call Display) also, lied to me on their initial call, claiming to be doing a 30 second survey... after the 45 second mark (and asking my income, Fav. Credit Card) I mentioned that I was busy and was done. They said OK. When Yvette called back yeterday, I asked her to put me on her DNCL. here's hope'n...

I also participate with legitement surveys: ie City of Calgary infrastucture, Province of Alberta bullet train, etc.

Theres no need to be rude to canvasers. I donate to radio stations, and the food bank. The callers usually understand. Oh, and the clothing drive is a hidden spring-cleaning gem!