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Subject: i've made a discovery...
well, it's not so much a discovery as it is a statement of the obvious...i always get those confused. ;)
but anyhoo, i think that telemarketers are the root of all evil. yesterday, there were two companies that called my house a total of 13 times asking for my mom...i told them every time that she wouldn't be home until after a certain time and yet they continued to call. how dumb can they get? they are just so EVIL!!!
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
UGH!!! I know they are just doing their jobs, and they have to feed their families, too.....but they do get on my nerves. I usually just don't answer the phone. But when I do, I have been known to say something smarta$$ed. I know, you're all shocked by that admission... ::) LOL
A lot of times you get put on one of those automatic computerized dialers, and they just continue to call random numbers.
I kid you not, I got a call from a telemarketing company once, and it was a computer asking me to hold for the next available operator...AS IF I WOULD!!! LOL
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
I have a way of defeating those telemarketers. I have caller ID on my phone, and if the phone rings, and it says something like "out of area," "unknown" or "unavailable", I don't answer it because it's usually a telemarketer. But if I do answer it, say "hello" and there's a pause, I hang up. That's also the sign of a telemarketer, taking too long to answer your hello…
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
sell, it's not so much a discovery as it is a statement of the obvious...i always get those confused. ;)
but anyhoo, i think that telemarketers are the root of all evil. yesterday, there were two companies that called my house a total of 13 times asking for my mom...i told them every time that she wouldn't be home until after a certain time and yet they continued to call. how dumb can they get? they are just so EVIL!!!
End Quote
Yes, those telemarketers can be very dumb. ::)
They have the capability to set their call-back preferences in their computers. They can set the preferences per phone number dialed. The preferences range from call back with "x" amount of minutes to days, weeks, months AND special settings for wrong numbers, businesses and drop number/no call-back.
Those people are so desperate to make a quota, they'll set their call-back preferences without thinking, without realizing that they're blowing their opportunity just by being annoying! ::)
See, they get paid peanuts (minimum wage) unless they get a decent number of sales for the day, in which they then recieve bonus/commision pay in addition to their wage. That's where the potential bucks/dollars are! That's what drives them telemarketers!
I can't help but have a teeny-weeny, itsy-bitsy bit of compassion for them, for they are just puppets manipulated by big companies and industries making the real money. :-/
I know. I was once upon a time, in my youth, fresh out of high school,..... one of them.
Granted it was only for a couple of weeks because I couldn't stomach pushing publications down people's throats.
But I learned a couple of very valuable lessons that have kept me free of telemarketers over the years:
1) NEVER pick-up your phone. Screen your calls with answering machines, caller I.d. or whatever.
2) If you do make the mistake, TAKE CHARGE. Telemarketers are trained to be pushy and talk over you. They're not supposed to take no for an answer. You speak firmly over them and ask who they are (what company), how they got your number and then tell them Firmly to remove your telephone number and information permanently from their database.
I hope I was able to help someone out there. :-/
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
I have the best turn-off for telemarketers. I goes like this:
"Hello?"
"Hi, are you "
"Yes I am. I'm renting this house."
"Oh. Thank you."
;D
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
I bought something from a Infomercial, Big mistake. They kept calling trying to get me to invest in a 900 number. they were rude two. I had tellemarketers calling for the person who owned the phone # before Me, when I told him he wasn't there they would try there speal on me. But the worst is when you hang up on them and there sytem calls you back.
Thier responce:
"Looks like we got cut of there huh?"
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
I just say, "She's been dead for six months," and start to cry. I enjoy that in a morbid fashion.
Either that or I immediately say,"Oh my God! You called me! Thank God, I've been waiting and waiting for AGES! You know I just had my hernia fixed? Well I did. There were a few complications, you know the colon, but I muddled through. And the sores are gone, but I...." They eventually give up.
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
I find saying I'm just renting helps too,until i got one persistant guy who was hassling 'ok can you tell me where the landlord lives then?'GO AWAY!
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
I actually got a "Hi, my name is (so and so)..." and it was a recording. Usually in the case of recordings it will say something like "This is southwestern bell..." or whatever other company, but this person apparently felt the need to personalize it. Course, I hung up immediately...
Kryllith
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
I have a way of defeating those telemarketers. I have caller ID on my phone, and if the phone rings, and it says something like "out of area," "unknown" or "unavailable", I don't answer it because it's usually a telemarketer. But if I do answer it, say "hello" and there's a pause, I hang up. That's also the sign of a telemarketer, taking too long to answer your hello…
End Quote
I like to give it right back to them. You see, my theory is, if I keep them occupied that cuts down the time they can call other people. If I'm in the right mood, I'll talk to them for a while and then after they are just getting into it with me I'll say something rude (Note: Too dirty for this board) or simply say "Goodbye" and hang up ;D BTW, Crazydon....I love your new avatar.....Great Lp! There I go "Dating myself, yet again...I should have said CD!
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
True story: My former neighbor and best friend's father recieved a phone call from a telemarketer, who began talking and would not stop. After about 5 minutes, he put the phone down. A little less than 30 minutes later, he picks up the phone and realizes that the telemarketer is STILL talking, and just about to conclude! That's just pathetic. :-/
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
I have caller ID and often don't answer the "out of area" calls. I probably get at least 7 a day. If I do answer I usually say he's not here, or put me on your "Do Not Call" list. I think by law they're supposed to adhere to that request (at least in the Financial business this is true).
We've also had telemarketers call us late evenings and on Sundays.... >:(
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Most of the time I just hang up, too. But if I am in an evil mood, I play with them, too.
One was trying to sell me a time-share vacation home. No matter what, I could not get a word in edgewise. When he finally got to the end and asked me for my credit card number, I told him sweetly that I was under house arrest, and I would have to clear the "free visit" with my probation officer. Would he like that phone number? The telemarketer hung up that time.
Other times, I pretend I can't speak any English. I make sure not to use what little Spanish I learned in school, though, many telemarketers are bi-lingual these days.
If they ask for me by name, I get all coy, and ask "What is this in regards to?" It usually goes back and forth a couple of times, with me refusing to call myself to the phone until they say why they are calling. When they finally admit they are selling someting, or have a "special offer" I tell them that "Kat" is a very young child, and cannot legally buy anything.
Sometimes I'm lucky enough to get a few Porky Pig noises out of them. ;D ;D ;D ;D
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
I had telemarketer call and I told her that I wasn't interested and hung up. She called me right back a proceeded to let me have it for hanging up on her. I think that she took her job a little too seriously!!
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
sometimes, when the telemarketers call and aren't satisfied with my answer of mom not being home and they try to get me to change the long distance or order things, i just raise the pitch of my voice a little higher and say i'm under 18 and can't make those kinds of decisions for my mom. you wouldn't believe how fast they hang up when they realize that they won't be able to make a sale.
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
I added my number to the global "do not call list", which cut down greatly the number of calls I get. According to telemarketers, the worst calls they make aren't the hang ups, they know they aren't selling you anything, they're moving on. The ones that keep them on the line with the anticipation of making a sell. Easiest way to do this? Say "Can you please hold on?" and leave the phone off the hook..
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
http://www.plauder-smilies.de/happy/grlaugh.gif guys dont laugh okay. But when I was 14 I was a bit of a loner and I decided to try to make the telemarketer talk to me for a while. I had a pretty mature voice and acted so I had fun. I pretended to be a house wife when they called me during the days I had off of school. A newlywed and more.
Heres a sure fire trick though.
TeleMarketer: Hello. I'M "" and I'm selling -
You: We dont want it. Goodbye (You hang up)
They have an obligation to not call you back after those words leave your mouth.
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
I try to be polite and tell the telemarketer that I'm not interested in whatever it is they're trying to sell me. If they get persistent, I hang up. What really gets me though are the ones who go door-to-door trying to sell you something. There is one company that demonstrates/sells vacuums...and I don't know how many times I've told them to leave me alone but they still keep coming back. That's almost as bad as religious folk who knock on your door and try to get you to come to their church! Ugh! >:(
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
I had a problem with a telemarketer the other day.He was trying to sell me a cell phone and I told him I already have one and I tried to stop him but he just kept on blabbing and blabbing until I finally hung him up after in the middle of sentence and"CLICK".I shut him up.whew! -howard- :)
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
I had a problem with a telemarketer the other day.He was trying to sell me a cell phone and I told him I already have one and I tried to stop him but he just kept on blabbing and blabbing until I finally hung him up after in the middle of sentence and"CLICK".I shut him up.whew! -howard- :)
End Quote
I had a cell phone for a couple of weeks (then figured out I couldn't afford one). My very first call was a telemarketer trying to sell me a cell phone.
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
I try to be polite and tell the telemarketer that I'm not interested in whatever it is they're trying to sell me. If they get persistent, I hang up. What really gets me though are the ones who go door-to-door trying to sell you something. There is one company that demonstrates/sells vacuums...and I don't know how many times I've told them to leave me alone but they still keep coming back. That's almost as bad as religious folk who knock on your door and try to get you to come to their church! Ugh! >:(
End Quote
One simple solution to that is to go to a neighborhood hardware store and buy a sign that says "No Soliciting" and place it next to your door bell or directly on your door. :)
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
My favorite response to telemarketers goes something like this:
Telemarketer: May I speak to Mrs. Bad Angel (uh, like I'm gonna give my name over the internet. :p lol)
My response: You just did. *click*
I have been known to play along, sometimes, too. My husband asks for their phone number and time zone, so he can call them in the middle of their dinner. ;D
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
I like how "Seinfeld" handles a telemarketer:
Telemarketer:Mr. Seinfeld, are you interested in a subscription to the New York Times?
Seinfeld:Yes(hangs up)
Also, check out the "Revenge on the Telemarketers" series of CD's by Tom Mabe. Funny stuff. He really catches these bozos with their pants down.
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
I added my number to the global "do not call list", which cut down greatly the number of calls I get.
End Quote
Chucky, how do I get on that list? I get cards from my local phone carrier to add my number to a "do not call" list, but it's only good for telemarketers calling from within the state. 90% of the calls I get are from out-of-state. I'd love to get them to leave me alone, too.
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
I try to be polite and tell the telemarketer that I'm not interested in whatever it is they're trying to sell me.End Quote
Well, you've got more restraint than me!! I'm afraid I usually get uncorked and not so nicely insist that they never call my house again. And woe be unto the telemarketer who makes the third or fourth call to my number in one afternoon - they really get an earful! ;D
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
Well, you've got more restraint than me!! I'm afraid I usually get uncorked and not so nicely insist that they never call my house again. And woe be unto the telemarketer who makes the third or fourth call to my number in one afternoon - they really get an earful! ;D
End Quote
Somehow I could just "hear" you doing that, Lester! ;)
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
I had a bad experience with a tele-marketer who called to many times. This is what happened.
TeleM: Hello! Were from and were selling long distance. Is the person who pays the bills home? (I swear he said this)
Scorpian: I think so. I'm not sure.
teleM: Why don't you check?
Scorpian: Ummmm. You could call back later.?.
TeleM:Well I get off work at 5 o'clock. How about they call me.
(The conversation was getting long. I was waiting for a call from someone)
Scorpian: Look call BACK!!
TeleM: I'd rather have them call me.
Scorpian: DO YOU WANT TO SELL SOMETHING TO US OR NOT!!! (scorpians sting ha, ha, ha)
TeleM: Why yes.
Scorpian: THen call back tommorrow.
TeleM: But you said later today:
Scorpian:Tommorrow! (click)
and you can bet he called that night and tommorrow! >:
Are there ways to justify homicide? :-/
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
I have the best turn-off for telemarketers. I goes like this:
"Hello?"
"Hi, are you "
"Yes I am. I'm renting this house."
"Oh. Thank you."
;D
End Quote
My last name is Banas. That is Ban - as. I always get my name misprounced! I usually get "Mrs. Bananas?"
I always say "If you can't say my name, you haven't a prayer of selling me sh*t."
That gets them stuttering....
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
I kid you not, I got a call from a telemarketing company once, and it was a computer asking me to hold for the next available operator...AS IF I WOULD!!! LOL
End Quote
I get those calls all the time. I can't believe THEY are asking ME to hold. The nerve!
I can always tell when telemarketers are calling because as soon as I pick up the phone there's a minute of silence - then you hear tons of people talking in the background. I wait to hear them TOTALLY screw up my last name, then I slam the phone down. Have you ever noticed that once they start talking, they barely breathe between words? I guess they realize that if they pause for one second, the person on the other end is going to tell them "no."
I don't know why anyone would want to be a telemarketer. I guess if anyone did choose that career path, they would need to be able to handle rejection well.
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
I just say, "She's been dead for six months," and start to cry. I enjoy that in a morbid fashion.
Either that or I immediately say,"Oh my God! You called me! Thank God, I've been waiting and waiting for AGES! You know I just had my hernia fixed? Well I did. There were a few complications, you know the colon, but I muddled through. And the sores are gone, but I...." They eventually give up.
End Quote
You are soooooo not right in the head! I love ya!
And just when did you started taking slices of my life and telling telemarketers all about it? ;)
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
I had telemarketer call and I told her that I wasn't interested and hung up. She called me right back a proceeded to let me have it for hanging up on her. I think that she took her job a little too seriously!!
End Quote
Did that not happen at moms house last summer? !!!!!
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Here in Arkansas...you call your attorney generals office and for 10.00 they put you on the do not call list. It takes about 3 months to get you off all the lists...and then if someone calls you after that time...and you get their info...you call the AG back up and he keeps records of all it to file class action lawsuits against these companies.....and it seems to work real well!!!!!!!!!!!!
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
For your information I happen to be a telemarketer for Sprint, and I am sincerely offended by your comments. If a company has your name on a list of people to contact, the reason the same company might call you multiple times in one day is because each company actually employs more than ONE telemarketer. Your slander is not appreciated, and I happen to be a Mormon, not EVIL. I hope you grow up and learn to value the work of upstanding citizens contributing to society.
Jesus loves you,
Thomas
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Oh I hate those messages with "Please hold for an important call"..As if!! I'm like, "Uh, you called me, I am NOT waiting for you!"
I mostly do like many of you have mentioned and just refuse to answer the unknown calls. I often get anywhere from 5-10 per day! I do have a friend that always calls on a calling card, and since my answering machine is through the phone and I can't hear that it's her, she has to call right back so I know it's her. I have gotten caught on that once or twice, but not too often.
The other ones I hate...they call and ask for "Mrs. Smith"..no, 'fraid you have the wrong number. "Is this 555-5555?" um, yes, but that's not us. And then they continue on like oh well, you'll do, and try to sell us something anyway!! A lot of the time, my husband doesn't like to listen to the ringing, so he'll answer the calls. I swear they usually ask for me, for some reason..anyway, he'll say "Is she expecting your call? No? Well, is this for a credit card? A courtesy call? Nope, she's not interested." Sometimes he'll ask me out loud, and *big shock* I'm not interested! LOL! But they sure do keep trying. He actually had one guy from a phone company call once who just would not give up, even after the original answer (NO!), so he laid the phone on the counter and walked away. Eventually they hung up. ;D I understand these people are doing their jobs. But that doesn't mean I appreciate the interruption during dinner, or the phone ringing off the hook all day. Ya'll, in general, I DON'T WANT anything you are selling or begging for, so please leave me alone!! :( Have you seen those "zappers"? They are supposed to zap your number from their databases--anyone know if it really works?
I wish I had the guts to jerk them around the way I've seen mentioned here. I've gotten TONS of emails with "How to get rid of a telemarketer"..some are sooooo funny...but I just can't bring myself to use any of them! ::)
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
If you want to get rid of telemarketers real quick try this:
"Oh, I'm so glad you called! I'm an Amway distributor and..."
Click.
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
For your information I happen to be a telemarketer for Sprint, and I am sincerely offended by your comments. If a company has your name on a list of people to contact, the reason the same company might call you multiple times in one day is because each company actually employs more than ONE telemarketer. Your slander is not appreciated, and I happen to be a Mormon, not EVIL. I hope you grow up and learn to value the work of upstanding citizens contributing to society.
Jesus loves you,
Thomas
End Quote
Sorry Thomas..I am sure you are a hard working person in your field...and no slander was made toward you as a person in general.....
but..don't call my house!!!!!
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
Did that not happen at moms house last summer? !!!!!
End Quote
Yes, that is the one. I don't think that I will forget that one for a long time. She was way too aggresive with her sales pitch!!
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
For your information I happen to be a telemarketer for Sprint, and I am sincerely offended by your comments. If a company has your name on a list of people to contact, the reason the same company might call you multiple times in one day is because each company actually employs more than ONE telemarketer. Your slander is not appreciated, and I happen to be a Mormon, not EVIL. I hope you grow up and learn to value the work of upstanding citizens contributing to society.
End Quote
Sorry, but that's the worst excuse I've ever heard. A large firm like Sprint keeps a central database of numbers to call from and pools them out to the individual telemarketers. Once you ask to be removed from the list, that's it, you shouldn't be in the database for them to call anymore. Unless you want us to believe they still use pencil and paper to do all their work.
"upstanding citizens contributing to society" yeah right. There is nothing upstanding about the telemarketing industry, and they certainly don't contribute to society. But if that's what you need to tell yourself in order to continue working there, feel free, just don't expect anyone else to believe it.
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
"Oh, I'm so glad you called! I'm an Amway distributor and..."
Click.
End Quote
OMG, that one's a keeper!!!! :D
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
I was just looking at one of our local news stations websites and saw this. Thought you all might be interested since this is what the thread was about. It's about the most popular ways (equipment-wise) to stop the telemarketing calls.
http://www.seattleinsider.com/partners/kirotv/consumer/2002/05/telemarket.html
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
I have Privacy Manager with Ameritech. While it eliminated almost all of the National calls, Local calls go right through because they can be dialed without my area code. Luckily, I have caller ID!
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
I have something called Security Screen. It costs two dollars a month and works with my caller id. If a call comes through as unidentified then it gets the You have reached a number that does not accept unidentified calls. Please press 1 to identify yourself, or hang up (or something like that) Most people get right through. I have had one or two gutsy telemarketers call, but then I just tell them to take me off their list and I don't have the prob anymore. The main reason I got this was what I call ghost calls. I had (no kidding) 13 calls in one night that were unidentified and there was no one there. I know it was probably a computer waiting for an available operator or something. This is incredibly annoying.
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
our state's AG just got some kind of settlement from the telemarketers...and on my local news website they list a free service to get them to stop calling you...here is the webpage and the page lists the info
http://www.katv.com/showstory.hrb?f=n&s=41291&f1=loc
Telephone Preference Service
c/o Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9014
Farmingdale, New York
11735-9014
modified to say that the address they give is for ANYONE in ANY STATE...not just arkansas ( OK LESTER? !!!!!!)
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
Oh I hate those messages with "Please hold for an important call"..As if!! I'm like, "Uh, you called me, I am NOT waiting for you!"
End Quote
I was stationed on a U.S. Navy ship and one of the watches I had to stand was answering the Phones. I'd always geet calls like this. Usually I'd just hang up. But a couple times I make them wait 10 minutes while I found the person they were looking for.
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
I got hit with 2 telemarketers tonight. One had something useful, the other one I hung up on... :P
Kryllith
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
I got hit with 2 telemarketers tonight. One had something useful, the other one I hung up on... :P
Kryllith
End Quote
And what, pray tell, was that useful item? We're on pins and needles here! ;)
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
long distance actually, something that I usually hate dealing with. Apparently SBC just formed a deal with Sprint (I THINK, might have been MCI) so they had a pretty decent long distance plan...
Kryllith
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
long distance actually, something that I usually hate dealing with. Apparently SBC just formed a deal with Sprint (I THINK, might have been MCI) so they had a pretty decent long distance plan...
Kryllith
End Quote
Ah shucks! I was expecting something much naughtier than that..... like maybe edible undies or something.... ;D
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
Ah shucks! I was expecting something much naughterier than that..... like maybe edible undies or something.... ;D
End Quote
*laughs* I'm not sure you can even buy edible undies in Oklahoma, this place is so conservative sexually...
Kryllith
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
*laughs* I'm not sure you can even buy edible undies in Oklahoma, this place is so conservative sexually...
Kryllith
End Quote
I was told they're mandatory out here...
You want I should send out a case or five? No problem.
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
I was told they're mandatory out here...
You want I should send out a case or five? No problem.
End Quote
Sounds good to me. Course with my wife and I working different schedules and barely getting time to see each other, you might have to send someone to wear them too...
Kryllith
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
Ah shucks! I was expecting something much naughtier than that..... like maybe edible undies or something.... ;D
End Quote
my work here is done...i've successfully started a topic that has degenerated into perversion!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D i don't mind...i have a sick mind myself, which is probably why i stick around here.
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Ah, degenerates one and all, I salute you!!!!
At least we admit it...doesn't that count for something??
Nice is good, but bad is better!!!! ;) :-* ;)
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
Ah, degenerates one and all, I salute you!!!!
At least we admit it...doesn't that count for something??
Nice is good, but bad is better!!!! ;) :-* ;)
End Quote
YEAH BABY!!!!!
personally, i think everyone should embrace his/her inner perv...within reason of course. i mean that i'm all for us being degenerates, so long as we keep it legal. :D
Subject: Re: i've made a discovery...
Quoting:
personally, i think everyone should embrace his/her inner perv...within reason of course.
End Quote
Another idol for Lang! Yaaaaaay, Panda!