telemarketers

[LighthouseRon]

As an owner of a small manufacturing business (most of the time it’s just me) my time is very valuable. I receive calls from telemarketers quite often and many times the person on the other end of the line won’t let me get a word in after they find out I am the owner, trying to sell their product. In the past I’ve tried to be polite and wait until their speal is completed but I just can’t waste that kind of time anymore. Most of the time recently I just interrupt them and say I’m not interested in a business-like tone. There are times when things are pretty hectic and I simply hang-up on the telemarketer. Would you say this is wrong? I’ve done my share of telephone sales as a follow-up to some information I have sent to a company through the mail, but I quickly identify myself and ask if they received my information and if they have any questions. It might take 30 seconds as opposed to the 5 minutes a typical telemarketer might require.

Thanks.

 

[sententia]

When the owner was asked for, I’d simply say she is unable to get to the phone, could you take a message.

If it’s actually something you’d be interested in,you can call back, if not, don’t worry 'bout it.

 

[Dorothy]

No, I don’t believe it is wrong to just hang up, since it is they who are intruding on you in your home.

What I have learned to do is just say, “No thank you, God bless you” (and mean it), and then just hang up.

 

[wcknight]

For those with the automatic calling equipment, it usually has a 2 or 3 second pause before the caller realizes that someone has answered the phone, on these I hang up before they can start their sales pitch. Most people who call are ready to talk right away. Only the mass telemarketers will use those calling systems.

IF it is a sale call via the normal route, I will cut in as soon as I know it is a solicitor, simply say “sorry, I;m not interested anc hang up immediately.”

It is not rude to hang up, it is your time, and they are imposing on you. PLUS you are saving them time as well, since you are not holding them up to make more calls to someone who may be more interested.

 

[Al_Masetti]

A while back, I was sitting in the reception area of a company waiting for my appointment and I was listening to the receptionist answer the phone. It seemed like about one call a minute was a solicitation call… that was about all the receptionist did was to answer solicitations.

I had no idea that the number of these calls was so high.

Since I retired, I have occasionally taken these sales calls at home,… and if I’m not busy… I engage them in conversation… until THEY hang up!!! I love particularly when it’s a political fund raising solicitation call… because I tell them WHY, IN DETAIL, they are not going to get any of my money!!! And often they are too polite to just hang up… I apologize profusely for my loquaciousness and then just keep talking … with all sorts of specifics, recommendations, suggestions… all polite, by the way… it breaks up my day…

When JW’s come to the door, I also keep them busy… keeps them from calling on other folks.

My wife hates it when I do that.

 

[mercygate]

Being a phone marketer is about the worst job you can imagine. These people work in stockades and are closely monitored for productivity. It’s a numbers game with them. Taking up their time is taking away their income. My response is always:

“I’m sorry. I do not accept telephone solicitations.” Thunk.

 

[cargau]

I own my own company. I get these calls every day. I try to be polite and considerate whenever these folks call. Afterall, they are just trying to put food on their family’s table just like me.

Since, I often suffer from a lack of patience, I challenge myself to rise above my obvious weakness and treat these callers with some modicum of respect.

If, I get one of those automated calls, I do hang up. I refuse to show human respect to a recording.

As long as we are on the topic of phone ettiquette, I will chime in that I can’t stand calling somewhere and be expected to listen to a recorded answerer and then be expected to answer a bunch of questions that have no relation to the purpose of my call. You will never call my company during normal hours and get anything less than a real human voice.

I know I got off topic a bit but it does ruffle my feathers…

 

[wabrams]

Key thing to rememeber is to ask them to take you off their list. Ask them if they need your number, if they do give it to them, and then hang up.

 

[DaveBj]

Fer cryin’ out loud, people, get your numbers on the national “do not call” list. It’s a no-brainer.

DaveBj

 

[CatholicSam]

Time is one of our most valuable commodities. Listening through five minutes of a telemarketing proposition when you know you’re not interested is wasting your time as well as theirs. However, I personally try to be polite if I have the time and am not in the middle of doing something.