So much telemarketing hate!

[JSB_01]

Okay, judging by this thread and others, I'm beginning to feel as if me trying to get my point across isn't doing much good. I cannot speak on behalf of telemarketers, since I've never been one. However, I do know how they feel, since I am treated like one.

Basically, if somebody is calling for a survey or donations, and if they ask for you by name, then let them know that they are speaking to who they want to. And after they say what they're calling for, say "Sorry, I'm not interested, thank you. Can you take me off your call list?" This usually should usually work. That's how it was done where I worked. It may not completely get rid of calls, but I think you have a better chance. But has anyone considered actually doing a survey? Even if it takes 5 minutes? It can't be that bad, and it’ll help whatever the cause may be.

I know what calling is like because I've done it, and I hate the feeling of people yelling and getting upset and taking it out on me as if I'm the one who runs the business or corporation. We the callers are more than likely on the lowest rung of the ladder in these organizations. So the next time you get a surveyor or donation seeker, I'm not even asking you to be nice. I'm simply asking you to consider it.

 

[JSB_01]

When an unknown caller calls and asks if the are speaking to "Mrs. John Doe" we never confirm or deny to whom they are speaking. Here is why. The caller is verifying a presumed association between a name and the number dialed. Once verified, they frequently re-sell this "improved" list to others. Even charities and non-commercial entities do this. We refuse to help "list verifiers" as they are simply pursuing a monetary motive we do not wish to aid.

In the case of the alumni association, the contact person does have an association with the school. Some of them have donated in previous years, and some of them I’ve called have never received calls before. So we check to see if they would like to continue or start donating. As for surveys, there was one in particular where we got numbers from a state agency (Parks and Wildlife.) Other times numbers were chosen randomly in an attempt to get statistics from across the board, rather than from specific areas. All the surveys we did were for local and state agencies/governments. The reason I bring this up is that when there’s a problem, people like to complain about the government not doing its job. But when the chance comes to voice an opinion that goes directly to a particular agency, no one takes advantage of it.

All this would be simpler if you checked your number againt the do-not-call list first, before dialing, and *voluntarily* chose not to dial that number. We don't want strange people calling on the phone asking for info, money, or opinions. Its that simple. The rage you encounter is generated by literally hundreds of calls preceding yours that ignore this simple idea. We have had the phone ring 3 to 4 times per hour all day for weeks on end. When you pick up nearly all are hangups or "hum" calls. (Machine generated.) Your efforts to seek goodwill cannot compete with experiences like this.

You need to complain to someone higher than the caller, then. Like I said, the callers have no control over this. I don’t compile the list of numbers. No caller does. Why don’t all of you guys lobby to the government if it bothers everyone to such a degree? That would make the most sense. I can GUARANTEE yelling at the caller or continuing to hang up on the caller will do NOTHING in the long run. They may not call for the rest of the night. But they’ll call the next. And the next. And the next.

 

[herenthere]

LOL

Hi........JSB 01

Are you back for round two?
LOL

 

[JSB_01]

LOL

Hi........JSB 01

Are you back for round two?
LOL

Hopefully not!
I'm obviously almost alone on this subject, and now I feel like it was a mistake starting this thread.
Oh well, I'll let it go. I've said I needed to say. Hopefully it wasn't all in vain!

 

[JSB_01]

Not if I make the caller's eardrum bleed with a loud, high whistle blast.

Oh, but there are many of us.

Many, many of us.

You just wait......you'll find out soon enough....



Note: I'm being sarcastic, just to let everyone know before I get attacked.

 

[neruda]

Ive been one of those both in India and in the US.
We Indians have begun to make a living off of the system.
Its funny most of us cant even understand when the American guy at the other end is being downright rude or not.
We just pull back our headphone for a wee bit of fresh air and battle on.....

 

[StlKj]

Caller ID and answering machine. If the number is unavailable, then so am I. If it's someone important, they will leave a message and I'll call back. There's no need for me to be rude since there's no need for me to answer it anyway. I'm not a slave to my phone--it gets answered when I am willing to do so.