, and I'm going to take an opposing tack to most of her commenters.
Most telemarketers are just low-skilled workers trying to make ends meet, and I don't have a personal problem with them. It's honest - if low-status - work.
If you REALLY want to be nice to them, hang up on them AS SOON AS POSSIBLE so that they can move on to someone who might actually be interested. Probably some lonely elderly person.
Don't worry about hurting their feelings. Wasting their time hurts more.
UPDATE 4-27-05 7am: My personal preference is to wait until I know it's a telemarketer - which never takes long, because I habitually answer the phone "Olson residence, Harvey speaking." - and as soon as some voice asks me (after that tell-tale pause while the dialing software connects us) "May I please speak to Mr. or Mrs. Olson?" I know it's a telemarketer, because no human being who'd heard what I just said would answer me that way. So I respond in a pleasant voice "No thank you, good-bye" and hang up without waiting for a response from them.
Now they can call someone who cares.
1
Conversely, you can try to convert them to Mormonism and invite them to your bigamist llama orgle in Utah.
Posted by: Tom at April 27, 2005 01:27 AM (UCGFN)
Posted by: Tom at April 27, 2005 04:50 AM (UCGFN)
3
It will require hanging up, as they do have to go through a flowchart script that answers every nice no with another compelling reason to buy.
I did my three weeks of boiler room, werd.
Posted by: Brian J. at April 27, 2005 05:42 AM (V04ml)
4
And what's wrong with bigamist llama orgle s?
Posted by: Ogre at April 27, 2005 06:00 AM (/k+l4)
5
Although I do agree it's a low paying/skilled job....I have also known people that have done it and know the "schemes" they are trained to do that aggrivate the hell out of me. Very sneaky and I've been burned a few times by trying to be nice.
Although I joke about making up answers, to be honest, my usual routine is to try for 5 minutes to tell them I'm not interested.
Some of the behind the scenes stuff is shady...and I just think it's plain wrong!
Posted by: Sissy at April 27, 2005 06:09 AM (PjqiK)
6
I actually almost always immediately hang up. This was the one case where I was curious and let her get to her 3rd question. But either way, I am never rude. It makes no sense.
Posted by: Bou at April 27, 2005 06:18 AM (z7nbM)
7
Usually when they call me, as soon as I know they are a telemarketer I make the following statement, "I'm not interested, please don't call me again." I will then hang up on them. It seems to work.
Posted by: Contagion at April 27, 2005 07:03 AM (Q5WxB)
8
I usually hang up, but when I get stuck, I usually have a little fun with them too!
Posted by: oddybobo at April 27, 2005 07:25 AM (6Gm0j)
9
I tell them that this is my cell phone and to please make a note of that.
Most telemarketers don't want to piss off perspective customers. And a person that has to pay for a phone call will be pissed off - and not a customer.
Even if it is a home phone, you can tell them that it is forwarded to your cell.
Personally, I consider it an invasion of privacy. It shouldn't be an "opt-out" list, it should be an "opt-in" list.
Posted by: _Jon at April 27, 2005 08:04 AM (ewFgD)
10
Yesterday must have been telemarketers day, or else they all started working though the phone book alphabetically at the same time because I got 5 or 6 calls in just a short space of time. I use a response similar to Contagion, only I tell them I have whatever it is they are selling (I really enjoy saying that to people trying to sell me telephone service) and not to call again, and then hang up. Ironically, I just got a call as I was typing this--it was a recording that started "Please don't hang up." LOL!!!!
Posted by: Susie at April 27, 2005 11:36 AM (IPJ6q)
11
I breathe deep and ask what they're wearing.
Posted by: Toluca Nole at April 27, 2005 05:27 PM (1CFO2)
12
It got to the point a few years ago we simply got caller ID, a pair of cell phones and the answering machine does the rest.
I haven't delt with a telemarketer since.
Posted by: Blogless brother at April 27, 2005 09:49 PM (6cyEp)
13
I am with blogless brother on this, caller ID is a god send.
If we don't know the person the answering machine picks it up.
We talk to no telemarkers now.
Posted by: Machelle at April 28, 2005 08:04 AM (ZAyoW)
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