| Author | Thread |
|
|
01/23/2007 09:05:48 AM · #1 |
This story is just so funny, I had to share it. I am so sick of telemarketers calling that I've decided to try something new. Many of you know that I have a young son (20 months old) who adores copying mommy and daddy, especially when it comes to talking on the phone.
We had a telemarketer who has been calling all week at the same time (thank you caller ID). Well, last night I decided to let them speak to a representative of the household. When the phone rang at 7:30 sharp, I picked up the phone and handed it to my son. He politely answered "Hello!?!". What followed was approximately 30-45 seconds of incoherent baby babble. Apparently it was something my son was not interested in so he wrapped up the conversation by saying "OK... bye bye" and then promptly hung up the phone. I doubt they'll be calling back.
hehehehehe |
|
|
|
01/23/2007 09:07:59 AM · #2 |
Funny! But the better solution is to visit this site:
Do Not Call Registry
Message edited by author 2007-01-23 14:08:35.
|
|
|
|
01/23/2007 09:08:40 AM · #3 |
Originally posted by nshapiro:
Funny! But the better solution is to visit this site:
https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx |
Yeah, I've signed up with them TWICE!!!! It has cut back, but we still receive the calls.
I'm of the opinion that if they still call, the deserve what they get. Maybe I'll train my dog to also answer the phone!!!
Message edited by author 2007-01-23 14:10:37. |
|
|
|
01/23/2007 09:09:45 AM · #4 |
LOL!
If only I could train my cat to answer the phone.
|
|
|
|
01/23/2007 09:09:53 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by Palmetto_Pixels:
Originally posted by nshapiro:
Funny! But the better solution is to visit this site:
https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx |
Yeah, I've signed up for the TWICE!!!! It has cut back, but we still receive the calls. |
Make sure you are listed.
On the site, you can file a complaint, and they will be fined.
When someone calls me, the first thing I do now is ask what company they represent, and their website or telephone number. Often they hang up, but if you get that far, report them.
Message edited by author 2007-01-23 14:10:48.
|
|
|
|
01/23/2007 09:26:43 AM · #6 |
My favorite counter-punch is one proposed many years ago by Jon Carroll of the San Francisco Chronicle. When asked if someone could listen to the pitch, he'd say, "Sure, just a moment," and put the phone down and go back to whatever he was doing (like finishing dinner).
He figured that the TM's worst case scenario is to spend a long time on a fruitless call -- they'd much rather you hang up on them so they can get on to the next victim -- and it put the burden on the TM whether to hang up or hope for a genuine lead.
He said he didn't feel guilty, or like he was lying or anything, because a "moment" is, after all, "a sort-of zen type of thing." |
|
|
|
01/23/2007 09:32:26 AM · #7 |
Best way to deal with telemarketers..Listen to this audio file
Get even |
|
|
|
01/23/2007 10:14:07 AM · #8 |
As an INBOUND call centre operator there is a phrase I'd often like to say to customers but hold back, however I use it freely on telemarketers. When I politely decline whatever they are offering and they persist in their sales pitch, I ask, "What part of the word no don't you understand?" and hang up. Works like a charm.
Message edited by author 2007-01-23 15:14:24. |
|
|
|
01/23/2007 10:19:02 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
My favorite counter-punch is one proposed many years ago by Jon Carroll of the San Francisco Chronicle. When asked if someone could listen to the pitch, he'd say, "Sure, just a moment," and put the phone down and go back to whatever he was doing (like finishing dinner).
He figured that the TM's worst case scenario is to spend a long time on a fruitless call -- they'd much rather you hang up on them so they can get on to the next victim -- and it put the burden on the TM whether to hang up or hope for a genuine lead.
He said he didn't feel guilty, or like he was lying or anything, because a "moment" is, after all, "a sort-of zen type of thing." |
Yeah, I can't wait until he gets a better vocabulary and can start asking THEM "Why?". |
|
|
|
01/23/2007 10:19:35 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
My favorite counter-punch is one proposed many years ago by Jon Carroll of the San Francisco Chronicle. When asked if someone could listen to the pitch, he'd say, "Sure, just a moment," and put the phone down and go back to whatever he was doing (like finishing dinner).
|
I used to do this and wait til the offhook siren indicated the other end had hung up and a certain delay had elapsed. Then I'd hang up the phone. I found it had a definite damping effect especially on the local telemarketers. One evening at dinner (when they always called) I did my normal, "Honey, phone.." answer and laid the handset down. While watching a movie on the tv about 1.5 hours later I realized I hadn't heard the siren. I went and picked up up the phone and there was a live line. I said hello about a dozen times and finally somebody picked up and wanted to speak to the women of the house. I repeated my normal routine. Five minutes later the siren sounded. I still think back to this incident fondly whenever I'm harrassed by a telemarketer. 1.5 hours. I should be in a hall of fame somewhere.
|
|
|
|
01/23/2007 10:32:42 AM · #11 |
My favorite pastime is to say "No hablo English." in my best accent. When they transfer me to a Spanish speaking TM, I say "I don't speak Spanish". I repeat the process as many times as I can get away with. On a good night, I can get them chasing their tails for a long while.
Message edited by author 2007-01-23 15:33:18. |
|
|
|
01/23/2007 10:33:56 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
My favorite counter-punch is one proposed many years ago by Jon Carroll of the San Francisco Chronicle. When asked if someone could listen to the pitch, he'd say, "Sure, just a moment," and put the phone down and go back to whatever he was doing (like finishing dinner).
He figured that the TM's worst case scenario is to spend a long time on a fruitless call -- they'd much rather you hang up on them so they can get on to the next victim -- and it put the burden on the TM whether to hang up or hope for a genuine lead.
He said he didn't feel guilty, or like he was lying or anything, because a "moment" is, after all, "a sort-of zen type of thing." |
I've done the same thing, but I've also handed the phone to my 3 year old.
|
|
|
|
01/23/2007 10:45:45 AM · #13 |
I usually make something up.
I told this one guy that I couldn't read, and when I tried to read, I just cried. Had this guy on the line for 20 minutes. Every time he tried to hang up I kept talking to him.
I told another guy I didn't want the paper because there were no Hulk comics in their paper. Had this guy going for about 40 minutes.
|
|
|
|
01/23/2007 10:46:55 AM · #14 |
Sigh..i used to be a telemarketer. I was one of the ones that called looking for donations...charities are like the mafia - no kidding! Everything is totally computerized and we had to put each call into a category after we 'hung up' (there aren't any actual phones). If the person didn't donate and didn't want to be hasseled than we tagged them as a 'no callback for 1 year', but if they just hung up on us then they were tagged as 'callback in 1 day' or '1 week' etc etc. Our bosses listened in on random calls so we had to make sure we coded calls appropriately according to sheets we were given.
Again, sigh.....that was the worst job I ever had. I lasted about 3-4 weeks before they 'let me go' for not meeting my hourly quota. |
|
|
|
01/23/2007 10:50:31 AM · #15 |
|
|
|
01/23/2007 10:51:05 AM · #16 |
Oh yeah, Seinfeld has THE best telemarketer put-off of all time! Where Jerry tells the TM that he's busy but if the guy would give Jerry his home number he'd call him back later. The guy said "uh, we don't do that" to which Jerry replied "oh you mean you don't want random people calling you at home?! Now you now how I feel!" and hung up.
Good one Jerry, good one. |
|
|
|
01/23/2007 11:17:58 AM · #17 |
I've had great success simply saying that they had the wrong number, and then hanging up. Actually, this seemed to cut down on the number of calls I received - I went from about 3 a night to maybe 3 a week. Now, I'm lucky enough not to get them at all, or to be able to recognize that the small delay after saying "Hello?" is indicative of a telemarker's computer recognizing that I answered, and transferring me to the first available person - that delay is just enough time to hang up.
|
|
|
|
01/23/2007 11:27:33 AM · #18 |
I've tried the putting the phone down and wandering off but thats just no fun. If I'm board I enjoy being interested for as long as I can (mainly home improvements) and enjoy my final line of "should I ask my landlord first or will you just bill him?" Never had the bottle to tell a conservatory TM that I live on the 30th floor ;)
|
|
|
|
01/23/2007 11:44:12 AM · #19 |
When the satellite dish salesman called I happened to have my hands-free set plugged (having just finished another call) so I let him go through his lengthy spiel. When he finally asked if I would be interested I said "no."
TM: May I ask why you hesitate to take us up on this offer?
Me: Did I hesitate? I didn't think I hesitated when I said no.
I hung up and he hasn't called back.
TM's will ever come up with new schemes to thwart our efforts.
Then I started getting calls with a delay and an automated voice asking me to hold. I just hung up the first 5 times. When they called yet again I decided to hold. I got a cheerful voice rapidly beginning the sales pitch.
Me: Wait. Wait. Hold on a second.
TM: Yes?
Me: The only reason I held was to talk to a real person so I could ask you to remove me from your calling list. Can you do that?
TM: Yes Ma'am.
Apparently that works since they haven't called back....yet.
But now I get calls from an automated voice that says, "I'm sorry, I have the wrong number." Then hangs up on me!
|
|
|
|
01/23/2007 11:49:42 AM · #20 |
I wait for the first bit, then say 'ask the landlord'. 90% go.
The other 10%, I spin them along as they offer kitchen, conservatories etc. I arrange for the salesman to call, they say they will send 10 couples round to view and will use for ads. I say okay, but the only day I am home is 30th February, anytime that day! Only works at the beginning of each year for a couple of months, but it's laugh! |
|
|
|
01/23/2007 12:21:33 PM · #21 |
At work we have a VOIP system with an automatic call transfer. Its pretty sweet. We can put in a list of numbers and when people call they'll be automatically directed to an extension or to a specific voice mail box.
Since I live and work at the same place our home phone is on the same system. Each extension gets 4 message boxes- normally "Busy" "No Answer" "Closed" and "Other". Each message box has its own message- max 10 minutes.
We now add telemarketer calls to Box 4. With the following message....
"Hello........Who is this.........Aunt Jane, how are you?......And how are the kids? Sorry to hear about Uncle Johns Elephantitius. And he was doing so much better after his Leprosy had gone into remission. That reminds me Dottie was cleaning up the other day and found his pinkie.....Oh I know he'll be excited. Is Billy getting over that little accident? You just never know where a street roller is going to be do you. Did you hear, Aunt Maggie got kidnapped in Bolivia again.....No, I don't think its because she puts out.......
Message edited by author 2007-01-23 17:21:50.
|
|
|
|
01/23/2007 12:33:43 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by KaDi:
But now I get calls from an automated voice that says, "I'm sorry, I have the wrong number." Then hangs up on me!
|
This sounds related to a phone trick my friend Hank used to pull: when the phone would ring, he'd pick it up and ask "Hi, is John (or whomever) there?"
More often than not, the caller would respond with "Sorry, you must have a wrong number," and hang up before they remembered that they had placed the call ... |
|
|
|
01/23/2007 12:40:02 PM · #23 |
Pranking the Cemetery Plot telemarketer. ;-D
//media.ebaumsworld.com/cemetary.mp3
Wrning, large file/streaming media.
|
|
|
|
01/23/2007 12:41:37 PM · #24 |
In the pre-Do Not Call List days, I'd listen to their spiel about whatever it was that I could get free, then, when they'd ask for my credit card info, the converstaion would go like this:
Me: "I just want the free part. I don't want any of that other stuff."
TM: "To get that free, you have to buy X."
Me: "Well, then it's not really free, is it?"
TM: "Ummmmm..."
click
|
|
|
|
01/23/2007 01:31:06 PM · #25 |
| I changed my answering machine (voice mail) to this and left it on my phone for six months. I actually heard telemarketers laughing if they ever left a message. ;-) |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/09/2025 06:49:44 PM EDT.
