How to deal with telemarketers

Josh123

Diamond Member
Aug 4, 2002
3,030
2
76
Here at my job, me and the other guy in the office usually put the telemarketers on speakerphone and mute it. They usually do their spill of talking and we see how long they stay on the phone. The ones that call to do surveys are the fun ones, we usually just make up stuff.
 

Unheard

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2003
3,774
9
81
My favorite is to let them get into their spiel then take in a deep audible breath and then make a 'weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee' sound until you are out of breath. Repeat this process until they hang up.
 

thepd7

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2005
9,423
0
0
Originally posted by: Unheard
My favorite is to let them get into their spiel then take in a deep audible breath and then make a 'weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee' sound until you are out of breath. Repeat this process until they hang up.

lol great, I am totally going to use that one.
 

teclis1023

Golden Member
Jan 19, 2007
1,452
0
71
If they call during acceptable hours (10am - 6pm) I tell them I'm not interested, ask that my name be taken off their list, wish them a nice day and end the conversation. If they try to push through, I hang up.

If they call during unacceptable hours, I tell them not to call again and to check their time zones, and then hang up.

I don't see any reason to be excessively rude, but I don't give an inch, either.
 

DrVos

Golden Member
Jan 31, 2002
1,085
0
0
I usually try and be polite, and just tell them that I am not interested. But sometimes they can be really annoying. Some guy from Chase called me at 9pm on a Tuesday and when I told him that it was way too late for a sales call, continued to talk! Something along the lines of, "I'm sorry for the inconvenience but this will only take a couple of minutes..." I usually go out out my way to be polite, but I went off on that guy.

It seems to me that the calls from Chase and Citi are the worst.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
I scream at them and demand they identify themselves so that I can call the district attorney.
 

BlackTigers

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2006
4,491
2
71
I act as if I'm selling mini-blinds to telemarketers. They call, I start discussing the different types of blinds I sell, the prices, warranties.

Usually they hang up after a minute or two

:D
 

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
26,256
406
126
Originally posted by: Unheard
My favorite is to let them get into their spiel then take in a deep audible breath and then make a 'weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee' sound until you are out of breath. Repeat this process until they hang up.
Awesome. :laugh:
 

seemingly random

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2007
5,277
0
0
I don't know why people give telemarketers such a hard time. They're just like any other hard working person doing there job trying to earn a living and feed their kids.

God I hate lame excuses like these for their intrusions.
 

RadiclDreamer

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2004
8,622
40
91
Originally posted by: seemingly random
I don't know why people give telemarketers such a hard time. They're just like any other hard working person doing there job trying to earn a living and feed their kids.

God I hate lame excuses like these for their intrusions.

1. Because they call your phone without permission
2. They call after hours
3. They are pushy
4. Rude
5. Dont take no for an answer

If they want to waste my time, ill be more than happy to waste theirs
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: seemingly random
I don't know why people give telemarketers such a hard time. They're just like any other hard working person doing there job trying to earn a living and feed their kids.

God I hate lame excuses like these for their intrusions.

if htey shut up when you asked them instead of trying to continue to talk ti wouldnt be so bad.

also they call in times they shouldnt be calling. i don't want them to call during my dinner or while i am enjoying time wiht my family.
 

seemingly random

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2007
5,277
0
0
I pretty much operate like teclis1023 above. I find that being unnecessarily rude leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I just say no thank you and when they continue, say I'm going to hang up now and wait for a few seconds and then hang up. Some of them feel like former bill collectors - pushy and condescending.

This reminds of when I disconnected satellite tv service a few months ago. It included a Dish TV DVR and was excellent. Too excellent. I spent way too much time watching. So when I called to return it, the person of course asked if I was dissatisfied and after relaying my situation, they gave the instructions to return it. They tried to get me to keep it at a reduced rate which I had no problem with. The one I had a problem with was the 'closer' that called a week later - tried to make me feel stupid for getting rid of it. To try to get it through their head, I told them I still wanted it gone even if they were willing to give it to me for free. I would have gladly have recommended their service before this call.
 

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
I've taken to stating that I don't live in the country for more than half the year (a lie), so typically their shilling of cable/cell phones/whatever for your house becomes pretty pointless. I then ask to be taken off their list since it doesn't make sense to call me in the future either.

I wish we had a no-call registry up here.