Excuses YOU use

[aj1985]

Hey guys hope all is copacetic

I was on here and just received a call from a Telemarketer, and thought I would ask what kind of excuses you use for those annoying Telemarketers.

They asked me if I want my doors and windows replaced.

ME: (No answer form me)

Then they asked me was I free tomorrow

ME: I said no

They they asked are you free saturday

ME: Tomorrow is Saturday :D

They asked are you free next week

ME: Nope

Total silence for about 2 seconds

ME: Call me next year eh :D

I'm such as a$$, but atleast I have a smile on my face from the conversation.

So what do you guys say to the telemarketer when they call

take care
aj

[David Lowry]

I say random things.

For example:

Telemarketer says: Hello may I interest you in a subscription to your local newspaper?

Me: Who is Randy Savage?....I don't know what you mean sir.

Telemarketer says: I'm sorry sir, I'm asking if you would be interested in receiving the newspaper?

Me: What water tower?

Telemarketer says: Sir can you hear me ok?

Me: Why are you asking me if I want some Marijuana?

Telemarketer says: I'm not, I'm asking if you would like a newspaper subscription?

Me: Absolutely, I love Jägermeister! You coming over?

After a while they just hang up. :D

[tonydahose]

i just give the phone to my 2 or 3 year old;)

[Peter1960]

Well, I live in Austria and don't know the telemarketer situation in US, but did you ever consider that they are doing only their job and are trying to earn money (for their families)? Why don't you say "I'm not interested" as an answer from an adult. Sorry, that thread isn't funny - IMO.

Have a nice day!

[DRod]

When they used to call me I'd ask them what they were wearing. Come on to them real heavy and proceed to have a one sided phone sex conversation until they hung up. Had one go for a lot longer than I anticipated and it got too weird.. So I hung up.

[jeff189]

I figure their job sucks and they probably could use a break. When I still had a home phone, I would ask them to hold on, I will be right back and sit the phone down and go back to what I was doing. They get to choose between relaxing for a while of hanging up and continuing to work.

[cobrajoe]

Well, I live in Austria and don't know the telemarketer situation in US, but did you ever consider that they are doing only their job and are trying to earn money (for their families)? Why don't you say "I'm not interested" as an answer from an adult. Sorry, that thread isn't funny - IMO.

Have a nice day!
Yeah, it might seem a bit mean, and they are just doing their job...

But I did know some people that worked at a telemarketing place, and they despised the monotony of their job. I heard a lot of stories about some of the strange responses they got to their calls. As far as I see it, as long as it's not out right mean, it's all in the fun.

As for myself, I guess I've gotten too boring. Basically, if they can't pronounce my name right, I just tell them "he's not here"

[smcfalls13]

Depends on their attitude. If they're pushy and obnoxious, I tell them to hold on while I get a pen and paper to take notes, and then leave the phone off the hook until they hang up.

On the other hand, if they're polite and pleasant, and don't try to push me, I'll just say no thank you, but ask for their name, and call back another day and compliment their service to whoever is in charge.

[aj1985]

Well, I live in Austria and don't know the telemarketer situation in US, but did you ever consider that they are doing only their job and are trying to earn money (for their families)? Why don't you say "I'm not interested" as an answer from an adult. Sorry, that thread isn't funny - IMO.

Have a nice day!

Your right you do not know the telemarketer situation in the US as a matter of fact neither do I. I'm from Canada :)

Overall me working night shift and sleeping in the day time and not getting the proper sleep, because of the many calls from telemarketers is considered okay I guess.

What can I say except you can't make everyone laugh in life I guess. No worries maybe this is the push I need to move to your country since it has no telemarketer situation. :D

take care and
aj

[Piercieve]

I've actually had a steam cleaning business call me, and I listened to them for a while, and I casually asked a few times if they could get out blood. Eventually, I was like, "Look, I have blood everywhere. It's on the carpet, the drapes, everything." I was pretty creepy about it, and they actually hung up. :D

[yablanowitz]

I can't remember the last time I got a telemarketer call from a person. They are all recordings these days, calls made by machines.

By the way, my answering machine message is:
"Hi! You've reached the payphone next to my refrigerator box. Leave a number and I'll call you back as soon as I can bum a quarter."

That fetched a few laughs back when people called. :D

[EarthDog]

The "do not call" list has worked pretty well for me.

[The Deacon]

Well, I live in Austria and don't know the telemarketer situation in US, but did you ever consider that they are doing only their job and are trying to earn money (for their families)? Why don't you say "I'm not interested" as an answer from an adult. Sorry, that thread isn't funny - IMO.

Have a nice day!Peter, trust me, if politely saying "Sorry, I'm not interested" would end the call in Austria, consider it as one more reason to be happy you live where you do. I can't speak for Canada, but if saying it even three times, with increasing levels of forcefulness would cause the average US telemarketer to hang up, l strongly suspect no US residents would have posted to this thread. Here, even if you say that, and hang up immediately, they will usually call right back and say "we must have gotten cut off". So, unfortunately, outright rudeness, or having a bit of fun at the telemarketer's expense, are generally ones only options and the second tends to be less stressful for the recipient of the call.

Back before I signed up for the "do not call" list, I used a variety of silliness, sometimes it was along the lines of David's response, sometimes I pretended to try to sell them something. After signing up, the calls simply stopped. But that may not be an option for folks in Canada.

[nathan310]

All I do is say "not interested" and then hang up.

[Agent Starling]

Peter,


Well, I live in Austria and don't know the telemarketer situation in US, but did you ever consider that they are doing only their job and are trying to earn money (for their families)?
I know of a case where this is true...a single mom supporting three kids while working her way through cosmetology school.

Other times, it's usually college or high school kids.


Why don't you say "I'm not interested" as an answer from an adult.
Common sense would tell you that would make them go away...but alas, their company requires them to try you again another day....unless one (or both) of the following things are done, as I'll explain below.

~~

To those of us in the US:

How to Get Your Number Removed from Telemarketer Calling Lists

Here's what I do, in addition to listing my number in the Federal Do Not Call List...when a telemarketer calls, I politely but firmly tell them:

"Put me on your Do Not Call list, and please do not call back again."

When you tell them these two things, they are required by Federal law to comply...and if they attempt to argue the point, I remind them that Federal law sez they must comply with my request.

This has worked since before the Federal Do Not Call list was created...since the telemarketing firms have always had their own Do Not Call lists...and this still works today. By systematically having used this phrase with every single telemarketer who has called, I can tell you that it is extremely rare that I ever get a telemarketing call any more, thank God!! :D

Agent Starling

[yablanowitz]

Generally, that will get them to hang up before you can complete the sentence, as will "Let me talk to your supervisor." If you complete either of those phrases, they are required by law to comply, so they will generally cut you off before you can finish, that way they can try again later.

I usually don't answer the land line, even if I happen to be sitting next to it when it rings.

[nathan310]

I work for a business that used telemarketering in the past and I even managed it at one point in time.

When a person says they're not interested they mark it down so we don't waste our time and money calling them again.

If we catch someone recalling a not interested person again or calling someone that asked not to be called they will get repremanded and possibly fired.

There might be some stupid company that wastes their time and money recalling uninterested people be we never did.

That would be pure stupidity because you're just angering the person not to mention wasting time.

[nathan310]

Plus if you recall people you run the risk of harrasment complaints and or lawsuit.

Especially if they have asked you not ot call them.

Also alot of our guys either got comission or worked purely for commision so they didn't want to waste their time that could be used making a another call or possible sale.

It's all anumbers game.

They make 100 calls they get 1 sale.

I wish all telemarketers were like that.

[Ian UK]

In England we have a simmilar thing where you register to be off the call list, however I along with others think the system should be set up as an OPT IN system rather than an opt out system with hefty fines for those who break the rules.

I agree these people are only trying to make a living, but it is annoying as someone said when they dont even pronounce your name correctly or speak English. (most of our calls originate in Indian call centres)

Make it OPT IN problem solved.:eek:

[uhiforgot]

Before the "do not call" list, my grandma would get telemarketers calling all the time. If somebody asked for her by name (especially if they mispronounced her name) she would say...

"She died last week."

[nathan310]

I agree these people are only trying to make a living, but it is annoying as someone said when they dont even pronounce your name correctly or speak English. (most of our calls originate in Indian call centres)

Make it OPT IN problem solved.:eek:

Oh God do I hate that!

[Peter1960]

@ The Deacon + Agent Starling: Thanks for your time to explain me your US situation; you are right, teleworker biz here and in US is totally different ... but now I know what will happen here in a while :(

Maybe I will need your hints in future ;)

[MAT888]

I suppose telemarketers in the US have a somewhat more agressive strategy . Here in Europe normally a "I'm not interested" will do.

However nowadays i register at infofilter.nl here in the Netherlands. After that i haven't received any more calls.
Must be simular to your do not call list.

When i was younger i would act like this:

If i got a male one i would pretend to be drunk and ask random stupid questions.

If i got a female i would ask the colour of her nickers..
;)

[Echo63]

At home i never get telemarketers calling (do not call listed :)
here in australia businesses cant be registered on the do not call list, and we frequently have telemarketers from india call
so what we do is try to keep them on the phone for as long as possible

"hello, may i speak to the manager"
"yes, hold on and i will get him" places phone on hold
picks phone back up a minute later "sorry he is very busy, he will be with you shortly" place phone back on hold

best we have got so far is 2 minutes.

next time they call we are going to try bouncing them between different departments (actually just the 4 staff members all crowded around the phone)
oh the joy of working in a small business, as long as the boss finds it funny, its all good

[aj1985]

It would be nice if there was such a thing for Canada, but I guess we are just behind the times. hopefully it does change, but in all honesty I believe the many services that they peddle are really not needed. When I need something I will open the yellow pages and get someone to do it.

Now I would really love if Spyderco, Emerson, Benchmade or even custom makers call me to tell me about their newest and coolest knife and how it will help me save money in the long run :D

aj

[Agent Starling]

@ The Deacon + Agent Starling: Thanks for your time to explain me your US situation; you are right, teleworker biz here and in US is totally different ... but now I know what will happen here in a while :(

No problemo, Pete!

@yablanowitz,
" "Generally, that will get them to hang up before you can complete the sentence, as will "Let me talk to your supervisor." If you complete either of those phrases, they are required by law to comply, so they will generally cut you off before you can finish, that way they can try again later."

fortunately, that has not been my experience...I get the full phrase in every time...maybe it's different for females, who knows...at any rate, they should not be attempting to circumvent the law, if the customer requests being off the lists, they ought to be taking heed...

Agent Starling :D

[ozspyder]

As my wife works from home she usually fields all these calls and I can tell you it bugs the c**p out of her, wasting her time and energy saying "no thanks, not interested". It gets to the point when you receive so many of these that you can't actually get around to doing normal things in life.

The telemarketers, just like anyone in business target a specific time to capture their audience. Generally it is around lunch or dinner times.

I generally will be a bit more polite to these guys until they get rude or stroppy. My wife fielding these all day gets a bit more short with them than myself. Once they get rude and abusive even if you tell them politely that you aren't interested, to me it defeats the purpose of them trying to gain business. I can't believe how abusive people can get when they want your busines..... yeah right, you call me every name under the sun and expect me to give you money ??? go away !

There is a DO NOT CALL register in Australia, but I haven't registered myself yet. Will be doing it soon because in these tougher economic times it seems we are getting more calls, and they are getting more abusive. I understand that these people are only doing their job. However, I find it hard to believe that anyone of these telemarketers has it written in their job description to " annoy the living poop out of the potential client/ customer, and if they don't want your product, please feel free to berate them in a foulmouthed tirade".

The worst excuse I have given to them is "I really need to go to the toilet so now is not a good time to talk " :D :p

[Axlis]

I tell them very plainly that "I'm not interested".

If they push anything past that, they get hung up on. Never had them call back, so it must work pretty well!

Same thing with a door to door sales man. I have no desire in letting some stranger come into my house and clean the floor then stand there being "shamed" into buying the best wet/dry floor vac in the world. It will never work, and I just don't care.

I used to be polite and isten to their spill, but if I am not going to buy their wares, why waste any of their time and ESPECIALLY mine?

If it's a charity, I ask them to send a summary by mail that tells exactly where my money goes, and how much commision they get out of it. They tend to dislike that last question!

[vampyrewolf]

usually I've got the time to string em along for a while. They get paid by the call and commission on sales (have a couple friends that have worked at these places). So I get em going for as long as they'll stay on the phone. Usually get 10-15min out of them, best so far was 45min before I got bored of playing along.
I don't count putting them on hold or setting down the phone as screwing with them.

[nathan310]

You must have alot of time and patience at your disposal.

I don't feel like wasting my time on the phone with people I know let alone some poor sap that's trying to make a living.

I'm pissed if someone wastes 2 minutes of my time.

Way to go!

Patience is a virtue!:D:D:D

[vampyrewolf]

I find it entertaining... the only time I don't play with them is when I'm either heading out the door or if I only have 20min before I have to do something.

The only time I've been annoyed with calls was with columbia house (long story short they never sent 5 CDs and expected me to complete the contract that they broke). Dealt with collections calls for 2 years on that one, 5 companies. I had fun yelling at them on the phone, especially when they'd call like 5min after I got home from classes... get to rant for 10-15min and then tell them if they call again it's harassment :rolleyes::p

[nathan310]

That sucks!

I would not be happy with them either if I were you.

I had some people call and brutally mispronounce my name on my voice mail asking for me.

They were obviously from India and I called them back and teased them in a indian accent and hung up.

[Shike]

Personally I don't have time for the BS. When I want to buy something I go buy it, I don't want it pushed on me, specially in my home. I politely say I am not interested if the push it I hang up. Now I am on a do not call list.

[aj1985]

.

They were obviously from India and I called them back and teased them in a indian accent and hung up.

So your teasing my brothers eh :D Actually I do the same thing when they just keep transerfering me from one person to another. That is why whenever I call I say please let me talk to someone in Canada since it is a rather important call. :) usually they comply and if they say no MANAGER NOW :D

aj

[dialex]

I usually simply say "I'm not interested, thank you". If they ask why, I tell them I have no money (which is not far from truth, in fact) :(

[dete]

I see it as an excellent practice opportunity for self defense.

many times I respond just to be polite, when I know a street thug
could use my own instincts against me.

so I practice being rude.

a delivery guy showed up today and he was a smart ass, and instead of making a fake laugh, I ignored him and watched his body mechanics instead.
I know it's kinda extreme, but oh well
:D

[nathan310]

So your teasing my brothers eh :D Actually I do the same thing when they just keep transerfering me from one person to another. That is why whenever I call I say please let me talk to someone in Canada since it is a rather important call. :) usually they comply and if they say no MANAGER NOW :D

aj

Don't get me wrong one of my best friends is of indian descent...

I just get irritated when they don't even bother to pronounce my name right and I figure I mights as well mock them so they understand how obnoxious they sound.

[benplaut]

I talk back to them in Hebrew ;)

[Spyharpy]

When I pick up the phone and notice a few second delay before I hear anything, I know it's a telemarketer. I simply hit MUTE (cuts the mic) and put the phone down. Come back a couple minutes later and they have hung up as they realize no one is there. One guy actually spoke for a few minutes and was still going on. Another realized no one was there and he started to say, "Come on man, don't do this to me..."

I'm on a do not call list and it works for me. You can hear a lot of funny sound clips from a guy named Jim Florentine in his series of Revenge of the Telemarketers. They're on YouTube. He put himself on every possible telemarketer list and has the ultimate revenge when they call.

[to_the_edge]

My response varies depending on my mood I guess. I've used the "___ died last week..." one before. Most of the time we get automated messages instead. The extended warranty has been about to expire for nine months now. So mostly, I just hang up now.