Andrew Fildes wrote:
> I remind myself that they are poor slobs who may not be able get get
> other work so I try to be polite - it's almost as quick to say, "No
> thanks - please don't call again."
>
These are simply people who are, for whatever reasons, stuck in awful jobs.
Their success, and ability to have a roof over their head and food on
their table depends on their success rate in selling stuff.
So - the best way to both make your own life better and assist them in
survival is to avoid picking up the phone in the first place. An
unanswered call is the fault of the list, an answered one without a sale
is lowers their performance. Holding them on the phone for a long time
before turning them down is taking food out of their mouths twice, an
unsuccessful call and others calls not made.
To avoid answering in the first place we do three things.
1. We are on the do not call list. But as others have pointed out, there
are quite a few exceptions.
2. We have and use caller ID. We ignore calls from 800 and 866 numbers
and those with names we recognize as telemarketing. Other unknown, out
of area code calls are screened. Most telemarketing systems are
programmed to just drop out after 3-4 rings. Some leave messages - one
push of the delete button is all they take.
3. With those very few numbers that call all the time, I finally answer
one and politely ask them not to call again.
I'm sure I answer less than one telemarketing call a month. I did forget
once that I have a brother in the 801 area code, and ignored his call,
but he called on my cell phone, which connects the incoming number to
stored numbers and thus to names and I answered that one.
All the other clever responses simply penalize people trying to earn a
living a hard way AND have no effect whatsoever on the company for which
they work. If you really want to stop telemarketing calls as a matter of
principle, or some such, work through the political system to decrease
the loopholes in do not call laws.
That won't even put anybody directly out of work. It's awful work and
the turnover rate is high, so even if you are successful, all you do is
save more folks from taking a terrible job.
Moose
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