telemarketers

bren.1

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I suppose some degree of commerce would grind to a halt if telephone
solicitors weren't able to call people at home during dinner hour. But that doesn't make it any more pleasant. Now Steve
Rubenstein, a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, has proposed "Three Little Words" based on his brief experience in a telemarketing operation that would stop the nuisance for all time.

The three little words are "Hold On, Please."

Saying this while putting down your phone and walking off instead of hanging up immediately would make each telemarketing call so time-consuming that boiler rooms would grind to a halt. When you eventually hear the phone company's beep-beep-beep tone, you
know it's time to go back and hang up your handset,
which has efficiently completed its task.

GOOD IDEAS:
When you get ads in your phone or utility bill, include them with the
payment and let the companies throw them away. When you get those pre-approved letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to second mortgages and junk like that, most of them come with postage paid return envelopes, right?

Now this is GREAT!! Why didn't I think of this!!!

Well, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool little envelopes!
Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American Express. Send the pizza coupon to Citibank.
If you didn't get anything else that day then just send them their
application back! If you want to remain anonymous, just make sure your name isn't on anything you send them. You can send it back empty if you want to just to keep them guessing!

Eventually, the banks and credit card companies will begin getting their junk back in the mail. Let's let them know what it's like to get junk mail, and the best of it is that they're paying for it! Twice!
Let's help keep our postal service busy since they say e-mail is cutting into their business, and that's why they need to increase postage again!
 

valanhb

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I always have wondered, especially with the telemarketers...Who actually buys that junk?? Obviously they have to make some good money or they wouldn't do it, so who exactly is so gullible to fall for their lines??

I like those ideas, though. Maybe if everyone did it...
 

lhezzza

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I'm bad too........

When the local paper calls trying to add me to their mailing list, I pretend I'm blind.

I ask them to describe the pretty pictures and read me the days funnies.

They usually get very unconfortable and hang up.

I get a BIG laugh!
 
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bren.1

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I think I'm going to try the hold on suggestion. The calls I really hate are the ones that put you on hold. You pick up the phone, and a computer voice says, "Please stay on the line for an important call." Guess again. Maybe next time, I'll just lay the phone down and walk away.

The blind suggestion is a good one. I usually tell them I read the paper at work, which is actually true.
 

manomi

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This was a Letter to the Editor in our local paper toady (www.smh.com.au)

Solution is child's play

My two-year-old son, always quick to the telephone, earns his keep by dealing with telemarketers. Friends and relatives know how to secure passage of the phone to mummy or daddy. For as long as they care to, telemarketers endure a glorious story of Elmo and Big Bird.

Lane Cove, November 13.


Having known a few 2 year olds, I bet those stories just go on and on.

A great idea for those with children!



Naomi
 

nicki

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I got a credit card application in the mail today. I just couldn't resist, I took the envelope and sealed it and put it in the mail box with the blank application in it!!!!


This credit card company sends me an application about twice a week. They are going to start getting them back from no on.

I am just waiting for a telemarketer to call!!!!


I must be sick, I really got enjoyment out of this!!!!
 

myste

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the best thing about not having a home phone... NO TELEMARKETERS. We strictly use cell phones, and it's illegal for telemarketers to call cell phones, and the ones who ignore that(or don't check) I get to rip into them and chew them out... great stress relief... I get on average one a month
 

diann

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Telemarketers drive me around the bend! I have two methods. If they start out by asking how I am, I tell them that I am really, really sick, that I'm projectile vomitting and have severe diahorrea (sp?) and what do they think and do they have any recommendations? Second method is to interrupt their spiel and say I'm so glad you rang just now because I need a second opinion on whether it is better to fry eggs in butter or oil? What do you use? and just keep on about the butter/oil thing until they give up.
Diann in Australia
 

jenng

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I despise telemarketing calls...
especially the ones that wake you up on a Saturday morning. ARGH!


One nice thing has happened in my area this past summer. We were able to sign up to have our names taken off of telemarketing lists. I don't know if it was just for Pennsylvania or not, but we could go to a certain website and sign up. I saw it on the news after work one day, and was signed up that night. I think I did it in August, and the calls have slowly gone down... they're supposed to be pretty much non-existant by the end of November
Yay!!!!
 

valanhb

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Jenn, those No Call Lists are the best thing since sliced bread! We got on Colorado's when it first went into effect and the telemarketing calls are pretty much non-existant (except those people who call about their wonderful mortgage programs...). We didn't even get politicians calling during the campaigns, even though those are still legal.
 

nicki

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Myste,

I didn't know that it was illegal for telemarketers to call cell phones. I have been getting alot of calls on my the past two months.
 

debby

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These are all such great ideas!!!!!!! I just love them!!!! Thanks!!!
 
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