meow85 said:

YOU call someone, UNSOLICITED, when the person never GAVE you their phone number and most likely do not want you to call them.

I value my privacy at home. My number is unlisted for a reason and I do not want to get a call from someone I do not know, who I never GAVE my phone number to, trying to sell me something I do not want or need when I am trying to eat dinner, or helping my children with their homework, or trying to relax, etc...

So from my perspective, it is the telemarketers are the ASSHOLES. So if someone calls my house under those circimstances, I have every right to treat you however I see fit!

I don't like them, but I also don't take it out on the person on the other end of the phone. A simple "I'm sorry, I don't do business over the phone" will do it. Easy, quick and a civil way 2 talk 2 a stranger who is just trying 2 do their job.

If you've signed up for the Do Not Call registry, it's their responsibility as a company, to get the most recent list of people who do not want to be called, and abide by it. The balls in their court. Many of us have already given our answer by placing our numbers on the list, We do not want to be solicited over the phone, No Means No. I shouldn't have to explain to the same telemarketers over and over that I am not interested. Just because it's someone's job to call me doesn't mean I am obligated to sit through all of their sales pitches. Whats worse, is a majority of these telemarketers do not take "no" for an answer, you have to repeat it to them several times while they hit you with their scripted list of counter arguments. It's my phone and my phone bill, and if someone is abusing my phone line to keep trying to sell me stuff, I can and will complain about it. People get really fired up over telemarketers, not because they've had one or two phone calls on occasion, but because they have been putting up with these types of calls for years and are tired of telling them no over and over again.

Well, they serve a purpose and a service for the community, sometimes.

A few days ago, I did cold calls for a politician's campaign, calling registered voters about the politician, about voting day and checking to see if they would need rides to their polling stations.

Unsolicited? Absolutely.

But still helpful.

ThreadBare said:

charities and pollitical organizations are exempt from the donotcall list.

Tom said:

I couldn't care less whether they're helpful to some people. I didn't want them to call me. End of story.

Tom said:[quote][b]If you've signed up for the Do Not Call registry, it's their responsibility as a company, to get the most recent list of people who do not want to be called, and abide by it. The balls in their court. Many of us have already given our answer by placing our numbers on the list, We do not want to be solicited over the phone, [b]No Means No. I shouldn't have to explain to the same telemarketers over and over that I am not interested. Just because it's someone's job to call me doesn't mean I am obligated to sit through all of their sales pitches. Whats worse, is a majority of these telemarketers do not take "no" for an answer, you have to repeat it to them several times while they hit you with their scripted list of counter arguments. It's my phone and my phone bill, and if someone is abusing my phone line to keep trying to sell me stuff, I can and will complain about it. People get really fired up over telemarketers, not because they've had one or two phone calls on occasion, but because they have been putting up with these types of calls for years and are tired of telling them no over and over again.[/[/b]quote]


[Edited 7/20/06 11:37am]
[Edited 7/20/06 11:38am]

They give me the bloody shits especially when they wo n't take no for an answer and half of them can't even speak English properly

Ocean said:

Your poor bum



All you have to do Ky, is talk louder than they can and say "no thank you, I am happy the way things are, please don't call back.....(click) "

pardonme4livin said:

I should not have to!

I should not have to interrupt my dinner for someone who's call was unsolicited that I do not know, who I never gave my phone number to and who is trying to sell me something I do not want or need.

I should not have to interrupt helping my children with their homework or spending time with them for someone who's call was unsolicited that I do not know, who I never gave my phone number to and who is trying to sell me something I do not want or need.

I should not have to interrupt catching a minute to relax after a 12-hour day at work for someone who's call was unsolicited that I do not know, who I never gave my phone number to and who is trying to sell me something I do not want or need.

I should not have to interrupt watching the game (A's or Giant's or 49ers or Sharks) for someone who's call was unsolicited that I do not know, who I never gave my phone number to and who is trying to sell me something I do not want or need.

I should not have to rush inside to answer a call from someone who's call was unsolicited that I do not know, who I never gave my phone number to and who is trying to sell me something I do not want or need.

I should have to.....etc.....

NOT IN THE PRIVACY OF MY OWN HOUSE ON MY PRIVATE PHONE ON MY PRIVATE LINE!

Sowhat said:

they gave us the number
i work for sears
so when they buy something, they give us their number, its on them.

but i had a good day today, people get rude with me i get rude back, that's how it'll be.

and p.s. to the bit u added, how the fuck is it our fault when its the SYSTEM that is set up for us to call out? i dont know who im calling next
so im an asshole because i cant find work elsewhere and needed money for school? ok. so be it. im an asshole.
[Edited 7/20/06 14:44pm]

SammiJ said:

This is a little different than "cold-call" type tele-marketing. They bought a product from you and gave you their phone number.


And the ASSHOLE reference was to Meow85 because of this statement: "...And top it off, the assholes you're forced to talk to all day..."

How is the person who a telmarketer calls an asshole when the telemarketer calls someone, UNSOLICITED, when the person never GAVE their phone number out and most likely do not want you to call them?

Sowhat said:

fair enough
BUT @ the same time, its most likely the same system, they too dont know who's calling its all the company, they're just the messenger speaking for the company...and again, those jobs are accessible, especially when jobs are scarce around town...and if u need money, well u need money
i wouldn't consider that being an asshole - u do what u gotta do.

i would ask the name of the company and take it up with them

SammiJ said:

True, but if someone works for a tele-marketing company that does cold calls like this, they need to understand that when the person on the other phone gets upset, they are not ASSHOLES. It is an unwanted call that is very annoying so they should expect that people will get upset more often than not. Especially when they won't take no for an answer.

SammiJ said:

I would like to add that I wish that tele-marketing as a whole would be made illegal. It is a privacy issue plain and simple. I should not have to be exposed to these kinds of calls in the privacy of my own home. That is just how I feel.

Your situation is a little difference since the person on the other end of the phone has already bought something from your company and has voluntarily given out their phone number....but if they ask that your company stops calling, the calls should stop immediately.



.
[Edited 7/20/06 15:12pm]

Sowhat said:

Do you treat a salesperson who comes to your door in person the same way? An employee at the mall who works on commission? The sample lady at the grocery store who insists you try the new chili? The maitre'd who practically shoves the expensive wine at you?

You have a problem with an employee of a company trying to do their job, you take it up with their boss; the manager; head office; whoever it is that details the employee's duties. You do not take it out on the person who can get fired for not being persistant. As it goes, "A person who is nice to their friends but rude to the waitress is not a nice person." That applies to every low-level employee you're too good to talk to civilly as well.

Sowhat said:

Oh, muffin. Cry me a river. People shouldn't have to be forced to take shit jobs like telemarketer just to get by either, but that's the way the world works...

.
[Edited 7/21/06 3:07am]

meow85 said:

I have a no soliciting sign on my door so if a salesperson stills dares to knock, I really let them have it.

When I am at the mall or at the grocery store or out somewhere else, it is different. I am not in the privacy of my own home. I chose to go out and be exposed.

It is not about a "low-level" employee. I never treat someone bad in those situations. I am always respectful and nice to the employee at the mall, waiter/waitress, etc...in general I am not an asshole and I do not look down on people, but if I am disrespected (like not honoring my wish for privacy in my own home), then I respond accordingly.

Please understand the difference between the privacy of my own home and going out in public.

In the privacy of my own home I do not want to be bothered plain and simple. So when someone goes against my wishes, yeah I let them have it.

But I am very respectful and sympathetic to someone who works at a service or sales oriented business at the mall, at a restaurant, etc....

meow85 said:

"Cry me a river"....I can say the same thing to you...so don't complain when someone gets upset with you and treats you like crap for calling them unsolicited....because "that's the way the world works..."

deal with them in the same way Mr Carter does

http://www.compfused.com/...link/3649/

Sowhat said:

Given your admitted treatment of telemarketers -low level salespeople -I find that hard to believe.

Like I said, you have a problem with a person doing their job -by calling a number that you made public by giving it out (even banks and grocery stores still supply customer numbers to call lists) take it up with the business, and not out on the employee.

Sowhat said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall me being the one to start bitching about someone doing their job, am I?

meow85 said:

WRONG!!!!

Please do not speak for me by assuming that just because I do not respond kindly to telemarketers, that I treat others the same way. Are you calling me a liar? I told you that I do not have a problem with salesperson out in public. I only have a problem with being bothered in the privacy of my own home.

Bottom line is this, when you take a job (for whatever reason) that annoys people in the privacy of their own home, be prepared to be treated accordingly. The people you call...bother...are not assholes.

I have a question for you....what gives you the right to bother me at home? And don't give me the same old "I am just doing my job, take it up with the company" line because too many injustices, etc. have been commited in the name of "I was just following orders" or "I was just doing my job".

People get all bent out of shape if they have to see a Christmas display or have to see the Ten Comandments posted out in public because it is "forced" on them so the ACLU files a lawsuit and down comes the displays...so why can't I expect those same protections in the PRIVACY OF MY OWN HOME.

meow85 said:

I guess a lot of people in Real Estate have low level jobs? I used to cold call people for a few hours a day for a mortgage broker last year. I learned that this is a common practice. We got our information from the title companies. I personally like to network face to face, I don't like the fact that you can't read the person's face when they're speaking. Most people were polite, but some of them were pissed off. I told them to take it up with the title company. Telemarketers and cold callers should be as professional as possible when dealing with the public, and try to diffuse any hostility. Unfortunately for the person being called, they are just a number.

meow85 said:

You were complaining...actually calling people ASSHOLES (who is the one looking down on people now) because they get upset with you when you bother them at home...so you "cry me a river". If you were just doing your job, then just deal with it and move on because it is part of your job.

gemini13 said:

I would like to point out that I never said that telemarketers were "low level" jobs. I do not look down on anyone else's employment. But if someone does something to disrespect me or make me mad, I will respond accordingly. It has nothing to do with the perceived "level" of the job.

If a Doctor or Lawyer or billion dollar investor disrespects me or makes me mad, I would give them the same response.

Goodness, why all the aggression here?

Why are people getting so frustrated at a few phone calls when a quick "no thanks" can move the thing on without tears to anybody?

Life is waaaaay too short to be getting upset about something so teeny.

Stinky said:

Beacuse in the PRIVACY OF MY OWN HOME I do not want to be bothered plain and simple. I do not ask them to call me and I should not have to be bothered.