Scale of 1 - 10... how much do telelmarketers upset you?

[BeachGirlFLA]

7, but usually I just screen my cell phone calls and I don't have a land line.....I can't put them up at 10 because I know telemarketers need jobs as well.

 

[Papa Deuce]

7, but usually I just screen my cell phone calls and I don't have a land line.....I can't put them up at 10 because I know telemarketers need jobs as well.

Including those that violate the DNC list? Personally, I would love to see the owners of these companies get caught and spend 3 months in jail... then if they get caught again, a year in jail. And keep it escalating.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

No, the ones that violate the DNC list are definitely wrong...but it's the company's fault not the individual employee's. With the economy the way it is now, that may be the only job they can get. Actually, in general I'm not going to get angry at the telemarketer...just at the company that employs them.

 

[minnie56]

They make me crazy! Most of the time I don't answer if I don't know the number. But if they catch me, I am not happy. I didn't give you my number--do NOT call me!

 

[murcor]

These are just people trying to make a living

Yes, Im sure they do it because they have to, not because they want to.

 

[clutter]

It's not big deal to me. We have so few such calls, and I always look at caller i.d. before I answer. Deuce you need a cordless phone--keep it with you and there's no "getting up" to answer

I'm lucky if I can remember to bring whatever I'm looking for back to where I was. No way am I going to remember to carry my cordless around.

I'm either an 8 or a 1. I don't let them annoy me, but I do let them know in no uncertain terms that they should not have called, and need not bother ever calling again. (To the point of being militant. I went in an let my bank know that I would move every red cent it they ever called me again to find out if my "deposit experience" was good. I didn't know I was having an experience when I deposited a check! )

Now that we have an election coming up, it's getting bad. When I do get a call that has a live person on it (as often its a recordeng which is annoying), I tell them that I'm counting calls from each side and voting for whoever calls me less!

 

[Ephany]

I picked 5, normal telemarketer calls don't really bother me unless they leave long messages because I won't pick up unless I know who's calling. On the other hand, I absolutely HATE being called at 7am by political organizations with their recorded spiels. I keep a list of who's calling, and do remember when it comes time to vote. I'm on the DNC list for a reason, just because you're running for office does not mean you get to bother me at home. If I'm interested in your campaign, I'll research you, leave me alone otherwise!

 

[Planogirl]

A lot of these people were the laid off people and they are just trying to survive. They also have no control over the do not call list.

With that in mind, I just say no thanks and hang up before they can say anything.

 

[LisaR]

On a scale of 1 - 10, I pick 20!

I would never buy something from, hire someone or change my vote based on a telemarketing call. I won't take any of their market surveys either so I find their calls to be nothing more than a nuisance. And I HATE the automated call. If you are going to interrupt my day to try and sell me something, at least have the decency to put a real person on the other end. We don't have caller ID so I don't know who is calling until I answer. In fairness, thanks to the Do Not Call registry, we get very few calls so it isn't a big deal anymore.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I couldn't vote. Some don't bother me at all. The insistant ones who question your intelligence and call you by your first name like you're best buddies really get on my nerves.

 

[MIGrandma]

I voted #9 - the only reason I didn't say #10 was because I wouldn't choke them if I could.

But I think they should change it so that if you sign up for the "Do Not Call" list it should be just that....DO NOT CALL!! I don't care what organization it is, or charity, or whatever....DO NOT CALL!!

Our calls have lessened a lot since we signed up, but we still get them almost daily and I am SICK TO DEATH of it!! Especially when they still call on Sunday, or after 9 P.M. on any other day.

But I hate the phone anyway, so I'm sure that factors into my feelings for telemarketers.

I keep track of the phone numbers that call, the first time they call I tell them to take my name off their list. If they call a second time I tell them I will be reporting them for calling again when they've been told not to. They can get into trouble if they call you again when you've told them not to.

 

[DWGal210]

I worked for a company making calls to potential clients. Now, our was a bit different as we didn't cold-call from the phone book; they were people that went specifically to our website to indicate that they would like more info about opening an account with us. So a tad different. BUT what always bugged ME about calling was that some people would give you a phone number where they could be reached and then they'd say - "Why are you calling me here, this is my work number?" Um, because that is the only number you gave us to contact you!! Or they might say, "I can't talk now, I am in the car." - Then don't answer it in the first place!

Just a perspective from the "other side" - again, our company was a bit different in that we were contacting people that had already contacted us and not cold-calling, but my 2 cents for what it's worth.

I agree with a PP - it's not a glamourous job, and I'm sure some of those folks would rather be doing something else. But it's feeding their families and putting a roof over their heads. Also, these companies wouldn't continue to use those marketing tactics if it didn't work on some level - they wouldn't be employing people to make those calls if no one ever took them up on the offer.

 

[DWGal210]

Oh and one last thought - I'm sure most of you know this already but in case not: even if you are on the DNC registry, if you go on a website, fill out a postcard, indicate your interest in a company or product, etc, that is not covered under the DNC list. If you contact them first, they are able to contact you back, even if you are on that list.

 

[JR6ooo4]

they used to annoy me. Now I consider them comedic relief.

Like the time they just wanted me to hand fliers to my friends, for them to donate... I told him in a wimpy voice, "Oh, sorry. I dopn't have any friends...." and it caught him/her off guard enough to let me out of the persistant questioning.

other times I answer the phone and don't say anything.... but they can hear the music or tv or other sounds from the room I am in. It confuses them...

Mikeeee

 

[Took]

An "8" here.

I try to keep the conversation short and clear: whatever you're selling, I'm not interested. Thank you and good bye.

Most marketers leave it at that, but some keep trying.

What particularly bugs me are the marketers who call me on my mobile, often when I'm in the middle of a meeting or otherwise in a rush. And even worse are those who call me on my mobile when I am travelling - and I am often several time zones away. One of them succeeded in scaring the (bleep) out of me when he got me out of a sound sleep at 3 am.

I don't talk to them if I can help it (rarely answer the phone unless I know the number). Otherwise, I cut the conversation very short (No thanks, goodbye, hang up). I can't stand tele-marketing. Ugh.

Took

 

[GirTheGecko]

It's a toss up.

I understand it's a job for them. So, I used to politely tell them I'm not interested, please stop calling, remove me from the list. Most people are willing to remove me and leave me be. I did have an issue with one gentleman who gave me a smart *** response to my request to be removed.

The worst is when right after my mother died, there were some repeat offenders of calling after we told them mom died. I did scream at one poor woman who had the misfortune of working for one of them.

Now, we're on the DNC and I can't remember the last time we got one.

 

[Gary M]

We are on the federal and Indiana do not call list. We rarely get a call from a telemarketer. I always check the caller ID and don't answer the phone unless I know who is calling. I detest telemarketers and have really appreciated the do not call law. 10.

 

[PixieDust32]

I never answer the phone when i see a 1800 number or a number I don't know.

 

[Papa Deuce]

....


Now, we're on the DNC and I can't remember the last time we got one.

I'm on the DNC, and between our 2 lines, I bet we still get 4 - 5 a day, and once in a great while I bet we hit 10 a day.

 

[griffinstorme]

i play jokes on the telemarketers