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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / November 2007Fun with Telemarketers (or in this case, survey takers)
Got a call yesterday. They "just wondered" if I'd spare a few minutes to answer some questions about pain relievers. Sure, no problem. Three questions in it was obvious this was sponsored by Aleve. Do you take Aleve? Out of the following pain relievers, which do you take the most? Aleve? LOL Please rate from 10 to 1, 10 being the highest, 1 being the lowest, the pain reliever you use the most. Aleve? (By now I'm ROFL) Being the b**ch that I am I had to interrupt the guy a few times with some nonsensical commentary just so he'd lose his place in the script. (He wasn't that good at reading, anyway). So right in the middle I asked where he was calling from. Riverside, CA. Oh, really? I was born near there. Ever been to Oceanside? Camp Pendleton? Um, no. How about Vista? Escondido? Um, no. Do you have any pets? He said he has a dog. Oh, too bad you're not a cat person. Dogs are nice but cats purr you right to sleep. So does ALEVE. Any more questions? > Got a call yesterday. They "just wondered" if I'd spare a few minutes to > answer some questions about pain relievers. Sure, no problem. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > bad you're not a cat person. Dogs are nice but cats purr you right to > sleep. So does ALEVE. Any more questions? lol... Topped only by the callers who say: "Your phone number has been selected to receive a new Sprint Cell Phone." Wow, my *phone* number won a new cell, whatever will my PHONE NUMBER do with a Sprint cell phone? "Huh? I don't understand." I bet you don't. However, I must decline, please remove my number from your calling list. "But ma'am, it's a free cell phone from Sprint." Yes? I don't care for Sprint, thank you, please remove my number from your calling list. "Ma'am, you could give the phone to a friend for a gift." Oh? I should give a cell phone, using a plan I can't abide, to a friend? Am I trying to get rid of this friend? No? Well, no thank you, please remove my number from your calling list. "but ma'am, it's free..." What part of Remove. My. Number. From. Your. Calling. List. Do you *not* understand? "but aren't you..." Excuse me, Please do not call my number again. Thank you. I'm hanging up now. Smokie Darling (Annie) - I just had this conversation with someone yesterday (for the 5th time, my number has been selected... well you know) > "but ma'am, it's free..." What part of Remove. My. Number. From. > Your. Calling. List. Do you *not* understand? > "but aren't you..." Excuse me, Please do not call my number again. > Thank you. I'm hanging up now. AAAAGGGHHH! I think my blood pressure went up slightly just from reading this. I know they're just poorly paid workers reading from a script, but when you tell someone "no, thank you" 5 times, and they keep coming back with "but ma'am...", you just want to slap them. Joyce On Nov 25, 3:24 pm, bastXXXe...@sonic.net wrote: > > "but ma'am, it's free..." What part of Remove. My. Number. From. > > Your. Calling. List. Do you *not* understand? [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Joyce Exactly! But looking back at it right now, it's kind of funny. Considering the kind of day I had yesterday, finding any humo(u)r is a good thing. Smokie Darling (Annie) > On Nov 25, 3:24 pm, bastXXXe...@sonic.net wrote: >> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Smokie Darling (Annie) Well, they are not allowed to give you permission to hang up. Its rough on those with good manners who are used to an agreement with the other party when they terminate a phone call. They simply are not going to say "thank you for your time, sorry" and hang up first because they would lose their jobs. Jo > "Smokie Darling (Annie)" <Barnabus1993@yahoo.com> wrote in message >> On Nov 25, 3:24 pm, bastXXXe...@sonic.net wrote: >>> AAAAGGGHHH! I think my blood pressure went up slightly just from >>> reading this. I know they're just poorly paid workers reading from a >>> script, but when you tell someone "no, thank you" 5 times, and they >>> keep coming back with "but ma'am...", you just want to slap them. >> Exactly! But looking back at it right now, it's kind of funny. >> Considering the kind of day I had yesterday, finding any humo(u)r is a >> good thing. > Well, they are not allowed to give you permission to hang up. Its rough on > those with good manners who are used to an agreement with the other party > when they terminate a phone call. > They simply are not going to say "thank you for your time, sorry" and hang > up first because they would lose their jobs. Well, and in fact, my mother had a series of telemarketing jobs, each of which ended in her being fired for inadequate sales. When I asked her why she did so poorly, she said, "Whenever someone said they weren't interested, I would just say 'OK, thanks, then' and hang up." LOL, my mother was just too respectful a person to be a successful salesperson! Joyce >> [quoted text muted] > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Jo I have " Caller ID" and if I don't know the caller, I don't answer. It saves a lot of irritation. MLB one of the best things DH ever got me was talking ID, not only can I tell who is calling independently, but DH can listen and not rush if he doesn't want to... saves lots of smooched kitty paws, Lee > > "Smokie Darling (Annie)" <Barnabus1993@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:b020225a-081f-4f6c-92d2-2507df39b27f@t47g2000hsc.googlegroups.com... > >> [quoted text muted] > > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > I have " Caller ID" and if I don't know the caller, I don't answer. It > saves a lot of irritation. MLB >>> [quoted text muted] >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > I have " Caller ID" and if I don't know the caller, I don't answer. It > saves a lot of irritation. MLB We use something called anonymous call rejection and privacy direct. No computer calls and if they call they have to identify themselves on the phones before I have to talk to them can't wait until our phone service has this, and am happy DH is looking at alternate net service so we can quit the home phone completely, Lee > >> "Smokie Darling (Annie)" <Barnabus1993@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:b020225a-081f-4f6c-92d2-2507df39b27f@t47g2000hsc.googlegroups.com... > >>> [quoted text muted] > >> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > computer calls and if they call they have to identify themselves on the > phones before I have to talk to them > can't wait until our phone service has this, and am happy DH is looking at > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > - Show quoted text - To MLB, Stormee, and Matthew: We have pretty tight funds, and caller ID through the phone company (our local 911 doesn't recognize cell phone addresses AND I can't be without that) isn't available by itself. So, rather than my $15 per month (plus taxes and fees), I'd have a $50 minimum before fees and taxes and that's too much <shrug>. So, I answer the phone, most of the 'survey takers' and 'free cell phone' people aren't as pushy as that one guy was. Telemarketers do not call. Smokie Darling (Annie) >> can't wait until our phone service has this, and am happy DH is >> looking at [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > > Smokie Darling (Annie) I agree, it's very expensive. So I usually just let the answering machine pick up. People who know me know I screen my calls in this manner. They'll say hey, Jill, it's me, pick up if you're there. Computer dialed calls disconnect when they get a machine. It works for me :) I don't know why I answered this particular call. Guess I just wasn't thinking! our phone service is 48 dollars if we never pick it up, that is with touch tone as a 4 dollar option... ID is 6 dollars... we just got 911 a couple of years back. the sheriff's office called to tell me my address. Where we live we do not get mail service in our town, we are too close together for RR service and not enough of us for a city route... its hard for rebates and stuff, Lee > > can't wait until our phone service has this, and am happy DH is looking at > > > > > >> "Smokie Darling (Annie)" <Barnabus1...@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:b020225a-081f-4f6c-92d2-2507df39b27f@t47g2000hsc.googlegroups.com... > > > >>> [quoted text muted] > > [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > > Smokie Darling (Annie) >> can't wait until our phone service has this, and am happy DH is looking >> at [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > > Smokie Darling (Annie) Everyone needs to remember though. It is your telephone, you pay for it. You can not answer or hang up whenever you please. A caller has no more right to engage you in conversation than someone who knocks on your door has a right to enter your home. Jo > >> can't wait until our phone service has this, and am happy DH is looking > >> at [quoted text clipped - 54 lines] > > Jo- I'm a gimp, so if I'm not expecting someone, I don't answer the door <shrug>. I try to be 'nice', not overly so, but nice. 99 times out of 100, as soon as I say "No, thank you" or "I haven't got the time for a survey", they hang up and don't call back. It's just Sprint, and they've done this since they began telephone service. Smokie Darling (Annie), at least they never called at 3:00 am like MCI did, once. I have to confess if they're polite I'll be polite right back I've done enough rubbish jobs to feel a bit sorry for someone phoning on a Friday night and probably getting abuse and phones put down on them all the time. I mean, okay whisper it softly and bear in mind I only did it to keep a roof over our heads and the cat's fed..I once did a disastrous 2 weeks (I hated the job so much even Dave wanted me to quit and I was hopeless at it) as an open air charity fundraiser- you know those pests with the clipboards that try to get you to sign a standing order for a good cause when you are running for the bus (gotta tell you this it's completely true- you do meet some wonderful people because the people who will stop and listen to your pitch are the sort of people who already give as much as they can. The couple who gave everything they could spare to breast cancer research because their daughter had it. The guy who was about to abseil down Canary Wharf Tower despite a fear of heights because it was for Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital appeal- he'd previously been shot out of a cannon across the Thames for cancer research but the winner... Lovely lady who explained that she sponsored two orphans and a grandmother in India and as she was in a job, which was commission only she really felt she couldn't commit any more money but we chatted for a while and I told her I thought she was doing a wonderful thing (to be honest I felt embarrassed asking her to sign up) after she had gone the team leader ran up and said "What happened? You were talking for 20 minutes I thought you'd finally got a result" I explained and the woman's reply would have been hilarious if it wasn't callous: "You should have persuaded her to drop the granny") Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs I use my answering machine to screen calls. On the 4th ring the answering machine comes on so you can leave a message. I have the volume on so I can hear the message being left. If it's someone I want to talk to I pick up the phone. Ann  Signatureread Sam's blog at http://kittens-3.blogspot.com/ >> can't wait until our phone service has this, and am happy DH is looking >> at [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > > Smokie Darling (Annie) >>> "Smokie Darling (Annie)" <Barnabus1993@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:b020225a-081f-4f6c-92d2-2507df39b27f@t47g2000hsc.googlegroups.com... >>>> [quoted text muted] >>> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > No computer calls and if they call they have to identify themselves > on the phones before I have to talk to them I just let the answering machine pick up. If it's a computer generated (dialed) sales call it disconnects when it doesn't get a real person. >They simply are not going to say "thank you for your time, sorry" and hang >up first because they would lose their jobs. A friend of ours gives them 10 seconds and says something like "This sounds really interesting and I'd like to hear more but I have got a pan on in the kitchen so can you hold on a second while I go and turn it off?" Then he sits back and waits to see how many times they can go "Hello... hello. ..are you there yet?" before they take the hint- the record is a little over 12 minutes! Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs Please tell me you are on the don call list IF you are go to the web page and file a complaint >> Got a call yesterday. They "just wondered" if I'd spare a few minutes to >> answer some questions about pain relievers. Sure, no problem. [quoted text clipped - 49 lines] > yesterday (for the 5th time, my number has been selected... well you > know) freaking spell checker that is Do not call List > Please tell me you are on the don call list > [quoted text clipped - 55 lines] >> yesterday (for the 5th time, my number has been selected... well you >> know) > freaking spell checker > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >> >> IF you are go to the web page and file a complaint Let's see -- the don call list would be where they say, "Let me give you an offer you can't refuse..."? SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria > Please tell me you are on the don call list > > IF you are go to the web page and file a complaint They aren't selling anything, so it doesn't qualify. I already tried that (and yes, I am on the list). > >> Got a call yesterday. They "just wondered" if I'd spare a few minutes to > >> answer some questions about pain relievers. Sure, no problem. [quoted text clipped - 51 lines] > > - Show quoted text - > Please tell me you are on the don call list I'm on the do not call list. Not sure it applies to people who are taking "surveys". >>> Got a call yesterday. They "just wondered" if I'd spare a few >>> minutes to answer some questions about pain relievers. Sure, no [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] >> yesterday (for the 5th time, my number has been selected... well you >> know) >> Please tell me you are on the don call list >> > I'm on the do not call list. Not sure it applies to people who are taking > "surveys". I love the survey people I act like I am a confused old man ( pardon the pun ) and have fun with them >>>> Got a call yesterday. They "just wondered" if I'd spare a few >>>> minutes to answer some questions about pain relievers. Sure, no [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] >>> yesterday (for the 5th time, my number has been selected... well you >>> know) > >> Please tell me you are on the don call list > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I love the survey people I act like I am a confused old man ( pardon the > pun ) and have fun with them Rob tells them all that he's not allowed to talk to strangers and then hangs up. Pam S. ohhhh another person who loves telemarketers. I usually get the ones selling car insurance. I let them spiel for a bit and then ask "does you insurance cover people over 60, yes, good how about blind drivers" Umm maman is there an adult there that drives? Nope, my car, my insurance and my title. good night young man!!! >> Got a call yesterday. They "just wondered" if I'd spare a few minutes to >> answer some questions about pain relievers. Sure, no problem. [quoted text clipped - 49 lines] > yesterday (for the 5th time, my number has been selected... well you > know) > ohhhh another person who loves telemarketers. I usually get the ones > selling car insurance. I let them spiel for a bit and then ask "does you > insurance cover people over 60, yes, good how about blind drivers" Umm > maman is there an adult there that drives? Nope, my car, my insurance and > my title. good night young man!!! Oooh, I love that one. Before the Do Not Call List, I used to get rid of them with, "Do you have a moment so I might tell you about my personal relationship with Jesus?". They always hung up on that (tee- hee). > >> Got a call yesterday. They "just wondered" if I'd spare a few minutes to > >> answer some questions about pain relievers. Sure, no problem. [quoted text clipped - 51 lines] > > - Show quoted text - >> ohhhh another person who loves telemarketers. I usually get the >> ones [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > personal relationship with Jesus?". They always hung up on that (tee- > hee). This reminds me of how John handles the religious folks who come knocking. If they ask if he's found Jesus yet he usually gets a puzzled look on his face and says, "I didn't know he was lost!" :) Jill >This reminds me of how John handles the religious folks who come knocking. >If they ask if he's found Jesus yet he usually gets a puzzled look on his >face and says, "I didn't know he was lost!" :) Or better yet, say "I'm not sure; give me a minute to check the freezer." or "Yeah, I know jesus. He comes once a week to cut my grass." > This reminds me of how John handles the religious folks who come knocking. > If they ask if he's found Jesus yet he usually gets a puzzled look on his > face and says, "I didn't know he was lost!" :) I must remember that one! Reminds me of a t-shirt I saw once that said "I found Jesus- he was hiding behind the sofa" Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs > >> ohhhh another person who loves telemarketers. I usually get the > >> ones [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > - Show quoted text - I think I'd love John. How is he? Can't seem to find *that* thread again. Smokie Darling (Annie) - can't find something... so what else is new? >>>> ohhhh another person who loves telemarketers. I usually get the >>>> ones [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Smokie Darling (Annie) - can't find something... so what else is new? He's doing much better, thanks for asking Annie :) He's definitely getting more rest and they seem to have his meds sorted out. He's trying to modify his diet (per instructions). He can cook (very well, actually) but usually buys frozen or fast food stuff, which is a no-no-no for him. Jill > Got a call yesterday. They "just wondered" if I'd spare a few minutes to > answer some questions about pain relievers. Sure, no problem..... I really messed with a Telemarketers head once. I currently live in my grandmothers house and have her phone number as I never bothered changing it when i took over the bill payments. My gran died in November 2002 and the sales rep rang about 18 months after her death... The sales rep rang up and asked to speak to Mrs Mildred Miles (my gran)... The conversation went something like this... Sales rep: "Can I speak to Mrs Mildred Miles please?" Me: "She's not here I'm afraid" Sales Rep: "When will she be back and when *CAN* I speak to her?" (He was actually quite rude) Me: "What's it in relation to please?" Sales Rep: "I can't disclose that as you're not Mrs Miles, but I'm calling from xxxx will writing service" Me: "Would you like me to take a message?" Sales Rep: "Yes. Tell her to ring me on XXXX. When will she get the message?" Me: "Not for a while" Sale rep: "How long will that be and will you pass it on?" Me: "Well I can't guarantee she'll get it any time soon because you're a little late with your call" Sales Rep: "WHY??" Me: "She's dead". Sales Rep: "Are you sure?" Me: "Well I *THINK* it was her body in the coffin we cremated 18 months ago..." There was a dramatic pause and then the phone went dead. I realise that sales reps have a job to do, but boy was this guy rude. Made me feel better though Helen M >> Got a call yesterday. They "just wondered" if I'd spare a few minutes to >> answer some questions about pain relievers. Sure, no problem..... [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > Helen M LOL |
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