Telemarketers Can't Take The Hint
from the how-can-we-make-this-any-clearer dept
Do Not Call lists have been one of the more popular governmental regulations in some time. Pretty much across the board, people don't like being bothered by telemarketers, so their whining about have to deal with state as well as federal rules tend to fall on deaf ears. That hasn't stopped them, though, from continuing their efforts to get state do not call rules invalidated, arguing only the federal government has the authority to regulate them. But this really isn't about the power of state versus federal government. That's a smokescreen trying to cover up the real issue: that states have closed many of the loopholes in the federal rules that allow companies to contact people, including the nebulous "existing relationship" exception. This is a pointless battle by telemarketers -- regardless of what's legal or illegal, most people don't want to be called with sales pitches, and getting laws changed won't change peoples' attitudes. Instead of looking at DNC lists as something that's destroying their business, telemarketers should see them for what they are -- prescreening for people that aren't receptive to their messages.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Telemarketing pre-screening
The need for telemarketing is the main factor that pushed me completely out of the life and health insurance business. I'd rather chew glass than call people I don't know and try to sell them something -- and because I had an insurance license, I was actually exempted from DNC in the state of Texas.
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Re: Telemarketing pre-screening
There now should be a list for the postal service. I get tons of junk mail that I just throw away. Junk mail I read kills 30 million trees a year alone. Just think of all the wood we must use just here in america on everything per year!
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Re: Telemarketing pre-screening
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No Subject Given
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No Subject Given
"They don't get it" is wearing thin. "They" certainly do get it; specifically, telemarketers understand that the 'take rate' for people on 'do not call' lists is about the same as the general take rate. Take rate = revenue for a TM; until or unless there his hard metric proof that take rates are SIGNIFICANTLY lower for that population, TMs will try their best to push around DNC lists.
So, instead of pontificating that it's "obvious these people are not interested", how can we prove that DNC list people really don't/won't buy. Once TMs believe that DNC list folks really don't buy, the TMs will avoid them like the plague.
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No Subject Given
I confess I still can't be bothered to answer most of the time I see "Blocked Call" on my call display, but when I don't have anything important to do, I answer... I say "hmmm".. I say "wow".. I say "really?".. I say "can you explain more about first?"..
I waste as much of their time as humanly possible without giving them any information or agreeing to any sort of transaction.
If we can string them on for ten minutes (ack!), then the effectiveness of a telemarketer is SIX people an hour. And if they're all just shitting him/her, that's a colossal waste for the TM company.
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Re: No Subject Given
Telemarketer: "Hi may I speak to (mispronouncing my name).
Me: "This is he"
Telemarketer: "I wanted to introduce you to blah blah blah blah it's a great blah blah"
Me: "Great, tell me more"
This is where I put the phone down and go about my business. I don't hang it up, just let them blabber for 10 minutes or so
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No Subject Given
If a telemarketer calls you from a blocked number and you tell them to "put me on your do not call" list, do they stop? How do you know? do you sit there getting their name and number? Why would they give you that info?
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Telemarketing
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No Subject Given
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Re: Telemarketing
How many people are employed in this industry? Check it out, would it be better if they were sitting on welfare?
We all need to make a living.
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Re: No Subject Given
I'm not kidding.
I finally hung up, he called back...that call went like this:
Me: Hello
TM: Hi again, something must have happened, because you went away for like an hour and then the line went dead...anyway, were you interested in....?
Me: Yes, I want a dozen...do you take credit cards?
TM: YES of COURSE...the number is?
Me: 9..CLICK!
Ring ring ring
Me: Hello
TM: We lost the line again...you should check that..
Me: I'm sorry, who are you?
TM: I'm (whatever) and I was speaking to hum...(my name)
Me: sorry, no one here by that name..CLICK!
Ring ring ring.
Yeah...I was bored...it passed the time (they were persistent, I ended up playing with about 3 different operators from that company)...I had a lot of fun for a few hours (yes, a few HOURS)
Funny...since then, I've never received any more TM calls. Hmmm.
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Re: Telemarketing
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Re: No Subject Given
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Re: No Subject Given
https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx
I have not recieved hardly any calls since. Even when I do I think its from those non profit things...
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Re: Telemarketing
Now its one thing for a home phone but if it ever happens on a cell phone(I dont know if they do it now or ever will) then you are wasting my time and my money. On a cell you have to pay for the mins.
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No Subject Given
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Re: Telemarketing pre-screening
Outside the box,
Andrew
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Telemarketing sucks
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If you've ever lived in Hawaii
You groggily answer the phone, and they start their pitch.
A minute of silence.
"Do you know what time it is here?", you manage.
CLICK
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I have this call screening service on my land line
The cell calls that don't show a number I just don't answer.
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Re: Telemarketing
You work in a field where even the people who work IN the people can't stand its practices (I rarely meet a TM who enjoys being on the receiving end).
You call me in the evening, or in the morning about your office equipment at a time that belongs to ME and not my work and you wonder why I hate you? C'mon.
Calling my office, sure...that's one thing...but at home? If you can't see why it bothers people, don't ever chew gum, you won't have enough brain power to continue breathing.
"we all need to make a living"? Drug dealers say that too, doesn't make it any more valid.
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Telemarketers
When they call tell them you only buy from non-telemarketing companies.
Then don't buy from telemarketers!
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telemarketers
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Limiting TM calls
Many of you are blowing a minor irritation way out of proportion. It's thirty seconds of your life, and you were the one who picked up the phone.
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Yes we actually make money
And another thing, someone's buying something otherwise who would be funding the 300,000 people that have made their living calling people for the last 30 years? Yes folks, they actually create revenue cause someone is buying something.
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