When we moved back home about 2 months ago, we were told we had to wait 90 days
before the "do not call" list takes effect.
What a PITA! We had gotten spoiled, having been on the list from the git-go. I
just now picked up the phone, got the dit-daaaaah-diiit-dah that indicates a
message, discovered some idiot trying to sell me health insurance had left what
I assume was full spiel on the voice mail box.
I assume because I hit "3" as soon as I realized it was sales babble.
Does anyone buy anything at all from these types? I surely hope not.
Charlie Self
"Inanimate objects are classified scientifically into three major categories -
those that don't work, those that break down and those that get lost." Russell
Baker
You're a baaaaaaaaaad man. :-)
Wayne
"Carl Stigers" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> While I lived in Bedford VA near Charlie I got a call from a mortgage
> company...many times and they would not stop calling. One night I got the
> call and was prepared. I went over all my bills with the guy mortgage
> options and the like. strung him on for like 30 - 40 minutes asking
> questions and the like. When he asked me for my mortgage company I told
him
> I rented...He yelled that I couldn't use his services and replied that he
> had called me and that I assumed he knew that...he slammed the phone down
> and I never heard from them again....i slept well that night I gotta admit
>
>
>
"Markndawoods" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I usually interrupt them right at the start and tell them I have been
> waiting for their call and ask them to hang on for a second while I grab a
> pen.
>
> Than I go cut some wood <snicker>
>
> SWMBO will hang the phone up for me when she hears it go off hook.
>
> Mark
I'd answer and they'd ask to speak to me by name. I'd just say sure, and
yell out, "hey Ed, telephone call" and then tell the telemarketer "he'll be
right with you" and just set the phone down in front of the radio or TV.
Sometimes I'd pick up the phone after a minute to tell him "he'll be right
with you I hear him coming"
On Thu, 05 Aug 2004 14:36:59 GMT, "Mike in Mystic"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I read a newspaper article awhile back that said direct marketing only needs
>about 0.5-1% positive response to justify their efforts.
When I worked for an ISP, a 2% take rate was HUGE from a mailing or CD
distribution at an event.
>I'm with you, the do-not-call list was the best thing government has come up
>with in my lifetime.
Is the Connecticut DNC list GREAT or what? I can't remember my last
telemarketing call, and I don't even subscribe to telco services like
Privacy Manager or Caller ID!
Barry
I usually interrupt them right at the start and tell them I have been
waiting for their call and ask them to hang on for a second while I grab a
pen.
Than I go cut some wood <snicker>
SWMBO will hang the phone up for me when she hears it go off hook.
Mark
"Charlie Self" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> When we moved back home about 2 months ago, we were told we had to wait 90
days
> before the "do not call" list takes effect.
>
> What a PITA! We had gotten spoiled, having been on the list from the
git-go. I
> just now picked up the phone, got the dit-daaaaah-diiit-dah that indicates
a
> message, discovered some idiot trying to sell me health insurance had left
what
> I assume was full spiel on the voice mail box.
>
> I assume because I hit "3" as soon as I realized it was sales babble.
>
> Does anyone buy anything at all from these types? I surely hope not.
>
> Charlie Self
> "Inanimate objects are classified scientifically into three major
categories -
> those that don't work, those that break down and those that get lost."
Russell
> Baker
Thu, Aug 5, 2004, 1:49pm (EDT+4) [email protected]
(Charlie=A0Self) wants to know.
<snip> Does anyone buy anything at all from these types? <snip>
Yes. Yes, I do.
More or less.
Every once in awhile I get a call from the outfit that handles my
Hot Rod and Car Craft subscriptions. They have a better deal than a
regular subscription, so I have them renew them. Anything else, I hang
up.
JOAT
Jesus was a Ford man, that's why he walked everywhere.
WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN http://home.maine.rr.com/itscool/Egyptian.mid
"Charlie Self" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> When we moved back home about 2 months ago, we were told we had to wait 90
days
> before the "do not call" list takes effect.
>
> What a PITA! We had gotten spoiled, having been on the list from the
git-go. I
> just now picked up the phone, got the dit-daaaaah-diiit-dah that indicates
a
> message, discovered some idiot trying to sell me health insurance had left
what
> I assume was full spiel on the voice mail box.
>
> I assume because I hit "3" as soon as I realized it was sales babble.
>
> Does anyone buy anything at all from these types? I surely hope not.
>
> Charlie Self
> "Inanimate objects are classified scientifically into three major
categories -
> those that don't work, those that break down and those that get lost."
Russell
> Baker
The Do Not Call List is wonderful (after the 90 day wait, of course). My
father used to sell life insurance (from his office). Whenever he'd get a
telemarketer on the phone, he'd say, "No, I'm not interested, but while I've
got you on the line, let me tell you about this new Whole Life policy my
company is offering...". He'd go on and on in uninterruptible-sales-speak
until the telemarketer had to hang up on him! It was priceless.
Jerry
"Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Thu, 5 Aug 2004 17:04:35 -0500, "Jerry Shaw" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >"Charlie Self" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:[email protected]...
> >> When we moved back home about 2 months ago, we were told we had to wait
90
> >days
> >> before the "do not call" list takes effect.
> >>
> >> What a PITA! We had gotten spoiled, having been on the list from the
> >git-go. I
> >> just now picked up the phone, got the dit-daaaaah-diiit-dah that
indicates
> >a
> >> message, discovered some idiot trying to sell me health insurance had
left
> >what
> >> I assume was full spiel on the voice mail box.
> >>
> >> I assume because I hit "3" as soon as I realized it was sales babble.
> >>
> >> Does anyone buy anything at all from these types? I surely hope not.
> >>
> >> Charlie Self
> >> "Inanimate objects are classified scientifically into three major
> >categories -
> >> those that don't work, those that break down and those that get lost."
> >Russell
> >> Baker
> >
> >The Do Not Call List is wonderful (after the 90 day wait, of course). My
> >father used to sell life insurance (from his office). Whenever he'd get a
> >telemarketer on the phone, he'd say, "No, I'm not interested, but while
I've
> >got you on the line, let me tell you about this new Whole Life policy my
> >company is offering...". He'd go on and on in
uninterruptible-sales-speak
> >until the telemarketer had to hang up on him! It was priceless.
> >
> >Jerry
> >
>
> Did he ever get any takers that way? :-)
No, he just rattled on until they hung up. That's when I realized it's not
rude to hang up on telemarketers, it's what they expect - that it's part of
the business.
Jerry
>
"George" <george@least> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Note the two who still call, because the Rule:
>
> creates an "established business relationship" exception to the National
Do
> Not Call provisions so that a company may call a consumer with whom it has
> such a relationship, even if the consumer's number is on the Registry.
>
Apparently politicians are another exception. Last week I had a message from
one explaining that "...there are many important issues on the upcoming
ballot, I hope I can count on your vote." Of course he didn't say what they
were or where he stood on them (He didn't get my vote).
Jerry
On 05 Aug 2004 13:49:51 GMT, [email protected] (Charlie Self)
wrote:
>Does anyone buy anything at all from these types? I surely hope not.
I've just resorted to "please take me off your list and never call
this number again.<click>".
It drives me nuts when I hear someone politely decline and try to get
off the phone, and then they continue to try and get off the phone
another 6 or 8 times while some automaton on the other end of the line
reads through the 27 point script on how to rip someone off. JUST
HANG UP!
JP
Note the two who still call, because the Rule:
creates an "established business relationship" exception to the National Do
Not Call provisions so that a company may call a consumer with whom it has
such a relationship, even if the consumer's number is on the Registry.
covers charitable solicitations placed by for-profit telefunders. The
National Do Not Call Registry provisions do not apply to for-profit
telefunders; rather, for-profit telefunders must keep their own Do Not Call
lists and honor donors' requests not to be called.
My universities apparently sell lists, because the calls open with "on
behalf of _ ."
"Robert Bonomi" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> UPDATE: The FTC _changed_the_rules_. The final rule-making, issued in
March
> is that telemarketers must 'scrub' their lists at least every _31_ days.
> (was 91 days). Unfortunately, that change doesn't take effect till 1
January.
> Gory details, for those want them, starting at:
> <http://www.ftc.gov/Templates/dnc_site.dwt>
>
Yeah Charlie, I think I'm spoiled now that the DNCL has taken roots.
My PITA calls have dropped to zero/zilch.
But I do admit I used to like to toy with the telemarketers just like
a cat plays with a ball of yarn. I'd let the poor schmuck give his
spiel about how his widget would make my life so much better. Then
after he was done, I'd agree with him that I really need to buy his
widget. "Can you wait till I get my credit card from the other room?",
I'd ask. And then just wait till I heard him/her finally give up and
hang up.
Or on occasion even before they started their rant, I'd tell them I
needed to adjust the foil on my head that stops the government from
reading my mind. That usually cut our session short.
If I really had time, I'd start to ask the telemarketer increasingly
personal questions, starting with what city they were calling from.
Going onwards, I'd ask about the weather, what kind of clothes he/she
was wearing, if they were tight or see-thru, etc, etc. ;-)
Sometimes I'm an asshole, but hey I never asked them to call me......
Mark L.
Charlie Self wrote:
> When we moved back home about 2 months ago, we were told we had to wait 90 days
> before the "do not call" list takes effect.
>
> What a PITA! We had gotten spoiled, having been on the list from the git-go. I
> just now picked up the phone, got the dit-daaaaah-diiit-dah that indicates a
> message, discovered some idiot trying to sell me health insurance had left what
> I assume was full spiel on the voice mail box.
>
> I assume because I hit "3" as soon as I realized it was sales babble.
>
> Does anyone buy anything at all from these types? I surely hope not.
>
> Charlie Self
> "Inanimate objects are classified scientifically into three major categories -
> those that don't work, those that break down and those that get lost." Russell
> Baker
Carl
Many years ago I kept getting sales calls from a siding company in a
nearby town (about 45miles aways) who would NOT take no for an answer
So, I finally said "Sure, come up and take the measurements and give
me a quote."
The showed up, spent about 30 minutes meaureing, and another 30
minutes talking financing, when he decided to pull out a contract.
I asked him if maybe it would be better if the homeowner signed any
contract, at which point he went balliistic. Told me I was guility
of fraud as I had told him I owned my home. I told him that I DID own
my home, it just happened to be 130miles way and I was just a lowly
RENTER of this place. Also, I brought up the fact that they NEVER
asked me if I owned the property I was living in, the only question
was "Do you own your home?" Told him if there was any question of
fraud, it was on THEIR head NOT to have clarified what they wanted
when they asked.
The look on his face was worth the effort, and they definitely STOPPED
the sales calls
Revenge is sweet
John
On Fri, 06 Aug 2004 00:50:29 GMT, "Carl Stigers"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>While I lived in Bedford VA near Charlie I got a call from a mortgage
>company...many times and they would not stop calling. One night I got the
>call and was prepared. I went over all my bills with the guy mortgage
>options and the like. strung him on for like 30 - 40 minutes asking
>questions and the like. When he asked me for my mortgage company I told him
>I rented...He yelled that I couldn't use his services and replied that he
>had called me and that I assumed he knew that...he slammed the phone down
>and I never heard from them again....i slept well that night I gotta admit
>
>
John wrote:
>
> The look on his face was worth the effort, and they definitely STOPPED
> the sales calls
>
> Revenge is sweet
It's a wonder he didn't beat your ass, but I liked the story.
--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
[email protected]
http://www.mortimerschnerd.com
In article <[email protected]>,
Charlie Self <[email protected]> wrote:
>When we moved back home about 2 months ago, we were told we had to wait 90 days
>before the "do not call" list takes effect.
UPDATE: The FTC _changed_the_rules_. The final rule-making, issued in March
is that telemarketers must 'scrub' their lists at least every _31_ days.
(was 91 days). Unfortunately, that change doesn't take effect till 1 January.
Gory details, for those want them, starting at:
<http://www.ftc.gov/Templates/dnc_site.dwt>
(yes, that dog-whiskey-tango suffix *is* correct. No, I don't know what
it stands for.)
Note, as of April (6 months months after the list went 'live'), 58.4 million
residence phones were on the list. Out of a little over 100 million
households in the country, and something like 114 million residential phone
lines. (note: original predictions were circa 30 million after 2 years.)
And folks thought 'everybody hates telemarketers' was overblown.
I wonder how telemarketing services try to _sell_ their own services these
days.
I read a newspaper article awhile back that said direct marketing only needs
about 0.5-1% positive response to justify their efforts. So, even if 99 of
us use our brain and tell them where to go, that 1 person that thinks they
really need an automatic toilet paper dispenser or whatever keeps these
people going.
I'm with you, the do-not-call list was the best thing government has come up
with in my lifetime.
Mike
"Charlie Self" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Does anyone buy anything at all from these types? I surely hope not.
>
Before the DNCL went into effect, and when the kids were infants we went
ahead and paid US Worst/Qworst the extra money to take their no-solicitation
service. Our calls dropped to zero.
I think Caller ID and the DNCL are the two greatest inventions since Orville
said to Wilbur, "Yeah, sure. Why not?"
On Thu, 5 Aug 2004 17:04:35 -0500, "Jerry Shaw" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
>"Charlie Self" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> When we moved back home about 2 months ago, we were told we had to wait 90
>days
>> before the "do not call" list takes effect.
>>
>> What a PITA! We had gotten spoiled, having been on the list from the
>git-go. I
>> just now picked up the phone, got the dit-daaaaah-diiit-dah that indicates
>a
>> message, discovered some idiot trying to sell me health insurance had left
>what
>> I assume was full spiel on the voice mail box.
>>
>> I assume because I hit "3" as soon as I realized it was sales babble.
>>
>> Does anyone buy anything at all from these types? I surely hope not.
>>
>> Charlie Self
>> "Inanimate objects are classified scientifically into three major
>categories -
>> those that don't work, those that break down and those that get lost."
>Russell
>> Baker
>
>The Do Not Call List is wonderful (after the 90 day wait, of course). My
>father used to sell life insurance (from his office). Whenever he'd get a
>telemarketer on the phone, he'd say, "No, I'm not interested, but while I've
>got you on the line, let me tell you about this new Whole Life policy my
>company is offering...". He'd go on and on in uninterruptible-sales-speak
>until the telemarketer had to hang up on him! It was priceless.
>
>Jerry
>
Did he ever get any takers that way? :-)
"Charlie Self" wrote in message
> just now picked up the phone, got the dit-daaaaah-diiit-dah that indicates
a
> message, discovered some idiot trying to sell me health insurance had left
what
> I assume was full spiel on the voice mail box.
That particular one has made it onto all my phones in the past few weeks,
more than once, despite the DNCL here in Texas, which has been remarkably
effective.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 7/10/04
While I lived in Bedford VA near Charlie I got a call from a mortgage
company...many times and they would not stop calling. One night I got the
call and was prepared. I went over all my bills with the guy mortgage
options and the like. strung him on for like 30 - 40 minutes asking
questions and the like. When he asked me for my mortgage company I told him
I rented...He yelled that I couldn't use his services and replied that he
had called me and that I assumed he knew that...he slammed the phone down
and I never heard from them again....i slept well that night I gotta admit