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Once upon a time, tele-marketing wasn't all bad. I started with it part time 30 years ago... folks got 2 calls a year and were often happy to talk with you. If you were selling a good product at a good price, it wasn't bad at all. By the late 80's it was over. Everybody hated you, and you were hard pressed to hire any one who wasn't a flake or a felon.

Now, when I want to blow them off, I use one of two techniques. When they ask if I am Mr X, I'll sadly say, "No, Mr X took his own life about an hour ago." Alternately, I explain that Mr. X was taken away by Federal Marshalls about an hour ago. Both techniques get you right off the list. :)

Once upon a time, tele-marketing wasn't all bad. I started with it part time 30 years ago...

Caller-id has helped me avoid the telemarketers. When I do get "snagged", typically the caller hacks up my first name, so I just tell them, "No, she's not here". I won't let myself be rude to the caller because they're only trying to make a living.

One method that I haven't used which I think is excellent: when the caller asks for so-and-so, tell them yes, just a minute. Put the phone down and let it sit until the caller gets tired of waiting. Voila! you've just saved another few persons from calls while the telemarketer's line is tied up waiting on no one. :-)

When they ask for Mr. FourPeas, I've been known to go into a rant about the bum running off with a younger woman leaving me with small children to raise, or about him dying just last week, or whatever strikes me at the moment. Of course, I never forget to ask them to take us off their list.

Usually I just hang up on telemarketers or I put the phone down and go about my business while they go into their spiel. But when I'm in a playful mood, I'll do a "bait-and-switch" on them. I'll let them go into their spiel and when they are finished, I'll say "No thank you, what I really need right now is a new roof. Do you know anybody who does roofs?" Of course, if it IS somebody who is pitching roof jobs, I'll ask them if they know anybody who does pest control. I'll say "I don't really need a new roof right now but I'm up to my armpits in termites. You know any exterminators?"

51 posted on 04/24/2003 5:59:58 PM PDT by SamAdams76 (California wine beats French wine in blind taste tests. Boycott French wine.)

"Now, when I want to blow them off, I use one of two techniques. When they ask if I am Mr X, I'll sadly say, "No, Mr X took his own life about an hour ago." Alternately, I explain that Mr. X was taken away by Federal Marshalls about an hour ago. Both techniques get you right off the list. :) "

They also hang up really fast when you tell them your credit card is maxed out. You are useless to them at that point.