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Why Is Telemarketing Different Than Any Other Group or Individuals Telling a Business What to Do?
self | self

Posted on 09/27/2003 7:05:03 AM PDT by joesbucks

I've read over the course of the past few months the numerous threads regarding the use of telemarketing and the intrusion it has on our homes.

I had a long discussion with my wife who hates the intrusion. I ask her why did they call her? She had no idea. Well, despite the black eye telemarketers get, it's probably the most effective way to get business. Even Mrs. Me admitted that if they called about something that she had an interest in, she probably would buy. BINGO.

But let's look at if from another perspective. You will see numerous threads about how regulation is driving business from our shores to others. How we've taken manufacturing and moved it to low cost countries. Not because of productivity, but because of emission regulations or community groups that complain about the noise, smell or traffic caused by the facility. Even right to know and safety concerns. Changes necessary would be costly and not enforeced across the border or across the pond so companies locate there.

We seen threads about government regulation taking over our lives. Yet when it comes to a minor inconvience, we run to the government for help from the big bad telemarketers.

What's the difference between regulating out a obnoxiouis telephone call but not noxiouis fumes from the plant next door?

What happens when all the telemarketing jobs get exported to Ireland or India and our laws don't extend to them? And the calls continue cause we can't stop them.

What are we to do with all the folks who try to eek out a living working in a humid cramped call center. Many are the folks we drove from the welfare rolls with welfare reform (a good thing). Many are college students trying to earn their way through college. Others are seniors trying to supplement a fixed income. Or the physically disabled who find work in a sitting position reading a script, possibly from the company you work for or possibly even own. Some are just the slugs of life and a call center is the only way they've managed to find some sort of paycheck. What do you suggest they do for a living that's not immoral, illegal or indecent?

I find it amazing that we would rally all day about government intrusion and regulation on companies, yet we have rallied to stop a few phone calls a week or day.

The other thing to remember is that there are several ways that you will still get calls. They WILL NOT GO AWAY. Doing business with a company? They can call. Done business with them in the past 18 months? They can call. Signed up for one of those free give aways recently? You can now legitimately get a call. Charities. Exempt. Local lib dem candidate? Exempt. Pollsters. Exempt. Probably a thousand other loop holes? Exempt too!


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: telemarketing
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To: Hank Kerchief
"Why does everyone think they must have the government eliminate every possible inconvenience and discomfort from their lives for them. And why do they think they have the right to force other people to pay for it. That's the real intrusion."

Well said. You nail the essential problem with most citizens in the U.S. today.

I am astounded at the numerous members of the is forum, FreeRepublic.com, that constantly defend and encourage unconstitutional government intrusion and regulation of fellow citizens lives.

They complain loudly when the government intrusion and regulation does not fit their lifestyle or agenda, but when it does fit their agenda, there is no objection at all.

And worst than that, they call themselves conservatives and/or Republicans.

161 posted on 09/27/2003 3:49:57 PM PDT by tahiti
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To: elfman2
You voluntarily answer the phone, and you choose to answer the door or not.

I can prevent people from knocking on my door with the addition of a No Solicitation sign. Until the DNC list, I've not been able to do that with the phone.

162 posted on 09/27/2003 3:58:24 PM PDT by NittanyLion (Go Tom Go!)
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To: palmer
If I call you at 3 am every morning, it wouldn't be harassment then? Considering you have allowed those calls by signing up for a service.
163 posted on 09/27/2003 4:16:41 PM PDT by stands2reason
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To: NittanyLion
Apparently he shouldn't mind us calling him all day and all night. He asked for it by gettting a phone.
164 posted on 09/27/2003 4:20:34 PM PDT by stands2reason
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To: olivia3boys
I appreciate your predicament as a stay-at-home mother, I really do. But I still think the solution is on the one hand, a cordless handset, and on the other, an answering machine with which to screen calls.

When the phone rings, you listen to the incoming message, if there is one, and pick up the handset and answer if it's someone you wish to speak to. If there's no message, it wasn't a real call. If by chance one gets through to you, just hang up. No reason to worry about hurting their feelings; they're surely not worried about hurting yours.

I know several people besides myself that have adopted this method, and they've been relatively free of telemarketing calls for a long time. They're not at the mercy of some liberal judge, or any loopholes in whatever set of rules finally gets implemented.
165 posted on 09/27/2003 4:44:07 PM PDT by Marauder (If God lived on earth, liberals would sue Him.)
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To: narses
Your 1st Amendment argument is a joke, and is only used by telemarketers.
166 posted on 09/27/2003 4:52:24 PM PDT by stands2reason
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To: elfman2
I presume you’re referring to one of those phones that comes on even after it’s turned off or unplugged. I hate those.

LOL. Even worse are the phones that beat you over the head and force you to answer them.

167 posted on 09/27/2003 5:21:25 PM PDT by Sandy
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To: headsonpikes
Most of the implied contracts and agreements that one is forced to assent to, or do without service, are entirely the product of previous meddling, imo.

That's right.

There's something just wrong about pestering - folks have a right to a simple remedy, in law. Period.

NO, that's trying to cure the ailment by giving the patient more of the poison that's already killing him. Government (law) is not the solution.

Remove the regulations that exist, allow the telephone business to be truly "free market." If people really want to block telephone solicitation, the telephone company that offers that service will succeed. The other's either offer the service, or get gobbled up.

Hank

168 posted on 09/27/2003 5:43:00 PM PDT by Hank Kerchief
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To: SamAdams76
So for the benefit of others, I will state for about the 100th time, my practical solution to this dilemma that does not involve any government money: Invert the "do not call" registry idea. That is, restrict telemarketers only to those homes who "opt in" to the system. Let them pay a fee for it. Then we will have the perfect situation. Only those who want and are willing to pay for telemarketing calls will receive them.

Who is going to administer this program? Who is going to enforce it? Do the telephone companies do this on their own, voluntarily? That would be both good and right, and I, at least, would have no problem with that.

Hank

169 posted on 09/27/2003 5:50:17 PM PDT by Hank Kerchief
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To: elfman2
Yea, I think those auto dialers are illegal, but they’re in operation anyway.

Which is part of the problem I have with the whole Do Not Call concept. I correlate telemarketing with organized crime. These people lie for a living (sort of like the Democrat Party). They haven't the slightest interest in abiding by the law so why should we expect laws to deter them?

Better that we just borrow a few daisy cutters from CentCom and plop them on their marketing centers. We need to treat them like the lawless terrorists that they are.

170 posted on 09/27/2003 6:17:21 PM PDT by Tall_Texan (http://righteverytime1.blogspot.com - home to Tall_Texan's latest column.)
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To: Hank Kerchief
Remove the regulations that exist...

Well, yes, since the phone companies are probably prevented at present from offering such a service.

Socialism is difficult to reform - that's why Alexander's technique with the Gordian Knot is so attractive.

'Heads on pikes' is my handle, after all. ;^)

171 posted on 09/27/2003 6:20:24 PM PDT by headsonpikes (Spirit of '76 bttt!)
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To: stands2reason
If you call me tonight at 3AM it would be very rude. Calling me every night at 3 would be harassment. I could easily have the phone company identify you (no matter you did at your end) and have them tell you to stop. If a telemarketer did what you suggested I would ask them to stop and they would. The problem to people here seems to be that there are so many telemarketers they want a way to tell them all to stop preemptively.

Well, I figured out one way: buy cell phone service, and give up the land line. There would be many other ways if telephone service was deregulated, but instead we are talking about adding more regulation. It's actually pretty pathetic.

172 posted on 09/27/2003 7:05:57 PM PDT by palmer
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To: palmer
Just wait til they begin calling cell phones the same way they do land lines. Then what are you going to do?
173 posted on 09/27/2003 7:27:34 PM PDT by Tall_Texan (http://righteverytime1.blogspot.com - home to Tall_Texan's latest column.)
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To: Tall_Texan
Get a cell phone service that blocks those calls. I have at least 4 choices so I figure at least one should offer that service. Cell phones have better technology so it will steadily become easier to block them myself.
174 posted on 09/27/2003 7:41:06 PM PDT by palmer
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To: joesbucks
"I find it amazing that we would rally all day about government intrusion and regulation on companies,...

It isn't the government regulating companies.

It's me, regulating what gets said by strangers in my kitchen.

These telemarketers do not have the right to free speech in my kitchen any more than I have the right to "freedom of assembly" in your bedroom. (which is also "regulated" by the government---by the POLICE no less!).

175 posted on 09/27/2003 7:51:39 PM PDT by cookcounty
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To: palmer
Get a cell phone service.

As a techo-challenged putz, explain to me why junk calls don't get through on cell phones.

176 posted on 09/27/2003 8:00:30 PM PDT by cookcounty
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To: cookcounty
Politicians and religious advocates have free speech rights on the street. They can even use a bullhorn as one did outside my office one day. If I connected a wire from his microphone to a speaker in my house, I have no right to tell him to stop. But I can ask him to stop, or get rid of the wire, or turn off the speaker...
177 posted on 09/27/2003 8:03:44 PM PDT by palmer
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To: cookcounty
As far as I know it is enforced by the cell phone companies. The blocks of numbers allocated to cell phones cannot be used in autodialers. To get a call from a business you have to give them your cell phone number.

I believe the determining factor is the competition in the cell phone market, not regulation although there might be some regulation also.

178 posted on 09/27/2003 8:07:09 PM PDT by palmer
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To: palmer
I'm not sure why cellular phones aren't targeted. It simply may be out of courtesy since most cell phones are per minute vs bulk rate for home or office phones.
179 posted on 09/28/2003 5:30:49 AM PDT by joesbucks
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To: joesbucks
I have to laugh about the whining about telemarketers calling during family dinner hour. Majority of families don't eat together and if they do it's in the den, in front of the tv, etc. So maybe the irratation is the telemaketers interrupting television watching? Those who have legitimate dislike of dinner hour intrusion could turn their phones off for awhile.
180 posted on 09/28/2003 5:36:29 AM PDT by not-an-ostrich
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