New way of dealing with telesales callers

[XmisterIS]

I've also heard by anecdote that it makes no difference as the postage is prepaid per item and the item has to be a letter else it is rejected.

It would be interesting to get a definitive answer on this; I can imagine all sorts of fun to be had!

 

[Hover Fly]

Be careful if any of the literature has your address or other identifier on it. There can also be a barcode on the envelope which will allow them to identify the sender.

Another effect is that businesses stop using Business Reply or Freepost addresses, thus costing legitimate customers more.
There was a campaign against BNP using freepost to send empty envelopes, so they simply stopped the Freepost, now you may be all for BNP being bankrupted, but suppose, say, a pet insurance company stopped their Freepost, so pensioners had to pay to send their monthly cheque for Tiddles's insurance?
What you will never stop is the power of modern mass advertising.

 

[asterix]

+1

Most people in tele sales are just trying to make a living doing a crap job until they can find something better, as long as they're polite why not be polite too.

Obviously, if they're not polite or just won't take no for an answer they'll get told to feck off.

Must agree with that.

When I worked in the shipping and forwarding business we went through a bad patch and were sitting around twiddling our thumbs. There was talk of 'letting people go'.

I got the yellow pages out and started calling businesses touting for custom. It wasn't too bad, I got a few rude ones but it was all worthwhile when I got this removal firm who'd never considered doing overseas stuff. We set up a meeting and told them the drill and they got stuck in. A few years later and it was a major part of their business by then they had dumped us but we'd had a fair bit of work from them.

 

[ufkacbln]

I've had legit reminders for hospital appointments and also warnings from my credit card company that my card has been blocked come through this way - so perhaps listen a teeny bit longer before hanging up.

Both of which you have given consent for.

Which is the difference, why should I have to shift through all the dross on the answerphone to get the important messages?

 

[Rebel Ian]

Must agree with that.

When I worked in the shipping and forwarding business we went through a bad patch and were sitting around twiddling our thumbs. There was talk of 'letting people go'.

That's fine as you were telling the truth. I lost it on Friday evening with one of these "no win no fee" parasites that phoned me.

Them: "Our research shows you may have had an incident". Bull!

Me: "You mean you're going through the phone book trying to find someone that might have had an incident where you can pin the blame on some other poor bugger and claim a few quid."

Them: No, that's not what we do.

Me: So what "incident" have I had then?

Them: I don't know.

Me: Get lost.

Fine they have a job to do but they'd be far better starting the conversation with something like...."look, I know you might get loads of these calls and I apologise for disturbing you but we're selling X and would like to know if you might be interested".

That would save them a lot of abuse.

 

[Arch]

That's fine as you were telling the truth. I lost it on Friday evening with one of these "no win no fee" parasites that phoned me.

Them: "Our research shows you may have had an incident". Bull!

You: Yes, I broke my hand punching a cold calling no win no fee agent...

 

[TheDoctor]

I had one of these yesterday

Dodgy Cold Caller - Good afternoon Sir, I'm calling about a problem on your computer.
My Good Self - Right, I see. Which one's that?
DCC Your COMPUTER, sir.
MGS Yes, I know. Which computer?
DCC YOUR computer. It has serious errors showing.
MGS Do you mean my Unix box, or the Sparcstation?
DCC Linux?
MGC Well, Linux is a sort of Unix, but that's not what I'm running.
DCC *click. Brrrrrr*

I take the point about double-glazing dudes just doing a job (although there's plenty of better ones) but someone who phones me to try and con me out of money can eat my poo.

 

[TVC]

Recently heard this from a work mate and tried it a couple of weeks ago:

Once you know it is just a junk call, stop them mid sentence and ask "Are you happy in your job?" in a concerned and caring voice.

 

[TheDoctor]

Oh, nice. I like that a lot

 

[Hip Priest]

I'm a telephone salesman! (dodges rotten veg). Inbound and outbound. Thankfully it's just business-to-business and I work for a respected company within my industry, so most people are happy to talk and I'm not interrupting their dinner. If they say they're not interested I just say "sorry to bother you" and leave it at that. I couldn't be doing with this call centre type thing where you can't take no for answer. I think that's what pisses people off. The scripted and unnatural element of the conversation is another thing. "I was just calling yourself to see if yourself would be interested......blah blah blah". Who talks like that?

 

[Archie_tect]

Since my son got a job which involved having to some cold calling I try to be sympathetic with the poor souls who have to do these jobs, I don't let them get anywhere but I'm not rude or angry with them now.

 

[Bluebell72]

Ok, now what about door-to door people?

I feel sorry for the student-types that are working for charities on a pittance, to sign people up to make a monthly donation. If I see who it is before I open up Castle Bluebell, then I say 'sorry, I'm over-subscribed right now'.
I feel bad, but I can't give to all the charities.

Can't stand the cocky young lads that come round trying to flog crappy plastic double-glazing. I say 'thanks, but as you can seem I've already got windows, bye!'

My father-in-law, however, says 'sorry love, I'm a registered bankrupt' which sets them on their way.
A friend of mine's husband says 'Jesus loves you, would you like to come in, and I can show you how he loves you?'

 

[marshmella]

I just ask for the registered address of the company they are calling from, and that of the company they are calling on behalf of. Rarely do I get a satisfactory answer, but on the occasions I do, I thank them politely and tell them that my number is registered with the TPS who will be contacting their employers "in due course". Even the foreign-based call centres run a mile when they hear this.

I did exactly the same a while back, i asked the guy his name and company name after informing him i was registered with TPS he just went quiet, so i asked him again, then he hung up.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

I feel sorry for the student-types that are working for charities on a pittance, to sign people up to make a monthly donation. If I see who it is before I open up Castle Bluebell, then I say 'sorry, I'm over-subscribed right now'.
I feel bad, but I can't give to all the charities.

I've made the decision not to give to anyone collecting door-to-door or chugging about town - if the cause is that good I'll donate direct and hopefully more of my money gets through to the charity itself.

 

[Rebel Ian]

Interestingly I just went to register with TPS and found my number is already on it. Wish I'd have known that on Friday when I got the call.