QotD: Thanks But No Thanks
How do you handle phone calls from telemarketers?
I used to be one for fifteen minutes after I graduated college (fifteen minutes being relative, it's more like 3 months). Having been on the other side of the coin, I try to remember that person calling me and interrupting me in the middle of my dinner, or disturbing me from doing something I'd rather be doing - is trying to earn a living just like the rest of us.
They know I don't wanna be bothered, they know I'm generally feeling accosted, but this is what they are currently doing to make ends me. And they probably don't want to be doing it, just as much as I don't want to be disrupted.
Typically, caller id is my bouncer. I simply do not answer the phone when it's a number I don't recognize. If by some error, I happen to pick up the phone, I certainly do not give them any attitude. I just wait for my opportunity to speak, then I tell them I am not interested, to hang in there and have a great day. And then I hang up.
Comments
It's funny because I always think.. who would buy for a telemarketer?.. but I sure did sell a lot of magazines.
I feel for telemarketers. Their job sucks. But if their job is to rudely invade my space, that is not my problem. I don't take out my frustration by abusing them, but I don't see why I have to be nice just because I am not being nastly. I don't even apologize or even sigh. I just hang up. They are the ones using a service I paid for to try to put a foot in my door and interrupt my life to sell me something that if I wanted or needed it I would have gone and got it myself. I don't owe them anything.