mob incentive: How to Get Rid of a Telemarketer

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How to Get Rid of a Telemarketer (Completed)

Submitted by

webdev on Jul-19-2007 at 9:26:57 PM PDT

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O.k. I'm already on the national "Do Not Call" list, but I still get calls from telemarketers. I need a really good, effective line that will stop a telemarketer dead in their tracks. One-liners preferred, but a pithy reply that is dead-on effective will do as well.

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(4.67)

Expiration Date: None
View Count: 522

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Outcome: Completed

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webdev

Congratulations! Your solution has been chosen as the most effective solution to getting rid of a telemarketer.

Winning Solution:
Solution #7 submitted by Kevin Ens on Jul-24-2007

Pretend to be a take-out joint, when they call ask what kind of pizza they'd like. Eve better if you use thename Luigi somewhere.

Rejected Solutions:

Solution #1 submitted by Colin on Jul-20-2007

Solution #2 submitted by jayjay on Jul-20-2007

Solution #3 submitted by arkaytee on Jul-20-2007

Solution #4 submitted by Nick on Jul-23-2007

Solution #5 submitted by Chris Bain on Jul-24-2007

Solution #6 submitted by jayjay on Jul-24-2007

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Added by Marissa Gamble on 7/25/2007 10:36:50 AM

Rating: -1

when ever a telemarketer called the house asking for my father, he used to say that he passed away, even thought he was speaking to them. i always thought that was funny.

Solution Submitted on 7/24/2007 2:05:31 PM

Kevin Ens submitted a solution. Click here to rate the solution or add comments.

Pretend to be a take-out joint, when they call ask what kind of pizza they'd like. Eve better if you use thename Luigi somewhere.

Solution Submitted on 7/24/2007 1:52:50 PM

jayjay submitted a solution. Click here to rate the solution or add comments.

This is an add-on to my previous solution.

After saying "Mr. Webdev no longer lives here.", ask that the number be removed from the callling list. That should help reduce the number of calls you get in the future.

Also, just as a general tip, I try to never give out my phone number. I'm surprised by the number of people who will give their phone number when asked by a check out clerk (I know Sports Authority does this).

Solution Submitted on 7/24/2007 11:58:05 AM

Chris Bain submitted a solution. Click here to rate the solution or add comments.

Start hitting on them. Tell them they have a sexy voice, and that they sound gorgeous. Tell them you're getting turned on just listening to them.

Solution Submitted on 7/23/2007 7:38:18 AM

Nick submitted a solution. Click here to rate the solution or add comments.

In order for this to work, you need lots of people to start doing it, but I think it's awesome. When someone calls, you say "Oh, hang on, I'm really interested, but there's someone at the door (for example)." Then, you put down the phone without hanging up and walk away. They wait 1-2 minutes before they give up and hang up. Their costs rise, because they spend more unsuccessful time on the phone per customer. Meanwhile, you don't waste time talking to them. If enough people did this, it would become expensive even for telemarketers in India to make it worth the while. And when your phone beeps with the "off-the-hook" signal in a few minutes, you hang up.

I love the idea, though I do understand it's hard to operationalize.

Solution Submitted on 7/20/2007 7:40:59 PM

arkaytee submitted a solution. Click here to rate the solution or add comments.

Tell them that it's not a good time for you, but ask them for their home phone number and tell them that you'll return their call during their personal time.

Solution Submitted on 7/20/2007 7:30:17 PM

jayjay submitted a solution. Click here to rate the solution or add comments.

You're too polite. I just say "I'm not interested, thanks" and then hang up.

A more polite solution to try is when they ask "is this mr. webdev?", say "no, he no longer lives here."

Solution Submitted on 7/20/2007 4:25:32 PM

Colin submitted a solution. Click here to rate the solution or add comments.

My brother once answered the phone and upon realizing it was a telemarketer, he said: "I'm not interested."

The telemarketer, realizing that she hadn't even started her pitch, said: "Wait, you're not interested in what?"

My brother said: "Telemarketers."

She didn't call back.

What is this?

How to Get Rid of a Telemarketer (Completed)

Outcome: Completed

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