Comments on: Telemarketing and Interruptions http://information-overload.nzeldes.com/blog/2010/01/telemarketing-and-interruptions/ Insight, debate and solutions for restoring productivity and work/life balance in this age of Infoglut Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:16:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Nathan Zeldes http://information-overload.nzeldes.com/blog/2010/01/telemarketing-and-interruptions/comment-page-1/#comment-108 Nathan Zeldes Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:43:17 +0000 http://information-overload.nzeldes.com/blog/?p=134#comment-108 TechieBird, that's excellent advice. I've been using a version of it - I actually tell them "I'm certainly not going to buy, so assuming you value your time as much as I do mine it's better if we disconnect". In difficult cases I add "Please respect my decision", which is hard for them to reject without insulting me... Ian, I think there is some provision here to get off those lists, mandated by law IIRC, but public awareness of it is rather low. Give us some time... TechieBird, that’s excellent advice. I’ve been using a version of it – I actually tell them “I’m certainly not going to buy, so assuming you value your time as much as I do mine it’s better if we disconnect”. In difficult cases I add “Please respect my decision”, which is hard for them to reject without insulting me…

Ian, I think there is some provision here to get off those lists, mandated by law IIRC, but public awareness of it is rather low. Give us some time…

]]> By: TechieBird http://information-overload.nzeldes.com/blog/2010/01/telemarketing-and-interruptions/comment-page-1/#comment-107 TechieBird Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:35:36 +0000 http://information-overload.nzeldes.com/blog/?p=134#comment-107 I know a lot of people who are too polite to interrupt the telemarketer, so will listen to their whole opening scripted spiel before saying "no thanks". I met someone at a party once who had been a telemarketer (out of financial desperation, of course) and her advice was to interrupt as soon as you realise you don't want whatever they're selling. (Politely of course - insofar as you can be polite while cutting someone off mid-speech.) Most telemarketers get commission on a successful outcome (e.g. someone actually books that appointment for the guy to come round and quote for double glazing), and by letting them move onto the next call where they might get a win, you're actually doing them a favour as well as yourself. I've been using this tip ever since and the vast majority of telemarketers will politely end the call straight away. I know a lot of people who are too polite to interrupt the telemarketer, so will listen to their whole opening scripted spiel before saying “no thanks”.

I met someone at a party once who had been a telemarketer (out of financial desperation, of course) and her advice was to interrupt as soon as you realise you don’t want whatever they’re selling. (Politely of course – insofar as you can be polite while cutting someone off mid-speech.)

Most telemarketers get commission on a successful outcome (e.g. someone actually books that appointment for the guy to come round and quote for double glazing), and by letting them move onto the next call where they might get a win, you’re actually doing them a favour as well as yourself.

I’ve been using this tip ever since and the vast majority of telemarketers will politely end the call straight away.

]]> By: Ian Price http://information-overload.nzeldes.com/blog/2010/01/telemarketing-and-interruptions/comment-page-1/#comment-106 Ian Price Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:54:15 +0000 http://information-overload.nzeldes.com/blog/?p=134#comment-106 Hi Nathan. In the UK we have the Telephone Preference Scheme; once you register on this, legitimate suppliers will take you off their calling lists. It works. Companies observe it and there is legislation to back it up. Do you have something similar? If not, might be worth suggesting... Hi Nathan. In the UK we have the Telephone Preference Scheme; once you register on this, legitimate suppliers will take you off their calling lists. It works. Companies observe it and there is legislation to back it up. Do you have something similar? If not, might be worth suggesting…

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