Pesky Telemarketers: How To Keep Them Calling

After an exhaustive day, you sit down to a nice quiet dinner with friends and family. Only two bites into the meal the phone rings. “Out of Area” displays on your caller ID but you pick up the phone anyway. The same curiosity that killed the cat lures you to abandon your guests to unveil the mystery caller. The unfamiliar voice blurts out, “Hello, Mr. Hin-… Hinnkie…um, Mr. Heinecke?”

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Another butchered attempt at your last name.

Another annoying interruption.

Another pesky telemarketer.

I've been in this business on one level or another for over 15 years. (Yes, that's 10+5 and it's been a good job.) And because I like you, I'm going to give you some insider secrets on how to keep them calling. (I know, I helped you with popcorn last week and now this?! )

ggg
Follow these simple rules and you’ll never be without an opportunity to buy something you don’t need over the phone.

Never answer the phone. Although you may successfully avoid the initial battle of wills with a telemarketer, you cannot escape the incessant ring. Most automated dialing systems used by telemarketing agencies recycle busy signals, answering machines and unanswered calls. Technology allows for the phone number to be dialed at various times of the day to maximize agencies’ efforts to reach you. You can dodge the conversation but you cannot easily stifle the ringing. Let the phone ring and ring and ring. They’ll keep calling.

Pretend you’re not home. If you answer the phone and pretend the person for whom they are seeking is nowhere in sight, your number will be recycled for calling. You may be asked to provide the best time to call back. Watch out! If you offer a call back time you’ll help the telemarketer pinpoint the optimal time to hunt for you. You can undoubtedly expect another call soon, whether it is in an hour, a day or perhaps a week, if you’re lucky. Pretend you’re not home. They’ll keep calling.

Tell them you’re busy. If you think you can ward off a telemarketing call by pretending to be too busy, you’re wrong. In theory, squabbling children, sitting down for dinner or walking out the door are all great excuses for exiting a call. Be careful. It does not always work that way. The pitch is always the same – just three minutes of your time for the deal of your life – and they will take those three minutes now or later. If you suggest the caller try you again at a better time, they will. Telemarketers are the most dependable work force when it comes to returning calls. Tell them you’re busy. They’ll keep calling.

Decline the offer delicately. Rejecting a telemarketing offer does not have to be rude to be effective but it does have to be clear. If you’re not interested in what they are selling, just politely say so and do it beyond question. Many people are too soft when it comes to refusing a telephone offer. Comments such as “Not right now” “Maybe some other time,” or “I need to think about it” are signals to the caller that you could be persuaded in the future. You can be pleasantly firm and avoid a follow up call for the same offer by saying no – and meaning it. Try this, "I am not interested. Please take me off of your list. Thank you. [click]" If you can’t be clear in your refusal just be wishy-washy about your interest. They’ll keep calling.

Avoid non-solicitation lists. Nearly every state has laws governing telemarketing agencies and their marketing practices. There are national non-solicitation lists to which you can subscribe and curb the number of calls you receive. These lists are offered to the public free of charge and serve to protect consumers from abusive telemarketing practices. While placing your name on a non-solicitation list will not stop all incoming calls, it will eliminate many of them. Avoid the non-solicitation lists. They’ll keep calling.

In a society where companies tirelessly battle for your business you can take control -- or follow these steps and be sure they’ll keep calling.

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And on a more personal note - There are a lot of companies giving telemarketing a very bad name. I'm proud to say my group works very hard to be the exception and provide a good service to our clients and their customers.