Was I wrong?

Question

I'm a telemarketer for a major newspaper. I called a guy last night and he picks up and says "How many times are you guys gonna call me??" and I said "Well, sir, probably everyday since all we say is ____ newspaper and you hang up without giving us the opportunity to tell you why we're calling you. Wouldn't you keep calling someone if you had something to tell them and they wouldn't let you tell them why you were calling?" and he got irate and started screaming at me and using profanity and calling me every name in the book. I don' think I was being rude, just honest and making a point.

What I don't understand is why he said "how many times are you going to call?" this implies he KNOWS it's us, he can SEE the number on his caller ID, yet HE still chose to answer the phone. Well that was HIS choice now wasn't it? So why yell at ME? He could have 1) not answered or 2) said "put me on your do not call list". Instead, people want to get irate and yell and it does absolutely no good. It's like getting angry at yourself for being too stupid to figure out how to make it stop, but instead beating your head against a wall. I'm sorry, but when it comes to people like THAT, I actually take pleasure in harassing them.

Answer 1

it's you because my father get's these calls all the time and he has a block on the phone and they still find their way of getting through the block.
When you get so many and tell them to stop calling a person can and will get aggitated.
i feel for ya because you have the most hated jobs.
If he kept hanging up obviuosly he didn't care what you had to say so let him be!!!
Don't keep calling so then he does lose it and gets irate!

Answer 2

I had the same situation happen to me 5 months ago. The company called me 3 times within 2 hours and each time I stated I was not interested.

When they called the 3rd time, I asked them "Does your company know who is calling who? You have called me 3 times in the last 2 hours and I am not interested, so please don't call me again".

Then the telemarketer stated the same thing you said almost word for word and I said "That is all fine and good, I already listened to your speech the first time your company called and again I am not interested", to which he replied I was being rude when In fact I wasn't.

The fact that I had to keep telling the person "No" and he kept being persistent made me furious in the end. He was invading my privacy and disrespecting my wishes by continuing to keep me on the phone. I think the gentleman was not being rude and that you were out of line. On the other hand, his use of profanity and violent behavior was uncalled for and doesn't solve anything.

When telemarketing, if someone answers the phone and you detect a hint of anger in their voice DO NOT and I repeat do not try to keep them on the phone defending your position...it is a no win battle that by law consumers will win.

When a person says :"No Thanks" leave it at that! Just remember what goes around comes around and some day you will get bombarded with telemarketing calls while you are trying to eat dinner with your family.

Answer 3

Typically it's best to follow your script to avoid getting into hot water. That being said, you're a telemarketer. You don't get this all the time? What you should have done is follow protocol and continue to try to sell him the paper. If he hangs up, he hangs up. If he asks to be taken off the list then you remove him immediately. Whatever his reaction, you should make a note of it on the computer. Doesn't your system have codes for such things? Also anyone who gets irate should be transfered to a supervisor. I don't think you were rude, but I don't think you necessarily had any grounds to "make a point" with him. You are calling his house trying to sell him something he obviously doesn't want. He is under no obligation--meaning he has the right--to be irritated, rude, or anything else he'd like in his own home.

That being said, I think his behavior was obviously more inappropriate than yours. All he needed to do was say, "take me off your list" the first time and the company is required to do so. I wish people would understand that. It's very easy. You just ask telemarketers to remove you and that stops the conversation immediately. If you don't specifically say that...if you stupidly ask questions like, "how many times are you going to call?"...then they will keep talking and try to sell their product. Telemarketers are trained and know that most people say no the first time. It takes a little pushy sales and sometimes on the second or third attempt they can get a sale.

So...if you want telemarketers to stop calling do one of two things: 1. Get on the DO NOT CALL list. It works. or 2. Don't argue or yell with/at them. Just say, please take me off your list. They have to comply. There is no need to be nasty to someone. The job is crappy enough.

Answer 4

With respect and no offence to your job

well i work in a small business so i get plenty of telemarketing calls and at home god tell me about it .. Heres the thing if someone hangs up on you once hint hint they are not interested. You guys need to respect that because sometimes i admit on hanging up on telemarketers and they call me back angry or with this smart a** attitude trying to tell me off because i hung up and what do i do i just laugh and hang up again lol.. Usually telemarketers tell you this long story i understand thats your job and your trying to sale a product but some people just dont have time

Next time dont waist his and your time if some one hangs up let it be move on call someone else that might be interested or that wont hang up.

Answer 5

It just common sense. IF someone hangs up on you time after time, then its obvious they don't want to hear from you. Calling back again and again is the actual rude thing here. And then trying to justify your actions by explaining the whole thing was wrong. You should have apologized and hung up. Now you've probably lost a potential customer, and he'll probably spread the news, making you lose more.

Sometimes its best to just keep quiet rather than trying to "make a point".

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Sounds like he is just tired of his phone ringing and then seeing its you again on the caller ID. Maybe he didnt have caller ID until the last time you called and all the previous times he had to answer the phone and be inconvenienced by.. well you again..

He could have not answered, but then you would have just kept calling until he finally got pissed and went off on you.
You could have hung up, but instead you decide to be an *** and harrass a potential customer.

Basically its like you're too stupid to figure out when you're unwanted, but instead, you keep dialing the number over and over expecting people to welcome you into their home. I'm sorry, but when it comes to people like THAT, I actually take pleasure in hearing about people going off on them.

Your job is not to harrass people, or to "be honest and make a point" , its just to offer people a service. If its obvious they dont want your service, do the smart thing and move on.

Answer 6

No offense but you need to find another type of job. People hate telemarketers, especially working people. The calls come the second you walk in the door, haven't eaten or used the bathroom in a while. Suggest to your newspaper to mail marketing material. Then people can read it (or not) at their leisure and call you when they want to utilize your services.

Answer 7

Sure, the guy had an anger issue, but if he's not picking up, it's for a REASON. Maybe he doesn't want to be bothered by telemarketers?

So how about you stop calling him and call somebody else? I don't think it's that hard to understand.

Answer 8

LOL

You have the toughest job going.

I don't like telemarketers calling me at home. Its like a sales person approaching you in your yard.

Don't you think that you may have pushed his buttons a tiny bit? Be honest. I thought so.

He was rude, no need for profanity et al.

Good luck.

Answer 9

We've had telemarketers call here. We are polite and say No Thanks and hang up. You pretty much have to disconnect because they don't take no for an answer. If they kept calling here we would report them for harassment. If we wanted to hear their spiel we would stay on the phone and listen. You can put no soliciting signs up, I think you should be able to ban people from phoning you to solicit things. Take the hint, he doesn't want any.

Answer 10

He likely meant "you" in a general sense, rather than "you" specifically.
Regardless... You were frank. He was rude. I imagine that you get a lot of that. Face the fact.. you're never going to get a sale out f that guy.
Take him off your call list.