When the same newspaper continues to call about subscribing what do you say to put them off of you?

Question

I was told if you start asking them what they are wearing and how old they are they will remove you from their list.
Has anyone got any other ideas?

Wow! There are some great ideas here, I wish I had posted this question before that guy called! You P&S people still rule the Yahoo Answers World!

Answer 1

1. Tell them to hold on a second, put them on hold and walk away...for 3 hours

2. Ask them for their personal home number...you will call THEM back during THEIR dinner time.

3. Keep a cap gun handy. Start showing interest about subscribing, then, all of a sudden yell "who the hell are you? what are you doing in my house? please don't hurt me!". Then, cause some commotion like a struggle, fire the cap gun and yell "I'm hit! you shot me!". Drop the phone on the floor and drop something that resembles a body hitting the floor. One minute later, while picking up the phone and mumble "I have to dispose of this body – where's the chainsaw!" Then, slam the phone down.

4. Ask them if they will pay you to subscribe to their junky paper.

5. Tell them you'll only subscribe once they start printing nude adds with pictures in the personals section.

6. Tell them ONLY if the carrier is the hottest women on their staff delivers it, in bikini bottoms only, and comes in for a 20-minute visit every morning.

7. Tell them YOUR recording this call for training purposes, and keeping the tape as evidence you said NO for the 10,000th time.

Any or all of these will work, if you have the cajones to do it. Chances are good the calls will stop.

Answer 2

Go into attack mode.

I've used these methods with great results.

1. The interrogator
Ask where did they get your number. Which company supplied it? How can you get your number unsubscribed from this list. Ask for a reference number.

2. The teacher
What also works is educating them - they hate that. "When you make a sales call you need to identify yourself first." and then carry on explaining how you would do it.

The sales person will pretend like nothing's wrong as his/her boss would be listening but they will try and get you off the phone as soon as possible.

Let me know if this works for you.

Answer 3

LOL! I hate telemarketers... OR anyone trying to sell me things over the phone....

Here is a list of what you could tell them:

Top 10 Things To Say To Telemarketers:

10. When they ask "How are you today?" Tell them! "I'm so glad you asked because no one these days seems to care, and I have all these problems; my arthritis is acting up, my eyelashes are sore, my dog just died..."

9. If they say they're John Doe from XYZ Company, ask them to spell their name. Then ask them to spell the company name. Then ask them where it is located. Continue asking them personal questions or questions about their company for as long as necessary.

8. Cry out in surprise, "Judy, is that you? Oh my gosh! Judy, how have you been?" Hopefully this will give Judy a few brief moments of pause as she tries to figure out where the heck she could know you from.

7. If MCI calls trying to get you to sign up for the Family & Friends Plan, reply, in as SINISTER a voice as you can, "I don't have any friends... Would you be my friend?"

6. If they want to loan you money, tell them you just filed for bankruptcy and you could sure use some money.

5. Tell the telemarketer you are on "home incarceration" and ask if they could bring you a case of beer and some chips.

4. After the telemarketer gives you their spiel, ask him/her to marry you. When they get all flustered, tell them that you could not just give your credit card number to a complete stranger.

3. Tell the telemarketer you are busy at the moment and ask them if they will give you their HOME phone number so you can call them back. When the telemarketer explains that they cannot give out their HOME number, you say "I guess you don't want anyone bothering you at home, right?" The telemarketer will agree and you say, "Now you know I feel!" Say goodbye and hang up.

2. Insist that the caller is really your buddy Leon, playing a joke. "Come on Leon, cut it out! Seriously, Leon, how's your mom?"

1. And first and foremost: Tell them to talk VERY SLOWLY, because you want to write EVERY WORD down.
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Anywho, I think the worst experience I've had is someone wanting me to donate to something - and when I told them "I'm sorry, but I really don't have any money to spare right now..", they said - and I quote - "Not even $20!?" I got soo pissed off, and I said ..."You know what... I will donate $20, if you will be willing to pay for my son's diapers, pay my utility bill this month, and call my insurance and cancel it, because I need to give you $20!" Then I hung up the phone, and they have not called back!

Answer 4

The best thing to do is to say you have already subscribed to their newspaper or another newspaper. I know because I used to work in a call centre. This will usually prompt them to take you off of their call-list.

Answer 5

Do like Seinfeld and ask if you could have their home number. If they say, "we don't give that out." Then say, "that's so you don't get bothered at home, right?" Then hang up. Or call the paper directly (I did this) and ask for the subscription department manager. Get name & date info. Indicate that you longer wish to receive calls & that this is harrassment if it continues. That stopped all of my calls!

Answer 6

I told the last one that called that my friends saved their papers for me, & that the only thing I used it for was wrapping the garbage can. Then I told him that he could come & help me wrap the garbage can. I gave him the street address to the local police station, & told him to call that number the next time he wanted to sell me a subscription. They haven't called me since.

Answer 7

Lt. I am sure you are a smart man--ask to speak to a Manager and tell them you will sue if they continue to harrass you. Or better yet, report them to Action Line. They will handle it. Good luck!

Answer 8

Yes, just be direct with your resounding, "No thank you for the last time and I insist that you take me off your list!" and they should leave you alone. If that doesn't work, then go for the personal questions! It couldn't hurt to try! Have a wonderful weekend! Annie

Answer 9

If they ask for you ask if it's some kind of a cruel joke and then go on about how your house burned down and all your family died the day before. :)

Answer 10

Tell them that you demand to be removed from their call list. Also indicate that you will contact the authorities if you receive another call from them.

They MUST take you off of their list.