Driving me "NUTS" - Page 2 - Plumbing Zone

smellslike$tome · 07-01-2009, 11:37 PM

Our call taker (my wife) has to remain mobile so we are still using a cell phone for our primary business line. What she does, and it is not a complete solution but it helps, is when she identifies a sales call (usually a recorded message) she will actually save the number and name it DNA for " Do Not Answer". With caller id it comes up "DNA" and she can simply not answer. Sometimes the robo caller will leave a message on voice mail if the call is not answered, which is an even bigger pain in the bohunkus, so she will usually hit the answer button followed immediately by the end call button.

This does not completely solve the problem but it does seem to help.
When I get live sales calls (on the rare occasion that I actually have the phone) the conversation goes like this upon my understanding that it is in fact a sales call, "Thank you but I'm not interested please take us off of your call list. Click". Never pause or give them any opportunity to respond just hang up. It doesn't matter if they are trying to talk over you before you hang up just hang up anyway. I don't want to be rude to anyone but if I made nice with everyone who called, I or whoever is answering the phone would literally be on the phone for 3 hours each day just trying to tell people "no" without hurting their feelings. Don't have that sort of time, sorry.

breid1903 · 07-02-2009, 07:51 AM

what do with the tool people is wait or even ask about sawsall blades. when i order i get the 30 we will bill you option. now a box of 150 sawsall ain't hard to identify, so when it arrives i refuse shipment. let them pay postage. believe me they will then put you on the no call list. part of the trouble with the no call list is that if you have a businee you can't get on it. in indiana at least. i have a call forward number and that how the calls get me. another thing i like to do is see how long i can keep them on the line. just over 5 minutes for me. 15 minutes is tops that i have heard of. lol. breid

**Ron** · 07-02-2009, 09:14 AM

Turn the table, try to sell them them a plumbing job, don't stop your sells pitch till they hang up.

Plasticman · 07-02-2009, 09:46 AM

Next time they call and start their sales pitch, interupt them by acting stupid, like, " I saw a rabbitt in my yard this morning, or I lost my red color crayon have you seen it?
Try not to laugh while you do this. The caller will get enough of it and hang up. It really works.

Plumber Jim · 07-02-2009, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plasticman

Next time they call and start their sales pitch, interupt them by acting stupid, like, " I saw a rabbitt in my yard this morning, or I lost my red color crayon have you seen it?
Try not to laugh while you do this. The caller will get enough of it and hang up. It really works.

That sounds like fun. My brother's father inlaw used to tell the local newpaper that would call him all the time that he would LOVE to get the paper because he missing reading it every morning but he is now blind etc. hehe

Redwood · 07-02-2009, 12:12 PM

The last one I spoke to called me a ******* and hung up...

Maybe later I share what happened...

**Matt** · 07-02-2009, 12:37 PM

I enjoy treating them like they are 900 number operators.

Ohh yeah. ....... uh huh..... I want your extended warranty soooo baaad.

They never stay on the line for too long. Hmm.... I wonder why.

07-02-2009, 07:51 AM	#12
breid1903 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: fulton, indiana Posts: 314 My Photos	tools what do with the tool people is wait or even ask about sawsall blades. when i order i get the 30 we will bill you option. now a box of 150 sawsall ain't hard to identify, so when it arrives i refuse shipment. let them pay postage. believe me they will then put you on the no call list. part of the trouble with the no call list is that if you have a businee you can't get on it. in indiana at least. i have a call forward number and that how the calls get me. another thing i like to do is see how long i can keep them on the line. just over 5 minutes for me. 15 minutes is tops that i have heard of. lol. breid

07-02-2009, 09:14 AM	#13
Ron Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: In Cyber Space Posts: 7,770 My Photos	Turn the table, try to sell them them a plumbing job, don't stop your sells pitch till they hang up. __________________ If you are a DIY'er posting on here, listen up, I will find your post and you will be banned. So heed the warning.

07-02-2009, 09:46 AM	#14
Plasticman new nickname:Quaker State Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 1,169 My Photos	Next time they call and start their sales pitch, interupt them by acting stupid, like, " I saw a rabbitt in my yard this morning, or I lost my red color crayon have you seen it? Try not to laugh while you do this. The caller will get enough of it and hang up. It really works. __________________ Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.

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07-01-2009, 11:37 PM	#11
smellslike$tome residential service Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 1,566 My Photos	Our call taker (my wife) has to remain mobile so we are still using a cell phone for our primary business line. What she does, and it is not a complete solution but it helps, is when she identifies a sales call (usually a recorded message) she will actually save the number and name it DNA for " Do Not Answer". With caller id it comes up "DNA" and she can simply not answer. Sometimes the robo caller will leave a message on voice mail if the call is not answered, which is an even bigger pain in the bohunkus, so she will usually hit the answer button followed immediately by the end call button. This does not completely solve the problem but it does seem to help. When I get live sales calls (on the rare occasion that I actually have the phone) the conversation goes like this upon my understanding that it is in fact a sales call, "Thank you but I'm not interested please take us off of your call list. Click". Never pause or give them any opportunity to respond just hang up. It doesn't matter if they are trying to talk over you before you hang up just hang up anyway. I don't want to be rude to anyone but if I made nice with everyone who called, I or whoever is answering the phone would literally be on the phone for 3 hours each day just trying to tell people "no" without hurting their feelings. Don't have that sort of time, sorry.

07-02-2009, 12:37 PM	#17
Matt Bourgeoisie Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4,126 My Photos	I enjoy treating them like they are 900 number operators. Ohh yeah. ....... uh huh..... I want your extended warranty soooo baaad. They never stay on the line for too long. Hmm.... I wonder why.