telemarketers

[Cecilie]

I tend to say "Not interested" and not waste their time. They are, after all, just doing their job.

Captain Buzzkill strikes again.

[youtube:259ao9y0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFcqGGMPc3k[/youtube:259ao9y0]

[fester30]

There's really no point trying to explain to them that no, I would actually be saving money if I didn't give them a cent! Not if I subscribed before a due date or with a certain card or whatever.

I've tried logic with my wife when it comes to saving money.  She sees a 40 inch television that's on sale for 200 dollars off, and points out that we can save 200 dollars if we buy that tv.  I point out that we are not in the market for a new tv, as both of our tv's still work.  She says, "But honey, 200 dollars off!  You don't save 200 dollars every day!"  I say "But honey, since we're not in the market for a tv, we're not saving 200 bucks, were SPENDING 400!"  That's where she gets a puzzled look on her face, like she just swallowed something that feels like it's coming back up.  Then she just goes right back into the "saving 200 dollars" thing as I direct her toward the clothing section, the only thing that can distract her from the tv.

[JuggernautJon]

Or, as I've been known to do lately, resort to the immature yet effective quip "your mom." And follow that with hanging up. I know, I can be a child at times.

[terranus]

Especially when one week off my meds

Ha!!!

Yeah that's me when I don't have my nicotine.

[OldGit]

There's a no call register here, if you're on it and a business makes an unsolicited call they get fined.  I usually ask them to provide their company details so I can inform ACMA.

There' one in the UK called The Telephone Preference Service.  They are useless, and I read that they have never, ever prosecuted a seller.  As a result, callers ignore it and a few callers have even laughed when I told them I was on it.

Now I have finally given in and pay around £3 a month to block all calls from withheld numbers.  It is very effective, but I reckon the charge is outrageous - I presume all my provider has to do is to tick a box on a screen, once.

[fester30]

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) called me.  First thing the lady said was "Don't worry, I won't ask you for money."  Of course, that's the hook to keep you on the line.  What do they want then?  They wanted to sell me magazines.  

I thought you weren't going to ask me for money.
I didn't, I'm offering you great deals on magazines.
But I have to give you money to get the magazines.

Apparently, that's not asking me for money.  If she would have asked for 10 bucks right off the bat I would have given her ten bucks.  She lied.  

Apparently, in 2008, 37% of traffic fatalities involved alcohol.  Hmm... interesting.  Doesn't exactly help her cause.  So I told her that means 63% of the traffic fatalities involve sober people.  The real problem isn't the drunk drivers, but all the sober assholes on the road.  We need MADS, or Mothers Against Driving Sober.  I told her as soon as MADD gets with the program and begins addressing the real problems, I won't be buying any magazines.