The phone rings, but there's nobody there

[Revillusion 0]

OK, you marketing people. Does this type of marketing really work?

I've been "wireless" since 1999 but had to get a landline so we could get DSL. No cable internet.
The landline is registered on the federal DO NOT CALL registry, but the calls continue to come.

The phone rings, I answer, nothing on the other end.

The phone rings, I answer, recording telling me how to save money on my mortgage, or MY Satellite TV provider telling me about how to get satellite TV.

I know the calls are computer generated, but does this type of marketing really produce any revenue? Seems like the majority of those recieving these calls would just hang up.

VIRTUS JUNXIT MORS NON SEPARABIT

[mailin 0]

Most of the time I thin they're just trying to see if someone picks up, then they can add them to the 'call again and again' list.



Jen

Arianna Frances

[Sockpuppet 0]

It must do. If they didnt make any money at it they wouldnt do it.

------
Two of the three voices in my head agree with you. It might actually be unanimous but voice three only speaks Welsh.

[yardhippie 0]

Its actually me. Im trying to make you crazy.

We've got a fax machine, and on the DNC list. So I get quite irritated when our phone rings at 3am so some mother fucker can send me a crappy time share deal in FL.
So then next day i propmly call their 1-800 number and chew the person who answers. Now, I know theyre just trying to scratch out a living, but shit go do it somewhere else. My theory: if everyone did that no onw would work there and the company would be forced to change its practices.
I even had one company had the never to ask me to hold so I could speak with someone else before they could take my number off the list, and after some colorful metaphors I mentioned somthing about if you call here again I'll consider it harrasment and hire an attorney.
I got no more faxes from them.

Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD
"What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me
"Anything you want." ~ female skydiver
Mohoso Rodriguez #865

[2fat2fly 0]

There's been a couple of times that I've started the conversation with "I'm supposed to let you know that I'm recording this on advice of my lawyer"-that gets me talking to a manger pretty fast.

I am not the man. But the man knows my name...and he's worried

[yardhippie 0]

Quote

There's been a couple of times that I've started the conversation with "I'm supposed to let you know that I'm recording this on advice of my lawyer"-that gets me talking to a manger pretty fast.

I like that one.

I had a friend on the phone with Delta. Obviously somewhere a call center that had been outsourced. Furious that on the 3rd day of the trip he still had no luggage was intent on screwing them any way he could. So after getting his 2nd days $25 vouched for having no luggage (at 11:45 pm) proceeds to try to get his 3rd day's voucher. Well the lady wont give it to him cuz its not the 3rd day yet. He asks if he'll have is luggage in 15 min. No. Why no voucher? So he proceeds to tell the lady of our business trip in great detail always cutting her off so she can hang up with him.
kept her on the phone until 11.58. Then she hung up.

Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD
"What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me
"Anything you want." ~ female skydiver
Mohoso Rodriguez #865

[Zeppo 0]

It does create revenue of course. All that the company needs is about a 1-2% response rate. If they get that, then usually is justifies the use of the medium.

It's amazing what can be done to get around the Do Not Call Registry. The following companies do not have to follow the do not call registry (if I remember correctly)

Government (in any way shape or form, including voting)
Companies you've done business with in the past (including your satellite company)
Non for profit agencies
Any kind of willing agreement to be allowed to be called (this one is the kicker that has alot of wonky loop holes)

Here's my best tip, if you don't want telemarketing calls, don't have a phone. If you want a phone, live with the consequences.

What goes up, must come DOWN!!!

[NWFlyer 2]

Why answer it? If it's not a number you use (i.e., not a number that any of your friend and family would use to reach you) then why even bother? Turn the ringer off don't pick the damn thing up.

My life has been sooooo much better w.r.t. telemarketing since I went wireless. I'm also *very* protective of that number - I try to avoid putting it on a form anywhere. If some business needs a number, they get my office number (and that's a phone that always goes straight to voice mail).

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[2fat2fly 0]

the first time I used that was when i worked nights and thsi guy kept calling threatening to repo my trailer-I was renting a house and had never had a trailer. I nicely explained that he had a wrong number every day for two weeks before I blew up.

I am not the man. But the man knows my name...and he's worried

[Airman1270 0]

We leave the phone on the table and let the tape play through. This tactic won't stop the calls, but it
will slow them down a bit.

Cheers,
Jon S.

[Lindercles 0]

Exactly. I only have one phone and that's my cell phone. No land line. Unless I'm expecting a call I just don't answer calls from numbers that aren't on my phone book.

And especially if it's a "private number" or "restricted number" or something like that. Almost always telemarketers.

[NWFlyer 2]

Quote

And especially if it's a "private number" or "restricted number" or something like that. Almost always telemarketers.

Unfortunately, calls from my current client's office come in as "unknown number." But usually someone IMs me before and says "I need to call you" so I know to answer it.

[misaltas 0]

Quote

OK, you marketing people. Does this type of marketing really work?

I know the calls are computer generated, but does this type of marketing really produce any revenue?

For each live telemarketer, the system will dial up to four numbers at once. The sales monkey talks to the first one that picks up and hangs up on the other three. Just as you're picking up that is, and you find no one's on the other end. You picked up too slow and missed your chance. Too bad for you.



Then as Zeppo said above, if the response rate is 1-2%, now it's 4-8% if you're calling four at once.

Yes, I did telemarketing once. Long time ago. Sorry everyone.


.

Ohne Liebe sind wir nichts

[Lastchance 0]

I like to tell telemarketers that I am quite busy right now but if they would like to give me their home phone # that I will call them later, peferably right in the middle of dinner time. They hang up on me.

I may be getting old but I got to see all the cool bands.

[stitch 0]

The calls are coming from inside your house.

"No cookies for you"- GFD
"I don't think I like the sound of that" ~ MB65
Don't be a "Racer Hater"