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From: omh@cs.brown.edu (Owen M. Hartnett)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Telemarketing Sleezoids
Message-ID: <14901@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 20 Nov 90 03:41:16 GMT
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Reply-To: "Owen M. Hartnett" <omh@cs.brown.edu>
Organization: Brown University Department of Computer Science
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 840, Message 9 of 12


Here's one to watch out for.  I got a call from a guy:

Hi, Mr. Hartnett, how're you doin' today?  {standard telemarketing opener}

{ whenever someone asks that - I know they're a salesman/woman }

You didn't get the extra premium on the last batch of computer ribbons
you ordered from us - a Sony clock radio - so we're sending it out
right away.  Someone from our shipping department will get back to you
and get the details as to where to send it.

{ At this point, I know he's a liar.  we buy *all* our ribbons from
a local guy. So I bite my tongue and hang on for the ride. }

Yes, sir, and we'll also put down oral approvals for your standard
offer...

{ I interrupt now: }

Are you trying to set me up with a printer order?

{ He slowly starts to lose it, then he goes overboard. }

No, no, we're just trying to adjust the gerbils and the frimjims ...
we need to know the exact size so you can fit them correctly up your ...

{ He hangs up }

Beware these guys, they often get a secretary.  We had a period where
we went through a new secretary once a week for about eight weeks.  I
think he nabbed them for about three orders.  We refused them,
naturally, but it's still a pain.


Owen Hartnett				omh@cs.brown.edu.CSNET
Brown University Computer Science	omh@cs.brown.edu
					uunet!brunix!omh