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From: steves@tektools.UUCP (steve shellans)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: computerized sales phone calls
Message-ID: <822@tektools.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Mar-86 18:49:56 EST
Article-I.D.: tektools.822
Posted: Fri Mar 14 18:49:56 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 16-Mar-86 08:36:11 EST
References: <1071@decwrl.DEC.COM> <5106@stolaf.UUCP> <235@micropro.UUCP> <1463@gitpyr.UUCP>
Reply-To: steves@tektools.UUCP (steve shellans)
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR.
Lines: 36

In article <1463@gitpyr.UUCP> kpk@gitpyr.UUCP writes:
>
>There is a method to "get back" at computerized calls that do
>not identify themselves (as most do not), but it is only
>appropriate to those of us who are really ticked off and willing
>to do something about it:
>
>    EVERY computerized call gets my name, phone number, and a request
>to PLEASE call me.  When they do, I ask the caller to identify     
>himself, and then I hem and haw away a few minutes of their time
>(often excusing myself to answer a call at the door ... 5 minutes
>later..."Oh, are you still on the line, sorry I was gone so long...").
>When I think I've finally exhausted their patience, I tell them
>that I have no intention of purchasing their product.
>
>    It's probably not effective, but
>
>       IT'S SOOOOOOOOO SATISFYING!!!!!

I, also, have the same desire.  But here is one thing to consider.
The person who calls you back is just a poor working stiff, trying
to make ends meet.  Often, its a second job for someone, or a housewife
trying to earn a few extra dollars.
The caller gets paid a commission only.
To compensate for strategies like the one you describe, the company need
only use more people -- it costs them next to nothing.

So, bottom line, 99% of that strategy impacts the wrong party.

You might argue that if the caller had to deal with a lot of responses
like that, his or her commission would be so low on an hourly basis,
that it would not be worth their time to do it, and they would quit.
Trouble is, the 'management' would just get someone else -- no matter
how many people quit, there's always someone else who would get
suckered in.