We have all been plagued from time to time by telephone sales calls. "Do you want a great deal on carpet cleaning?,or " Do you want a great deal on window cleaning?" or " Do you want a great deal on curtain cleaning?" or "woolen rugs" or , or, or, ( why is it that nobody ever calls and offers to clean the kitty litter?).
At any rate, I, over the years, had worked out a fool proof plan that deflected the calls without insulting or hurting anyone's feelings ( well this is Canada and we must be polite) So over the years, I had convinced all sales agents that my Wife and I lived in a house with no carpets, no windows, no curtains, no woolen rugs, etc, etc, etc. In fact we lived in a cardboard box with a telephone. It was a perfect cover!
But then technology changed and the calls became automated. You know the ones. The phone rings, there is a two second silence and the prerecorded message starts. There was no protection against the computerized caller. Every time the phone rang, we waited for the dreaded two second delay and whammo-blammo we were caught again.
Well in Canada we now have our own "do not call" list. Works pretty well at keeping those Canadian call centres from bugging us, except . . . . . . . . Except that apparently Americans can access the list so now we are receiving calls from American call centres. And don't think that at least we still have that two second delay to forewarn us of an impending sales pitch.
No, the latest development in the technologic war to invade every crevice of our private lives has been developed by a Cruise line. Yes, sometime over the last year, in a smoke filled room, packed with Captains, stewards, members of the 'black gang' ( engine room technicians), board room 'yes men' and at least three entertainers singing "Ain't we got fun!" came up with the most insidious idea. The A-bomb of sales call techniques; the prerecorded FOG HORN BLAAAAAAAAAT! which precedes the sales pitch so that you can no longer enjoy the two second warning.
So here is what you can expect - RING RING RING - "HELLO?" - BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAT! If you are on a roof - BLAAAAAAAAAT! If you are in a crawl space - BLAAAAAAAAAAT! You are never safe from the dreaded FOG HORN. It is supposed to make you want to take a cruise on one of their boats. It makes me want to sink one!
PERSPECTIVE. It is too easy and too common, to scare a client away from a good home by presenting a home inspection without perspective. Our clients need to be treated with respect not fear. GEORGE
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My favorite is the one that says "This is your pilot calling ..." Sure buddy, fly me anywhere on my own private jet. I think the "do not call list" was a big scam.
Sandi, I'm with you. I feel like sinking one ... (at least the one who calls OFTEN).
And I agree... the 'do not call list' only made things worse. Now I get those calls on my cell phone too.
My phone has a different ring tone for non-local calls so we just ignore them. Well written as usual George. I remember you from many many years ago having the most creative answer machine messages and we use to fill up your tape just calling in to listen!
I was just going to post some replies but my phone is ringing . . . . .
I never got any of those calls on my cell until I signed up on the NO CALL list. LOL NOT! I have had that fog horn and it irritates me no end. On my land line I give them one hello and if there is no one there I hang up quickly. I also tend to watch the caller ID and if it says long distance I don't answer at all. If it's for real they can leave a message.
Thanks Ma Bell for making me more accessible to pests not less!
Likely, George, that those "American" calls are coming from a call center in India, or Bangladesh. My response, since I'm American and don't have to be polite like you Canadians, is to immediately hang up, live person or automated. I hate to have other people waste my time. I'm good enough at that myself.
David, have you ever noticed that they come in at the worst possible time? On the roof, stepping into the men's room (or worse!), just as the cop steps up to the window and says "license and registration!". It drives the annoyance factor up by about 110%!
I'm a nice Southern boy, so I'll listen to the calls and wait for the live person to come on. Then I'll simply tell them that since one of my businesses is a marketing & business consulting business, I just wanted to listen to their marketing message.