No Soliciting

[Dray]

My neighbor has one of these signs on his door and still gets people at his door.  Perhaps they don't understand what soliciting means?  I know people are just trying to make a living but often it/they go to far.  The following is what's too much:

When I get a paper flyer pushed between the door and door jam so that it comes into my house.  That's offensive to me!

Weekly I throw away a 10 gallon trash can FULL of ads and junk mail.

When a 30 minute TV show is actually only 20 minutes with 10 minutes of commercials.  And lately movies on one of the networks are like 3 or 4 hours.  They cut stuff out of the movie and at the same time make it longer than the original for more ad time!  

I had a telmarketer call the other day.  I told her I was giving my kids a bath (with tone) and she simply said ok and I said goodbye.  I don't want to be rude but I feel that them calling me is rude so I don't feel bad about giving it back.

[AustinBoston]

My neighbor has one of these signs on his door and still gets people at his door.  Perhaps they don't understand what soliciting means?

It means absolutely nothing.

I had a telmarketer call the other day.  I told her I was giving my kids a bath (with tone) and she simply said ok and I said goodbye.  I don't want to be rude but I feel that them calling me is rude so I don't feel bad about giving it back.

Telemarketers are not typically paid by whether or not they sell you something, but by how long they keep you on the phone.

Just say "Hold on," put the phone down, finish giving the kids the bath, and if you remember to, go back to the phone.  Said telemarketer will still be there, and will probably still be talking...

Austin

[tlhdoc]

Register you phone number with the National do not call list and you will not get calls from telemarketers.  

When you get junk mail with prepaid return envelops, remove your name, address and any bar codes from all sorts of junk mail and then stuff it in the prepaid envelope and mail it.  Some times I need to tape the envelopes shut.

[stewartlittle]

When my son was young I would get him to anwser and talk to them till they hung up.Now he's 9 and says,''Here daddy,its for you''.
We do have caller ID but very seldom look at it.Just pick up the phone,Hello,if its a telemarketer I sometimes let them talk and get it all out then say not interested.
Or right from the start,I dont want or need a credit card,"Oh but Sir,you dont understand....bla-bla-bla''.Click-hang up.

I dont know who he is,but there is a guy comedian that records telemarketers when they call him and does alot of crazy stuff,it funny.Anyone know who I'm talking about?

But what does this have to do with campers/camping?

[AustinBoston]

But what does this have to do with campers/camping?

Nothing, nor does it need to.  The Campfire is a place to talk about anything that interests us, like we would around a campfire.

About the only rule is to keep it family-friendly and don't get so wound up that the moderators get involved.    

Austin

[stewartlittle]

Nothing, nor does it need to.  The Campfire is a place to talk about anything that interests us, like we would around a campfire.

About the only rule is to keep it family-friendly and don't get so wound up that the moderators get involved.    

Austin

Gocha,that makes sense.It never dawned on me what Campfire was.

  Thanks.

[austinado16]

The thing that really blows about all this is that "they" have ruined the telephone system in this country.  You can't even pick up your regular telephone anymore and give someone a call.  If you've got your number blocked, and they're running caller ID, you can't get through.  If you do get through, they won't answer their phone because they're pretty sure it's telemarketing.

So now most people just use their cell phone because at least that way, you're 90% sure it's someone you want calling you.

I don't even talk to them.  There's typically that delay as the computer informs them they've got someone on the line.  As soon as I hear that, I simply hang up.

And then there are the religous zealots coming door to door hoping to save me from myself.  Or my other fav.....the kid speaking ebonics who's been trucked down from Oakland in a van to sell me candy so he can buy more crack.....er, I mean go on a field trip.

[Trailman]

Register you phone number with the National do not call list and you will not get calls from telemarketers.  

When you get junk mail with prepaid return envelops, remove your name, address and any bar codes from all sorts of junk mail and then stuff it in the prepaid envelope and mail it.  Some times I need to tape the envelopes shut.

I like this idea, good way to recycle the junk mail and fun too :#
We get a lot of flyers delivered here that are in French, now i got a use for them  

[Twolarsons]

I had a great time once with a telemarketer. It was one of those debt consolidation loan companies. As soon as he finished his schpeal I said "Oh thank God you called! I was just thinking about calling you! I really need help." He got so excited I think he wet himself. "Well Mr Larson, I'd be happy to pave the way to financial freedom for you! (HA!) Let's start by listing your debts so we can see where to start". I replied "Oh Geez, Where do I start, it's just SO MUCH!" Then he accutally says "It's ok Mr Larson. We're gonna get through this one step at a time". I nearly burst out laughing. I started Fake crying to hide my laughter and said "It's just such a strugle every month. I just can't do it anymore" I "cried for a few minutes and all the while he kept telling me "it'll be ok, We can fix this". I was dying.

I finally straighted up and said "OK what all do I owe. Well let's see. I have the morgage on the house....uh....... My truck payment......... My wifes car payment..........Oh! and there's about $300 on the AMEX but we're gonna pay that before it's due.....Yeah I think that's about it". There was along pause and he said "Uh, is there any other credit card debt or second morgage?" I said "No that's really it" "Mr Larson are you sure that there is nothing else? Have you been late with utilities or any other bills that have a balance?" I said "No that's all I owe but it's so hard to put the $2500 into savings every month when I'm paying ALL THAT out"
Another pause and he says "Mr Larson, it doesn't look like your in debt and I feel like you've just wasted my time tonight" To which I replied "Me waste your time?! You're the one that called me! No I don't need your sevices so find someone else to take advantage of" He said "Sir we help people that really need assistance with debt" Then I asked "Ok, when you consolidate peoples debts into one loan, what is the interest rate that you charge?" He hung up. I checked online. Most of these companies charge 19-35% APR with a huge prepayment penalty! Help people my (explitive here)!

Give it back to them. Why not mess with them and entertain yourself?!
I love the envelope restuffing idea. I'm gonna try that one.

[CajunCamper]

I like the episode on Sienfeld when Jerry gets a call from a telemarketer and he says to them, Listen I'm a little busy right now, why don't you give me your home phone number and I'll call you back later. The telemarketer says, well I don't want you calling me at home. And Jerry says, "Exactly" and hangs up.

CajunCamper

[ScouterMom]

I also used to give the phone to my son (when he was about 2 or 3) and let him babble. Then we got an answering machine, and we almost never actually ANSWER the phone - unless we are expecting someone to call - we let the machine screen our calls for us.  

But still, sometimes my son, now 17, likes to mess with the telemarkers. It's kinda the reverse of making crank phone calls.

He'll say "Quick, did you get the package?  I've only got a few seconds before they trace this call!"

OR " I told you not to call me here!"  Or he pretends to be a little kid or a very old, deaf person.

It's hilarious to listen to!  Mean, but then - they are inturrupting OUR personal time and home!

And I DO have my number on the Do Not Call list! but you can still, legally, get calls from anyone YOU already have business with or have requested information from.  and man, my current companies LOVE to try and sell me MORE junk!

Laura

[oreo57]

I dont know who he is,but there is a guy comedian that records telemarketers when they call him and does alot of crazy stuff,it funny.Anyone know who I'm talking about?

http://wallstreetjackass.typepad.com/raptureready/files/BobandTom-TelemarketerNightmare.mp3
 
Is that the One, If not it's still very funny!!!

[Eric Sass]

I tell telemarketers that I'm busy and ask for a number so I can call them back. As for solicitors at the door. I tell them I'm just visiting from out of state and that the no ones home.