TRASH-TALKING
TELEMARKETERS Telemarketing is a huge multi-billion dollar industry. It is especially big in Nebraska. Omaha is known as the Telemarketing Capital of the World. In Lincoln, SRI/Gallup is a leader in the sister business of polling. These are perfectly legal and, as a supporter of free markets, I wouldn't have the government do anything to interfere with it. However, I am declaring a personal war against any and all phone calls I get that don't support the time-tested business practice that the customer is always right. I will no longer subject myself to some loser who gets angry if I turn down their service and tries to berate me and tell me how stupid I am if I refuse to do business with them. The worse offenders are the long distance telephone companies. I declared war a few days ago when I got a call from the crown jewel of ignorant, rude and obnoxious behavior. I was busy and said that I was not interested -- didn't want his service. As usual, I started to be berated for my stupidity. I admit it was juvenile on my part, but I proceeded to give my opinion of him and told him to hang up, which he refused to do. He said he was getting paid by the hour and that he would just stay on the line. At that, I just set my phone down for a few minutes. Sure enough, the guy stayed on the line. About 10 minutes later, I needed to make a phone call. I picked up the phone, shouted at the guy to get his attention, and demanded to speak to his superior. I, then, expressed my complaint at the outrageous behavior. Many of these are good deals; but, it is irrelevant to me because I rarely make a long distance phone call. At the most, I make five over the whole year. My wife might make one call a month. Therefore, I am only talking about a few dollars of savings, at most, over a whole year. It is just not worth the effort to keep changing phone companies. I was in the process of preparing a different column (based on an important issue facing the state) when I got a phone call from someone wanting a donation to a cause I support. I said that I didn't know how much I could or would be willing to give, but to send me the information on what I need to do. Then, I would decide on a donation. This must have been a paid worker because she got rude with me and kept trying to make me say exactly how much I would give. As a result, I said I would not donate and to leave me alone. I may still give a donation, but it will be direct. No telemarketer will get their commission. As to the important topic, it will still be around next week. The free market is based on the ability of consumers to make choices. My choice is to no longer subject myself to rude behavior on the phone. Therefore, I am implementing new rules in my house. We will not buy anything over the phone with someone that we don't know. If we are interested, then they must send us written information or meet with me in person. If my wife or myself answer the phone and they ask to speak with the other one, we will ask who it is and what they want. If it is a telemarketer, we will reply that the other person is not available. For myself, if someone starts being rude, I am going to ask to speak to a supervisor and file a complaint. If you agree with me, then I suggest you do the same thing. If they want to do business, then they need to learn to treat the customer with respect like every other successful business does. |
