Do you get annoyed when you get sales calls? I understand that people need to make a living but these calls test my patience. Grab yourself a cup of coffee and get comfy. I am ranting a little about solicitors today. I had a telephone call from Charter (note to self, get back on the do not call list) thanking me for being a loyal customer, and because I am a loyal customer they would like to give me a chance to “Bundle and Save” 😀 Isn’t that thoughtful! lol Well when I tell the voice on the other end of the phone that I don’t watch television or have a landline phone so I have no need to bundle, the reply is generally something along the lines of “What, your kidding you don’t watch TV! WHYYY?
At this point I have expressed that I do not wish to buy extra services so I should feel fine with hanging up. But, I have to be honest and admit that I kind of like messing with callers like this 🙂 so I answer them! My first response is that there are so many other fun and interesting things to do with your time instead of sitting in front of a box for hours. This generally leaves them speechless for a few moments then they start in again with the “But what about the reality shows, documentaries or the news?”
This time I push buttons a little harder, it’s so fun but I know it’s also mean. I figure the longer I can keep them talking the fewer people they are harassing during their shift. (I had a satellite guy on the phone for almost an hour last week :0) I tell the caller that reality shows are a joke. The second you point a camera at someone and say act natural, all reality stops! Why does anyone care what is going on in the lives of people you don’t know? I told him I haven’t watched the news or read a newspaper in 10 or more years. I don’t need the news to know what’s going on. Social media is a bounty of information if I choose to inquire. I’ve seen what’s coming. The time line is the only thing I don’t know for certain. This creeps them out enough to drop the cable TV angle.
So they move onto the phone and I make a quick work of that. By this time I’m a little bored with playing with the poor guy, and he is figuring out that this phone call is not going to go anywhere positive for him. Anyway, he tells me that I need a land line in case of emergencies! My reply is that cell phones dial 911 as well then finish with the fact that I have neighbors and the police station is a block away. I could walk over and report my issue faster than 911 would get someone to my home! The icing on the cake is telling them that I don’t like technology. The television and phone are such a big intrusion in our lives. The only reason I have a cell and internet is my business. By this time the Charter guy has reached the conclusion that he isn’t going to make any money on me so he rattles off the 800 number, super fast, just in case I change my mind.
How many people have both a land line and a cell? My thought is why on earth pay for two phones! Is not watching television really so unusual? There are so many other choices. Take a walk, read a book, play a board game, call a friend, go next door and introduce yourself to your neighbor, write a blog, meditate! The possibilities are endless. 🙂
Have a good day!
Blessed Be ❤ Sharon
Element Mind Body Spirit 
Haha you naughty thing! But you are right, you are keeping them from bothering another poor soul. Over here we are plagued with calls about ‘accidents that weren’t your fault’ and how to make a claim. When in the mood I have been known to spin some extraordinary tales about the most unlikely accidents I have had and generally try to keep it going until the conversation becomes so ridiculous the caller puts the phone down in despair. I used to work in telesales and telemarketing as a teenager to earn some extra money, so I hate to be mean to these people – we all have to put a roof over our heads. It is the companies that set up these dreadful schemes that I blame, really. But I love that you can have a little fun with it 🙂
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It is certainly not job I would ever want. I owned a telephone answering service for a while and that was a blast. But cold calling strangers and trying to sell them something is a big Nope!
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Good for you! Yeah, we got rid of our landline last winter and we don’t miss it. We don’t have TV either. No cable, no satellite. And we get the same reaction–from everybody! NO TV. Gaaaaaa.
So far we’ve been lucky to not get calls from solicitors. I still put down my old land line number on forms that “require” a phone number. Ha!
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Now that is a clever idea! I could do that 🙂
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