Telemarketer.....nobody likes you

[Anne]

I did telephone surveys. An Interviewer, I suppose,* I wasn?t marketing
anything. I asked people about things from cookware to political stuff to following up on
movie previews to travel in Long Island.* I did this for 5 months.

It was ok at first.* It paid more than my last job which was novel?which was
cool. It seemed like easy money. It seemed like you just sit there and make these phone
calls and you make lots of money and.you also got paid overtime especially on the weekend.
And I got some of my friends to work there too which was cool.

But eventually?it?s the kind of job where you don?t get much
satisfaction because nobody really likes you?.none of the people you talk to really
want to talk to you and you are just keeping on the phone, taking away from their
lives?.it?s depressing. We were given lists of phone numbers and a regular phone
without any sort of headset, just a little handset and we went into a little cubby and uh
?and called lists of phone numbers.

More than half of them weren?t even real numbers and you got lots of this phone
line has been disconnected and lots of answering machines and when you did get people you
were often calling while they were eating dinner or breakfast and people
generally?you were generally pissing people off. Initially, during the course of the
day, I was always leaning on my elbow with this telephone and my hand started getting
tingly?I was pinching some sort of nerve in my arm which was disturbing. One time I
really got a migrane and they really didn?t want me to leave. I just started getting
really pissed off at the whole situation.

The dude who like ran the place was a really slimy dude. There was the head dude and
there was this other manager and this other manager had like slept with the main dude to
get the job?.a lot of ex drug addicts also worked there?like one time everybody
was talking about all the stuff they did in the 80s and me and my friend were just sitting
there listening?it was interesting stuff.

I left to go to college?..

Things are different now, but back then I wanted to be making phone calls in 5 years
(laughs). <Seriously>, I wanted to be a mechanical engineer....I wanted to build
cars...to build the longest roller coaster...and I wanted that roller coaster to go
underground, through water...I wanted that roller coaster to be like a 13 minute ride.
I was nuts.* I think other people are working on it.

[Angela Chen]

That's right. Noboday like telemarketing people.

[Monica]

In telemarketing, you're the only shock absorber for every one who's complaining

[Tristine]

(in a chirpy voice...) Hello! Get A life

[Amy scoochieboochie@hotmail.com]

I'm a telemarketer...its not all bad like you say. What you were talking about is not what a call center is, that's the difference between a scam and telemarketing...WE'RE PEOPLE TOO!!!

[Matthew Witt]

I am a collections rep for a very large mortgage company. I work in a call center. It is the most pointless, meaingless job I've ever witnessed. I completely understand what you're saying when you say nobody likes you (on the job, that is). Sometimes I feel like they put lips on hell and I have to listen to it. I talk to people nearly every day who behave as if they were raised in the wild by vampire pitbulls. It's strange how you can begin a conversation with a complete stranger as politely as if you were talking to your own grandmother and get a response that only Jeffrey Dahmer or Charles Manson deserves. It wears on you. I used to be the most timid person I know. When I started, I was apologizing to every person I called. Now, as a result of being on the receiving end of unprovoked and inconceivably vehement hostility, I have become the most petty, vindictive, and childish person I know. I'm turning into them! When they are rude and hateful to me, I call them back just to hang up on them or promise them I'll make them sorry for the way they have talked to me. Sometimes I set up the dialer to have them called again in about 15 minutes. I start every call bending over backwards to be as friendly as possible and some people just won't let me, and some are nice back to me. That's part of what makes it so difficult, the uncontrollable nature of it all.

[charlie ggmg1989@gateway.net]

telemarketing manager ,i enjoy my job ive done this for 10 years ,its what you make of it some people have it and some dont it takes a person who wants to work that all some people can do ?

I loathe, despise, abhor, detest, and execrate the practice of telemarketing. In my state of Florida, the Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services has a list of telephone numbers of people like me -- the "No Sales Solicitation Calls" List -- that is available to telemarketers. I had to pay an initial fee of $10 and I pay an annual fee of $5 to be on this list. For info:
<br>
http://doacs.state.fl.us/~cs/tmkfaq3.html
<br>
WE HAVE TO PAY to keep our homes free of the unwelcome aggressive invasions of privacy that telemarketers practice. When I do get a sales solicitation call, I am very happy to find out the name of the business so that I can report them. They are then penalized by the state of Florida with a nice fine and record of breaking state law. Just as MADD (mothers against drunk driving) isn't against the person, but against the practice of driving drunk, I shouldn't be against the people that choose to practice telemarketing...sorry, I can't help but think these people are scum. Oh, did I mention I dislike telemarketing?

[MIKE C.]

I'AM A MANAGER FOR A WATER PURIFICATION COMPANY AND MAKE OVER $40,000 A YEAR JUST TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO SET UP A APPT.THEN TO LISTEN TO THEM MAKE CALLS.LIFE IS GOOD.SCREW THE PEOPLE WHO HATE THERE JOBS AND GET PISSED AT US BECAUSE IT'S JUST ARE JOB.

[MIKE C.]

I'AM A MANAGER FOR A WATER PURIFICATION COMPANY AND MAKE OVER $40,000 A YEAR JUST TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO SET UP A APPT.THEN TO LISTEN TO THEM MAKE CALLS.LIFE IS GOOD.SCREW THE PEOPLE WHO HATE THERE JOBS AND GET PISSED AT US BECAUSE IT'S JUST ARE JOB.BY THE WAY I'AM ONLY 23.
<br>

[Marcia]

I work for a telemarketing firm and make great money. 20.00 to 25.00 an hour part time...30 hours a week. I work with about 40 people in a not so perfect work place. Myself and one other co-worker have mastered our job, and are this companies top performers...Because our managers were tired of us making more money then themselves, they cut our commission. Not sure what our next step will be, but we will work together. My co-worker and Myself our responsable for half this companies sales with one of there most important clients...Any suggestions?

[Elizabeth S.]

It's been a year that I am a telemarketer.I like the company where I'm working for 'cause they are very flexible with my schedule.Since I'm a full-time student, I don't have many choices for a job.That is the reason why I chose to be a telemarketer.They give a whole week of paid training.That's pretty cool comparing to other scamming places, they only give u few hours training and they throw u right away to sell.The only thing I hate about my company is they don't keep their promises very often.They don't give much incentives to TSR's they're so cheap.11$/hr that's all.Only if u make over 120 hours per month that they will give a bus pass and 0.55 extra per hour only for the night shift workers and IF u make over 32 hours per week.There are always the fine prints with telemarketing company...They want u to sell all the time but not much rewards...I should count myself lucky to have a very liniant supervisor 'cause I don't show up to my work often and they never told me anything about my attendance...In 5 yrs, I should be a house wife ha...ha...ha

[Sara]

Sometimes you have to do what you have to do. I earned my bachelor's degree in 2.5 years and graduated with cum laude honors. You know what? I had to work as at a Telephone company answering the calls of customers who were always pissed, work at WalMart and sell cars the first year I was out of college just because there were no other jobs where I lived. So the next time you talk to a telemarketer, don't think that this is what this person wants to do. They have to earn money to eat just like you and I do.

[???? QtMelly4L6969]

Im only doin this for a stupid school project!!!!

[???????? bob]

I HATE SCHOOL! it sux & i cant wait 4 natashas party 2night

[Angela]

I have been working as a TSR (telephone sales rep) for 2 and a half weeks now. The company that I work for is respectable. They pay a good wage for my area, and they offer full benefits. Plus, there is no quota, and they have a prize draw every month. Every time you make a "sale" you get a ticket for the prize drawing. I was given ample training, and they have been offering me suggestions on how to improve. So, please when someone calls you up, don't be mean, don't be rude, the person calling you is only doing their job. Listen to them, give them a chance, if you don't want it tell them, and if you don't want to be called anymore . . . tell them.

[Lucy]

I am going to go through a role-playing for a telegiving position (we ask people to donate money to our cause). I really only want a summer job and the pay is $9.50/hr so it's perfect. My problem with the whole telgiving/ telemarketing/ whatever is that we are essentially lying to peole over the phone. Pretending to be all happy and chipper when we may not be in that kind of mood. We swindle people to believe what we say and the best swindlers get bonuses or even promotions. I hope it works out because I need the money but I don't like the idea/principles behind their means of getting money. It's all bascially a psychological trick; mind games that we all play. But then again, that's how it is in the real world: there are the tricksters and the tricked. And depending on the day or the situation, we are on either side of the playing field (and sometimes both).

[The Me]

I started a tele-job because of the flexible schedule. We are working on a MADD project, collecting donations in exchange for ad space on a program book which will be passed out at a benefit Basketball game with the Harlem Rockets (What ever happened to the actual Globetrotters?) What I realised is the blatant lies and betrayal of trust. First of all, I was told to use a different name, one registered with MADD, I believe, and told to say I was a member AND, if they asked, I was to say I was a volunteer! The drivers, which they HIRED FOR COMMISON, were told to customers who got roped in that they were VOLUNTEERS coming by to drop off free tickets, pick up the check, and something about the "all mighty" tax-deductable reciept. At my main jobs, I have t employ some diplomatic skills when we have problems with the mainframe, but NEVER was I told to LIE, or use a phoney name. I wonder if these people are connected to AMWAY? Anyway, I don't think I'll be returning to Tele-scam as Steve Riley. If I really wanna lie I'll become a politician or corporate CEO.

[Bryan]

Ok, some people (like) us,some can't stand us. But isn't that par- for- the course? Let's face it, yeah ..there are some "slimy" telemarketers/mgrs/co's out there, but it doesn't mean we're (all) like that. I have been doing it in some capacity for the last 11 yrs and have gained experience in a few different fields that i would (normally) not have the opportunity to. Yes at times it was hell but for the most part.......it's been a joy and i know with the experience i have......i'll always have a job. So for all my (Good)brothers and sisters in the business..... I Salute you.

[Mrs. Rebecca L. LaPoint beckmike34@juno.com]

I work for Office placement agencies who send me on temporary & permanent assignments, Before I worked for them My first job in life was Burger King, I walked in & applied, I was in a work study program in High school, I worked there 7+ years until Something better came along, I love tempping, Yes sometimes, When the agencies call me to work, When I sit home & do nothing & earn nothing, Yes, I think of quitting the temp agencies because they are not calling me to work like their supposed to, Have a job that is Part time & pleasant, Sometimes, I like them, Working part time in a nice company that will hold on to me until my husband retires or is bought out, Retired & living in a retirement villiage where they do all the yard work & maintenance for you, I like people & animals & traveling.
<br>
Edison NJ, Metuchen NJ, Highland Park NJ
<br>
South Plainfield NJ, Piscataway NJ,
<br>
Iselin NJ & Woodbridge NJ.

[the new guy]

Dude...my i work for this telegiving job for this federation..but i dont want to give out the name...but no one really cares anyway...well the job that i work in i think is the same job that Lucy applied for cuz i read her article on june 27 2001, but who cares who i work for. The point is that at first i thought this was the best job in the world because i didnt have to do anything and just sat on a my behing all day talking to people, so i thought great, but once i got the job...the job sucks. every shifts are 3hours and 45 mins so they dont have to give u a break, because any job that works longer than 4 hrs have to give people a break with pay, so thats the first thing that sucks. the second thing is that the people that i call really hates us and the place that i work for. at first i thought since im working for an organization that raise money for the less fortunate ones was a good cause and everyone should love us, but apparantly that's not the case and everyone wants to be off the list. the third thing that sucks is that people are cheap and wont donate money to charity, and my job is to convince them to pledge some sort of amount...and if they do pledge and dont pay up their pledge its a denial and is on my head...so for all those people of just pledge because you dont want to listen to the telemarketer's voice, dont pledge unless ur going to pay or else just hang up. use telemarketers/telegiving people, well at least the place i work for, we cant hang up the phone or end the conversation, so if you really dont want to continue the conversation, just hang up, dont agree on a pledge, as much as i want to get an extra pledge, i'll rather get someone to hang up on me than a denial on a pledge cuz you people decided not to pay in the last second. after two denials i'll the place will terminate me, and i already got one, i cant afford to get another one, so just hang up the phone cuz we are obligated to continue the conversation cuz we cant end it...only you can by hanging up. so i hope i got the message across, hang up the phone if you dont want to speak to us, no matter how we beg for you to not to over the phone, deep down inside, 95% of us do want you to end ur misery and ours by hanging up. thnxz you.

[paul]

i was a telemarker - until today when i told my bos to take this job and shove it up your arse, all i got was abuse, abuse and abuse, oh and a few mindless farts who who actually brought shit off me, direct sales i alot beter, at least the sales mgrs supply u with leads and customers and u actually go and visit them and sell your shit to.

who is this telemarketer fellow and how can i get a job like that? :-)

just to say i hate school as well and i cant wait for a party tonight either. I guess us young folk are as good as they come when it comes to partying

[Sabrina]

It's definitely one of those jobs that requires you have nerves of steel. I did it for a brief time, but never again. Inbound sales is less stressful because they're calling you but it has its own set a stressors. The point is not to take it personally. Not easy, but essential. After all, you're just a voice on the phone, and so are they.

[Rebecca speedbuggin@yahoo.com]

I too worked at telemarketing about two summers ago, rite outta high school. The only reasons I accepted that lame job was: 1.) my mom threatened to make me pay board if my lazy ass didn't get a job; 2.) the pay was fairly good; 3.) one of the coworkers was really hot. Well everyone(a predominantly male workplace) there was friends and turns out I'd met a few of the guys there before during previous social ventures, but what was annoying was that we were expected to call snobby people during dinner hours to press them about buying windows they don't need just cause they forgottedly filled out a sweepstakes form for a free sunroom 3 years back. I ended up getting fired two months later for doing too much talking/not enough working, and hitting on the hot coworker, who turned out to be the manager's younger brother. So I'd say that telemarketing is boring and unless you really have a thing for the coworkers, working there really sucks. Well, I landed a better-paying waitressing job after that and I did also snag the manager's brother ;)

[Dopefiend Doug demus333x@yahoo.com]

I understand! I've been doing telemarketing for 35 years, because number one I excel at it with my street slick dopefiend hustle moves I'm a natural. Plus you can work there without a background check. In between my streaches in the Pen (for real, no joke) I can just get one of these jobs quickly, and make incredible money in commissions cause I'm a natural bullshitter. I've been blessed with this deep booming radio announcer voice. That helps a lot. I've also been a manager at several of these operations. Being dishonest sort of goes with the terroritory and I've been in really shady operations. Back in the day we called them "boiler rooms". People were like more naive back then and we had some outrageos scams. Now I'm 50 years old, on methedone, suffering from Hep C, living with my aged Mother, working in a phone room part-time to pay for my meth and weed. So if I wake you up one Saturday morning with an irritatingly upbeat "How are you this morning Mr. Jones." Don't get mad. Have pity on an old dopefiend, just trying to stay out of prison.<br />

[Nina]

I work in a call center as a Sales Trainer. Mike, one of the contributors is right...regardless of the job, it's what you make of it. Our business is legit and I enjoy motivating my trainees. I get a sense of accomplishment when I get to help a single parent earn money for her child, a student pay her way through college and a housewife get affirmed by being acknowledged for her people skills. Its a job worth keeping.

[Elly]

It's understandable if you're working for a call center, be it computer help or tax help. But if you're trying to push something through gimicks and false promises of drawings for $25k, you're in a dead end job. <br />
<br />
I worked for such a company for two months... I really needed the money and I'm a student (don't we always need money, ha). The turnover rate was amazing. 5-10 new people every 1.5 weeks almost! I have no pity for these companies, the only way to wreak havok on them is to annoy the hell outa them whenever possible. I gotta lot of bs from people but I expected it, the poor saps have little recouse if they don't your phone #.

[a three hit point kobold pfisher@aug.edu]

I'm a telemarketer right now and I have worked for two different outfits. The first one was pretty sleazy and they'd try to stiff you out of your earnings and stuff like that. The place I work for now is okay, though. I don't really see how the idea of telemarketers being dishonest got started, but I assure you that the bulk of us are as scrupulous as a used car salesman that doesn't want to get put into prison. <br />
Jonny Law is cracking down on the industry, you know. We just switched to digital equipment, so the talking-to-customers part of the job is a bit like caling Hungary on a cell phone whilst driving in a tunnel under a bay during global thermonuclear war, but we manage. <br />
If we're aggressive, its because the project will give us a bigger comission per sale, and if we're not we're depressed and jonesin' for some reefer or our ten minutes of break time during the 5.5 hour shift. <br />
So, next time, MISTER SMITH, when you pick up that phone and hear that telltale click (the writer is reminded of supermarket sweep), try to strike up a conversation with one of us. You'll find that the soul on the other end of the robot is a world weary kid or adult who is just trying to make his or her way in the world today. It takes everything you got. Takin a break from all your worries sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away...<br />
Sometimes you wanna go... Like now. Too much text.. love your friendly telemarketers. we don't hate you.

[G-day]

I'm an 18 year old business student from Australia.

I also work as a telemarketer and find it' s the perfect part time job: I can work when I want for however many hours as I like per week. I earn heaps! I'm paid twice as much as my friends and earn almost as much as some on full time jobs. I love the challenge and I'm good at it.

This is my first paying job and it can be tough -19 out of 20 new recruits don't make it through the first 2 weeks- but the rewards are fantastic: A flexible, high paying and meaningful job. I'd rather this then working as a check out person in a supermarket anyday.

There are some people who I really enjoy chatting to on the phone and others that I have sympathy for. I remember one time talking to an old lady who had recently lost her husband and son, who's grandson was paralysed and who was extremely lonely. I was topping the sales room that night and wasn't worried about making sales. I talked to her for an hour and she was so happy she sung a song to me.

The people I have sympathy for are the ignorent, bitter and angry people. I pity the bitter and angry people that I talk to. They abuse you, swear at you, tell you you have the worst job in the world and sometimes hang up on you. I think that they would have to be pretty miserable to be that bitter. I think that they would have to be very unintelligent to talk in that kind of manner. I love my job, I'm great at it and I get paid a lot for it. Probably more then they do. In fact sometimes I'm even greatful for these people. They make the job a little more interesting and intriging and they add a little excitment to the evening on top of the excitment of making sales.

At the end of the day, I have one of the best jobs for someone who's just out of school. Hopefully, once I graduate, I'll be doing something even better.

For the people who don't want to be called. I say "sorry to disturb you etc, thank you for your time, we won't call you again and I hope you have a very nice evening". I put them on a certain list and we never call them again. I'm even happy to spend a few extra seconds advising them how not to get called if they ask. You simply take your listing off the white pages. I find that with almost every call, I get a very nice response and hang up on very pleasant terms.

How should you deal with telemarketers? I think the best way is to be very polite, and simply ask if they would take you off the list. That's what I do and I hardly ever get called. If you "piss them off" you really end up second best. They have your name, your number and often your address. I know some telemarketers who put "abuse names and numbers aside" so they recieve calls at 3am in the morning. they do it simply to vent their anger at being abused and hung up on. You get what you give.

Cheers.

[Racz007]

hey,
I'm writing a humor book about bad jobs and experiences. I would love to talk to you about your experience.

Thanks so much!

Justin

Racz007@aol.com

[Racz007]

hey,
I'm writing a humor book about bad jobs and experiences. I would love to talk to you about your experience.

Thanks so much!

Justin

Racz007@aol.com

[Muse]

I have absolutely NO patience for telemarketers and bill collectors any more. I have caller ID and DO NOT answer unidentified calls. Occasionally one will sneak through either with some number showing up or I just pick up without looking if I'm in a hurry. I TRY to be nice but you just can't. When you tell someone NO and they keep pushing it really really really PISSES A PERSON OFF! As far as bill collectors, I am in the process of sueing two companies right now because an attorney has power of attorney over my accounts and they are harrasing me to no end. It is even more annoying because I do a lot of work at home and the damn phone rings CONSTANTLY all day long with this crap.

[Muse]

Don't get mad. Have pity on an old dopefiend, just trying to stay out of prison.<

if you were to call me up and say exactly that and just ask for some money, I'd probably give it to you. But when I tell somebody 18,000,000,000 times that I HATE AOL and DON'T want it, yeah, I get pissed.

[joanna]

i am a telemarketer with mci and i make damn good money.i talk to all kinds of people but theres no greater joy than to call someone who starts out hostile and i turn their mood around and they end up thanking me for saving them money. i was just told that our call center is closing down 800 people are losing their jobs. im gonna miss my job. theres not alot of jobs out there who pay you well just for sitting on your ass talking on the phone. if anyone knows of any legit phone jobs in phoenix az. please email me at jgawlik@cox.net

[joanna]

Originally posted by
just to say i hate school as well and i cant wait for a party tonight either. I guess us young folk are as good as they come when it comes to partying what the hell does that have to do with telemarketing ?/

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by Elizabeth S.
It's been a year that I am a telemarketer.I like the company where I'm working for 'cause they are very flexible with my schedule.Since I'm a full-time student, I don't have many choices for a job.That is the reason why I chose to be a telemarketer.They give a whole week of paid training.That's pretty cool comparing to other scamming places, they only give u few hours training and they throw u right away to sell.The only thing I hate about my company is they don't keep their promises very often.They don't give much incentives to TSR's they're so cheap.11$/hr that's all.Only if u make over 120 hours per month that they will give a bus pass and 0.55 extra per hour only for the night shift workers and IF u make over 32 hours per week.There are always the fine prints with telemarketing company...They want u to sell all the time but not much rewards...I should count myself lucky to have a very liniant supervisor 'cause I don't show up to my work often and they never told me anything about my attendance...In 5 yrs, I should be a house wife ha...ha...ha

[Unregistered]

I live in Nowhere, West Virginia so telemarketing is the only job I can get. Sometimes I think about blowing my brains out, but then I call somebody that's old and stupid and they make me laugh, so the pendulum continues.