No shed, but ...

[Cleopas]

Though I've not got a shed (not into gardens much really) I'm thinking of adding a conservatory. Well, why not ... I get umpteen calls asking if I'd like one. And it's free if you let them use you in their advertising campaigns ...

So the next one who calls I'm going to say "Yes, absolutely" ... and give them the number of my flat ...

Then see how they react to an upper floor number of a stair!

I so hate cold-calls ... especially when I'm about to have my tea!

[Porty]

I so hate cold-calls ... especially when I'm about to have my tea!

Thing is tho' cold calls work. Not that we use them but they do work.

[gilo]

If you want to have fun on the next cold call just reply no to each thing you are asked, but don't hang up. See where the conversation goes.

[SoupDragon]

My mum used to hand the phone over to the kids when they were little. I believe one double glazing firm heard all about the new "my little pony"
On principle I wouldn't buy anything from a cold call. if I want a service I'll let then know. Same if they turn up at the door, charity or not, like the very rude man who came round our stair a few weeks ago. I wish I'd noted which supposed charity he was collecting for and told them he'd cost them a lot, suspect he was bogus anyway. Rant rant

Have you tried registering with the telephone preference service., Cleopas? You can also do it for junk mail.
http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/

[Dadaist]

I have so much fun with these calls. I never ever hang up.

[teddygirl]

My mum used to hand the phone over to the kids when they were little. I believe one double glazing firm heard all about the new "my little pony"
On principle I wouldn't buy anything from a cold call. if I want a service I'll let then know. Same if they turn up at the door, charity or not, like the very rude man who came round our stair a few weeks ago. I wish I'd noted which supposed charity he was collecting for and told them he'd cost them a lot, suspect he was bogus anyway. Rant rant

Have you tried registering with the telephone preference service., Cleopas? You can also do it for junk mail.
http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/

Think we had the same rude man collecting here, Mr TG didn't like the look of him either and didn't give him anything.
He later went to a friends house and was very abusive to her. Like you she was mad that she hadn't got his details to complain.

[teddygirl]

If you want to have fun on the next cold call just reply no to each thing you are asked, but don't hang up. See where the conversation goes.

Tried that and some have just hung up on me......not even a Goodbye

[Cleopas]

Same here T.G.

Thing is, I only moved here 3 months ago today! (Jeez ... 3 months already!) How the hell did they find me so quick? Random number selector?? My name isn't even Random!!!

[SoupDragon]

Think we had the same rude man collecting here, Mr TG didn't like the look of him either and didn't give him anything.
He later went to a friends house and was very abusive to her. Like you she was mad that she hadn't got his details to complain.

I did ask him on his way back down the stair which charity it was for as I wanted to contact them and got a mouthful, at which point Clanger2 loomed behind me scowling, he's now about 6ft 5 ,still rather broad and bearded so think the wee guy was intimidated, as he rushed out not to be seen again. Pity as Clanger 2 needs some karate practice

[Sandra]

Thing is tho' cold calls work. Not that we use them but they do work.

I don't think they do, well, not with me anyway. I'd be less likely to use a company which kept phoning up to get me to buy their product/service especially when they phone at inconvenient times. Not that we get many thankfully as we've got a block on them

[Novastar]

Had a cold call from a kitchen firm the other week. Sunday so got their 'professional kitchen designer' (ie salesman) round for the afternoon. 4 hours of sales patter and I missed the first 15 minutes of that night's American Footbal (damn) but at least got a half decent kitchen design that I can now build/convert myself.

Don't get very many cold calls. Waiting for a window company as in need of some new windows - anyone know anyone good?

[ali]

Thing is tho' cold calls work. Not that we use them but they do work.

Why do you say that? It seems to be contradicted by people's experience.

I ask cold callers to hang on a mo while I turn the telly, oven, music, whatever down and then carry on doing what I am doing. When I pick the phone up 5 minutes later they have hung up. They never call back.

[Sandra]

I ask cold callers to hang on a mo while I turn the telly, oven, music, whatever down and then carry on doing what I am doing. When I pick the phone up 5 minutes later they have hung up. They never call back.

Excellent! I'll try that next time

[impossiblevoices]

I can put cold callers on hold with our new phone!

Great fun...!

[Dadaist]

Thing is tho' cold calls work. Not that we use them but they do work.

Why do you say that? It seems to be contradicted by people's experience.

I ask cold callers to hang on a mo while I turn the telly, oven, music, whatever down and then carry on doing what I am doing. When I pick the phone up 5 minutes later they have hung up. They never call back.

Just cos they get a bad press doesn't mean they don't make a shekel.

The very fact they exist means that either (a) they are making enough money to at least pay the people doing the calling's wages, or (b) direct marketing is being funded even though it doesn't make any money.

I'd say the most probable reason for them still being here is (a).

[Maria]

Very apt for this thread.* Warning* If you are at work, contains audio

http://howtoprankatelemarketer.ytmnd.com/

[Porty]

That is very funny.

[Porty]

Thing is tho' cold calls work. Not that we use them but they do work.

Why do you say that? It seems to be contradicted by people's experience.

Not by my experience and I've had quite a bit of it. Its a complete numbers game but requires a good deal of skill. Flearoy is really good at it. It is a lousy way to do business but it can be effective. Some people are totally resistant to any type of telemarketing call many are not. We used to run a cold-calling centre with 20 plus staff. Very interesting but very, very hard work.

[Sandra]

obviously some people are gulible

[Cleopas]

Very very funny, Marya ... I might just try something like that out, next time I get cold-called.

After I get my conservatory built onto my third floor house of course!

[impossiblevoices]

Not gulible Sandra, just open to that type of communication/selling.

I've sold tv warranties over the phone before and while its not easy, it was worth our while doing, as a company.

Also, for the saleperson, the commission on telesales can be lucrative. On regular in store tv sales, I would earn 1% commission, but on over the phone cold call warranty sales, I would earn 10%.

(It was a dark period in my life... but I'm through it now! Learnt some amazing people/selling skills along the way though!)

[Porty]

obviously some people are gulible

Some people used to be gullible but that's one of the words that been officially taken out of the oxford and other dictionaries. Yet another victim of political correctness.http://www.redundantwords.org

[bearcub]

It'd be interesting to see how many other people, for every 1 in 100 or so that welcome the cold call and perhaps make a purchase, then have a fairly negative view of the company doing the cold call.

Not something that would show up in immediate sales figures, but it could be severely detrimental to future sales.....

[Porty]

It'd be interesting to see how many other people, for every 1 in 100 or so that welcome the cold call and perhaps make a purchase, then have a fairly negative view of the company doing the cold call.

Not something that would show up in immediate sales figures, but it could be severely detrimental to future sales.....

II'm not advocating cold calling. However, it definitely works and of those that detest the calls I would be surprised if many remember who the call is from.

It is also a question ofapproach; a call from a company that "happens to have a team in your area in fact our guy is coming up your path" and a call from a company that wants to send information then make a follow up telephone call a week or so later are quite different animals.

You can call a household 3 or 4 times over 18 months or so, the first three times you get the man who is not interested in new kitchens and is watching football the last time you get the woman who has just been looking at two quotes. Its a funny old game. I'm glad that this type of approach has more or less been outlawed in financial services.