Do Not Call List

[grassguy_]

Just wondering from those of you that have used telemarketing if you'll still be using it this season coming up? How effective has it been for you and do you look for it to be better or worse now?

[grassguy_]

ok, reviving the question as we get closer to the season. hmmmm, 6 inches of snow doesn't seem any closer, lol. Anyone already download the managery from the FTC's web site, good luck getting help from them.

[Team Gopher]

Hi Grassguy,

The articles that I have recently read have been showing, since the enactment of the do not call registry, that many companies are turning to direct mail instead of telemarketing.

[GreenQuest Lawn]

I gotta say I love being able to come home after all night of plowing and not get 5-10 calls per day while I try to sleep.

The do not call list is the best thing EVER!

[walker-talker]

Originally posted by GreenQuest Lawn
I gotta say I love being able to come home after all night of plowing and not get 5-10 calls per day while I try to sleep.

The do not call list is the best thing EVER! Amen Brother!!!

[T.E.]

Ditto that, I got one tonight the morons interupted my evening! I'm going to have to get on that list . Tony

[grassguy_]

LOL, the list works for those abiding by it!

[James Cormier]

Telemarketing is dead, last I check 60% of res homes are on it. the fines are steep if you call someone on it, $5k, one slip up and there goes the profits, not worth the chance.

The real problem is business lines dont count, so now my office phone rings off the hook, way more then the home phone did.

Remember those days when you would call 30 homes on one street, I can remember doing 50 estimates on 3 It really worked well for many companies. I didnt think Bush would have signed it, way to anti business.

[grassguy_]

it's not only anti-business, its anti-capitalist, anti-american, and anti-realistic. If someone does want called then that is what unlisted numbers are for. To make a do-not-call list not only stopped a number of legit businesses from continued growth in an already fumbling economy but put a number of poeple out of work. Believe me those poeple that are working telemarket jobs aren't making big bucks, they're the same poeple who are living from paycheck to paycheck, single mothers, no hospital coverage, needing to make ends meet. Furthermore they'll work as hard as any illegals that are hopping the borders, trying to keep there dignity.

[grassguy_]

Don't get me wrong, I think telemarketing could easily be curtailed and controlled as opposed to a generic take all do-not-call-list. There are too many that abuse it, even in our industry, but making a list that is , in a lawn care term, non-selective, was not the way to go. Just think about it, As long as we continue to trim and cut back our rights, BIG BROTHER will continue to take taxes and smile with a big grin!

[cush]

I don't know why these telemarketing companies did not keep better track of the numbers they calle dover and over and just take them of their list voluntarily. over the past 8 years I've recieved thousands of calls and never bought or even let them tell me about a product or service over the phone. I loved it when they ask is this Mr. Cushion and I'd say no this is Mr. Cushing - well Mr. Cushing this is a courtsey call form ____________. A courtsey to who I'd ask. Usually they would just hand up. I felt sorry for them but I considered it a waste of my time and an invasion. I finally got caller ID and a service where any unlisted nubers would get this recording.This phone # does not accapt solicitors if you are not a solicitor press 1 otherwise click. Same thing with junk mail. Wish someone would send me a credit card app that would say sign up and will give you the $40 a month we spend on sending you and your wife these every day. I have over forty apps for a fleet card, I know because I finaly started saving them just to see how many I really got. Wow!

[James Cormier]

the point is Mr cushing, you didnt need uncle sam to solve the problem did you? Do you need uncle sam to stop the big bad telemarketers or lets try to stop more Micheal Jacksons from molesting our children.

[grassguy_]

James,
my point exactly, soon enough big brother will have us all harvesting rice for China as long as we keep restricting ourselves and diminishing our rights. There sure wasn't much thought process to making a do-not-call list. Isn't there usually millions of our tax dollars squandered on investigations and sub committees when most bills are up for passage to see their ramifications? sure doesn't seem much homework was done for this, then again maybe that's exactly what big brother wanted. Just a thought!

[cush]

I think you missed my point. I also don't thing the government should regulate phone solicitors. My point was as an industry why did'nt they just keep track of what people would even listen to their pitch. If after say 300 calls, which was about the amount of calls I received in a six month period, why did'nt they just take my name off the list. Would have saved them money and maybe helped the moral of their workers. Instead of calling maybe 40 numbers b-4 getting a person to actually listen to what they had to offer, maybe it would only take 20-30. I personally think the do not call list is equivalent to the no soliciting signs people put but their front doors. I think it's great when I see one of those, it simply tells me that they don't want to be bothered and if I were to bother them they would be pissed. Even when I do door hangers I don't hang on doors with these signs. Got a call from a guy whose neighbor got one and he called me to ask why I did'nt leave one on his door. I asked him if he had a no soliciting sign on his door and he said ohhhhh. I ended up blowing out his sprinklers and he gave me an extra $15 said he really liked the fact that I respected his privacy. May not seem like much to some people but the people who do value their privacy really come to respect you.

[grassguy_]

Cush,
I understand your point perfectly, when we've made calls we do take the name off for that season and we don't make a call back to them. There is however no doubt that some big companies abuse the telemarket medium so it ends up that everyone has to pay the price with a do-not-call list. My point is maybe best presented in this anology. Everyone is driving down the same highway and obviously everyone drives at different speeds, eventually the morning traffic helicopter is showing shots of the morning commutes and makes mention that some people are speeding way above the safe traveling speed. Soon every newscast is saying "everyone is speeding, its total chaos" Well the gov't then says the only way to stop this is to make everyone convert their car now to be only capable of doing 45 mph even when the speed limit is 55 mph, even when many were still obeying it. The gov't decides this is best for everyone, and determines using any policing strategy and making a strict governing laws is not worth it. the gov't then makes exceptions for those cars that are used for gov't purposes, as well as those cars that can profess to be charitable cars as well, hmmmm, seems there have been many charities that aren't always on the charitable up and up. Now the big cars out there that want to go faster than the 45mph will have the $ to get their vehicle closer, and buck the 55mph law, the smaller cars will not have that luxury.

[cush]

Many rental car companies use GPS to track their cars. Some even keep track of how fast you go and if you go over the speed limit you get a fine. Problem is they don't tell you they do this till you turn the car back in and they tell you of your $600 in fines. Some cities already use radar cameras to ticket speeders, you get a picture of yourself a few days later with a bill. The worst thing is when government want's to get a law past they don't even care if it passes the first year, they figure they'll just keep trying till the people that are opposed to it give up and then it passes with a majority vote. I think our government is in a downward spiral. Might as well enjoy the ride to the bottom!