Stupid telemarketers.
 

So you know how the machines wait for a human voice to transfer you to the telemarketer, right? In the past, what I've done when I don't get a number on caller ID, or don't recognize it, is to pick up the phone, say hello, and wait for a response before saying anything else (since a lot of times it won't pick up on the first 'hello.' It waits for another hello to make sure there's a live connection).

If nobody answers in a reasonable amount of time, I hang up.

So what're they doing now?

I get a call from 'unknown.' I answer 'hello.' I wait.

After about 30 seconds, a voice - clearly prerecorded - goes "Oh. I'm sorry. I must have dialed the wrong number. Bye-bye!" in this ridiculously smarmy tone of voice.

So first you violate the law by not displaying your phone number via Caller ID, and then you lie to the person on the other end so they can't figure out who you are? Cute.

Maybe it was Ed McMahon. You could have been a millionaire.

Ed McMahon doesn't sound like a 70 year old grandmother.

At least, not the last time I checked.

that's the genius of it

Is this where I talk about how in "my day" as a telemarketer you had to dial your own dinner-time calls?

I had one of those Virgin Mobile phones, and after 6 months of it sitting in my car, not being used I just decided to not reload it. They were calling my house twice every day. When I would pick up the phone it would be silent, until I spoke. Then I would get some sort of canned ad to add extra time "before it's too late." Which was annoying because I couldn't get some option to select "stop fucking calling me."

Maybe it was Jim McMahon.

Ah yes, the insta-hello and clank method. I'm quite fond of that.

sound clips pls thx

Uhh, don't give them your home number in the first place?

In retrospect, that would indeed be the correct move. I didn't know they would be so incessant.

My father in law loves telemarketers. He actively tries to piss them off. They hang up on him all the time. Sometimes he just asks stupid questions. Sometimes he keeps changing the subject. Sometimes he turns the tables on them and starts trying to sell them stuff.

A couple of nights ago I heard him tell one "Oh I'd love to see some of your literature."..."Yes, I've been waiting for an opportunity like this for some time"..."Why yes, you see I just bought this new shredder, and I'd love to try it out on your literature."

I was rolling.

donotwork

still get calls and it is even more annoying having to report them all the time