Friday Poll

So I'm cooking dinner and the phone rings. This happens a lot. And despite the fact that we are on the "do not call" list, I still get calls from fake agencies trying to sell me tickets to the "Fireman's Ball" or home improvement services or whatnot. This time it was home improvement. I told him that we aren't planning anything (lie, we need to redo our master bath) and that if I DID want any work done, it would be through my BIL, who is a contractor. "Oooooh," he replied, "The old brother in law is a contractor thing. OK ma'am." AS IF. AS IF to say I was lying.

Well, I was only partially lying. My BIL does have a contractor's license, but he doesn't do home improvements.

Still, the nerve.

So tell me, have you ever lied to a salesperson on the phone?

Comments

Awesome Mom said…
Nope I don't need to. Once I figure out that they are selling anything or even collecting for a charity I tell them that we are not interested. I give my charity money away only after careful research, not just because someone calls me on the phone to tug at my heart strings.

I have lied to the blood bank people. I am bad I know but while I do donate blood now and then I don't like to do it super frequently and I got tired of them harassing me so when they would call I would tell them that I was not home but I would be glad to take a message. It was not like they could know that they were really talking to me on the phone.
4:29 AM
Sunshine said…
All the time.
6:29 AM
J said…
I'm with Sunshine. Telling the truth to them gets me into longer, convoluted conversations that I don't want to have. One day, I'm gonna get as good as my mom was at these things. She would just say, right in the middle of their schpeal, "I'm not interested", and hang up. Seems rude to me, but she said, they get paid by how many people they call, so I'm being nice by letting them move on. ;)

Ted just hangs up. Not even the "I'm not interested."
7:35 AM
Autumn's Mom said…
I lie. Or hang up. Or if Autumn answers, "tell them I died!"
9:51 AM
Maternal Mirth said…
Nope. I just hand the phone to my 4 YO and walk away. He'll get them off the phone, either that, he'll keep them from calling again after he tells them 1,204 times that he's "FOUR years old and can pee on the potty".
12:15 PM
dgm said…
Never. We rarely, if ever, get solicitations on our "secret" landline, but when I get them on other lines I always interrupt with, "Are you trying to sell me something?" and I keep pressing with that question until I break them. Then I say I'm not buying what they're offering. Then I barrage them with questions about how they got my number. And then they want to hang up.

If it's just a poll taker who asks if I mind "answering a few questions," I say "Yes" and hang up.
8:35 PM
Kelley said…
I thought that was the rule. They call at inappropriate times and we lie to them. Builds character. And acting skills.
6:09 AM
Heather said…
We only have cell phones and, so far, they have remained free from telemarketers. But I usually use the "not interested" line and hang up before they can argue.
10:36 PM
dr sardonicus said…
When those contractors call, I tell them I rent (which I don't). Most of them won't try to sell you anything if you don't own your home.
12:23 AM
Scout said…
When the fake fireman's ball people or the "friends of the police" call, I always plead poverty and say I give what little I can to my church. When the home improvement people call, I say I have a new house and don't need new windows or new siding or whatever. I don't know why I can't just say "no thank you."
6:39 AM
Bammy said…
I say No.. and try to hang up.. if they are quick enough to get in more words.. I say Look.. you are paid to make sales.. youre not gonna make one here.. Im tryin to make you money!!! and then click..
9:53 PM
Ted said…
Mostly, I just hang up.
8:14 AM
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