Today, I swear, no matter where you go, if there is a phone around, you are the target of a telemarketer. I used to be a telemarketer, and I remember literally crying after being sworn at and hung up on, so I just can't make myself do either of those things, or walk away from the sales people at the mall. I try to avoid eye contact, but sometimes it just doesn't work, and I'm forced into my let the sales person down lightly mode ....sometimes.

For the most part, a simple and polite, but firm, I'm not interested right now, but thank you, goodbye. will get you the results you want, but there are those out there that wont take no for an answer, it's as if they are just begging me, mess with my mind...please? So, I try to oblige.

We have a one room area in our office that everyone enjoys when business is slow. It's small, and holds just about enough people to make a sales person lose interest in making that sale, especially when they go through their entire speech, and are told no. Since they won't take no for an answer, I transfer them to our office manager...down the hall, (sitting next to me), and they make their speech all over again. When they still won't take no for an answer, they are transferred to the general manager downstairs, (sitting next to them), and they are told the speech all over again. After that, they are transferred upstairs to the vice president, who informs Mr. I Wont Back Down, that only the president can make these decisions, and he's on his way to Disney Land.

Another one that just wouldn't leave me alone, probably went into hiding after our conversation. At the very least, he would have almost felt obligated to get me mental help. After telling him "thank you, no", about five times, (did I say I can't hang up on them? I really do need to hear that goodbye from them. Probably the smallest case of post traumatic stress syndrome there is, but it's there), I finally told this gentleman that, I know who you are! You're the man who was looking through my windows last night! No, I didn't hear his voice, but if he had talked to me, I know he would sound just like you. Yes it was you! Where are you at? I'm sending the police right over. He finally got so stressed out, he hung up on me.

Just last Sunday morning, at 6:00, (who would do this to a person?), a lady called our house to confirm an order I had made two days prior. I told her yes, I made the order. Well, guess what ya all? I qualified for a bonus booklet of price dinner coupons. After the first month, they would bill my credit card only $19.95 a month, if I don't decide to cancel. Who ever remembers to cancel? I don't know how many times I said, "no th..", and was interrupted. I don't normally yell at sales people, but it was 6:00 in the morning, and she wouldn't leave me alone. I finally said, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! And if you say one more word, I'm canceling my original order! I didn't consider "Thank you, goodbye" as another word, and all was right with the world again.

My husband managed to get two birds with one stone, me and the telemarketer. When our credit card company called to see if he would like to purchase additional insurance, he just told them he died. I called two weeks later to pay our bill, and it took me an hour to help them get our account out of probate. We had words over that one, but in the end, I couldn't help but laugh at the man.

If you can, be nice to telemarketers and sales people. They really are trying to make a living. But, if they're making your life a living hell, well, then, what can you do?

Learn more about this author, Bonnie Meridieth.
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