Why Being Polite to Unsolicited Sales Calls Is a Myth
Why is it so hard to be polite to someone who reaches out to you for a sales call? Sometimes, the act of being polite can be misconstrued as a welcome intrusion. This article aims to shed light on this issue and provide a practical perspective on why being polite in the face of unsolicited sales calls can be challenging, if not unnecessary.
The Invasiveness of Unwanted Sales Calls
An unsolicited sales call is an unwelcome intrusion that disrupts your personal space and time. In today's digital age, people often lead busy lives, filled with various responsibilities and commitments. An unsolicited sales call can be a significant disruption, even when you are simply enjoying your leisure time at home.
Privacy and Time Management
During a sales call, the caller is essentially pestering you under the guise of providing a service. It is an invasion of your privacy and a theft of your time. You have the right to manage your own time and space, and you don't owe anyone politeness simply because they have interrupted you.
A Personal Perspective
I once worked on the phone, and I learned that turning down sales calls was a fundamental part of my job. The script went something like this:
'Hello, my name is ___ How can I take your call today? '
'Can I speak to the manager?' At home this is 'can I speak with Mrs. Bloggs'.
'I'm sorry but we do not accept introductory services on this line, please remove us from your mailing list.'
Sometimes they go on a little in which case you can usually just reaffirm and/or hang up.
This is a much simpler and less hassle approach. By politely declining these calls, you can free yourself from repeated interruptions and protect your privacy.
Unacceptable Intrusion
If someone calls you at your home, asking for your time to listen to them talk about something you are not interested in, you have the right to stop the call and refuse to engage. You have every right to mind your own business and not waste your precious time on unwanted calls. Therefore, it is not hard to be polite; it's just that you are not required to be.
Real-World Examples and Reactions
Other individuals have highlighted similar sentiments. You are an unsolicited caller, and we didn't ask you to ring, and we'd rather you didn't. Most of us have busy lives and have better things to do than listen to your patter and wonder whether you are a genuine telemarketer or an out-and-out crook.
In the UK, we have something called Telephone Preference Service, which you can sign up for if you don't want cold callers bothering you. However, many salespeople don't respect these rules, even if they call from other jurisdictions where these practices may not be common. Some of these salespeople, whether boasting London, Manchester, or Teesside accents, know the rules and choose not to follow them. This behavior is particularly annoying because they are aware of the rules and their rights, yet they disregard them entirely.
As soon as you realize what they want, you should say 'no thank you' and hang up. Engaging with them is unnecessary and can be a waste of time. Remember, the person on the other end of an unwanted call is a real person with a life. They have children, jobs, elderly parents, academic deadlines, poorly pets, and cars on the critical list. What makes you think they owe you the time of day?
By respecting your personal boundaries and privacy, you can protect your time and maintain a peaceful environment in your home. It's important to set clear boundaries and stick to them when faced with unwanted sales calls.