I would hire Ruthie in a minute to deal with telemarketers. Also with cell phones and smart phones are there still telemarketers pushing long distance services?
My dad, rest his soul, would answer the phone then put the handset down next to the phone when he heard a telemarketer. They would do their spiel to no one and he would come back around 15 min later and hang the handset back up. “See,” he said, “they get to do their job, I don’t have to listen or make a fuss…we both win.”
LOL. This reminds me of a Seinfeld episode where Jerry receives a phone call from a solicitor selling Daily News subscriptions. And Jerry says, “I’m kinda busy right now. Give me your number and I’ll call you back later”. And the salesman says, “Uh….we’re not supposed to do that.” Jerry: “Oh, I suppose you don’t want me to call you at home”. Salesman: “Yes, that’s right”. Jerry: “Now you know how I feel”! (Slams down the phone).
Once upon a time, I only had a landline phone, so I’d always pick up. If it was a telemarketer, I’d usually hang up without saying any more, but sometimes it was fun to mess with them. Ruthie could definitely have been a help there.Then I got an answering machine, and I’d always wait for the caller to start leaving a message so I could see who it was. Sometimes a telemarketer would start leaving a sales pitch on the machine, so I’d pick up and hang up immediately.Now all I have is a cell phone. If the caller ID doesn’t show one of my contacts, or I don’t recognize it, I don’t pick up. They can leave a voicemail if it’s legitimate.I do kind of miss messing with the occasional sales person. I don’t care about the hard luck stories that caused them to take the job. If I picked up, though, it would probably be a recording asking me to stay on the line.
About 20 years ago when my son graduated from high school, he took a telemarketing job out of desperation! The supervisors were extremely nice at first, then they started docking pay if he didn’t make enough sales. More than one person would tell him, "you sound like such a nice boy, you will surely find a better job soon!’ lol He did! But but it really is a lousy job, and they lure in kids by telling them how they can earn extra pay, etc, etc, all baloney!
I am polite to the ones actually attempting to sell a real product. But we get mostly scammers. There is this one guy, with a thick Indian accent, that wants to help me with a security problem with my Windows computer. We haven’t used Windows (or Apple) since 1995, but that doesn’t phase him. Now when he calls, I talk about “why do people do bad things”, and what the Bible and other religions claim is a solution.
I give him credit for being personally on the phone. There is another Indian scammer who just sends a recording claiming to be delivering an IRS notice, and to call this number immediately or face fines and jail time. The give away is that there is no identifying information in the alleged notice.
Argythree over 8 years ago
Ruthie is a secret weapon her parents use to prevent telemarketers from bothering them…
Joseph Arnold over 8 years ago
I would hire Ruthie in a minute to deal with telemarketers. Also with cell phones and smart phones are there still telemarketers pushing long distance services?
Frog-on-a-Log Premium Member over 8 years ago
“The Scream” by Edvard Munch
Crabbyrino Premium Member over 8 years ago
My dad, rest his soul, would answer the phone then put the handset down next to the phone when he heard a telemarketer. They would do their spiel to no one and he would come back around 15 min later and hang the handset back up. “See,” he said, “they get to do their job, I don’t have to listen or make a fuss…we both win.”
dlkrueger33 over 8 years ago
LOL. This reminds me of a Seinfeld episode where Jerry receives a phone call from a solicitor selling Daily News subscriptions. And Jerry says, “I’m kinda busy right now. Give me your number and I’ll call you back later”. And the salesman says, “Uh….we’re not supposed to do that.” Jerry: “Oh, I suppose you don’t want me to call you at home”. Salesman: “Yes, that’s right”. Jerry: “Now you know how I feel”! (Slams down the phone).
i_am_the_jam over 8 years ago
“Long Distance Rates”? Mexico got rid of those last year!!![zooms in] I think this strip is from 2009.
Kaputnik over 8 years ago
Once upon a time, I only had a landline phone, so I’d always pick up. If it was a telemarketer, I’d usually hang up without saying any more, but sometimes it was fun to mess with them. Ruthie could definitely have been a help there.Then I got an answering machine, and I’d always wait for the caller to start leaving a message so I could see who it was. Sometimes a telemarketer would start leaving a sales pitch on the machine, so I’d pick up and hang up immediately.Now all I have is a cell phone. If the caller ID doesn’t show one of my contacts, or I don’t recognize it, I don’t pick up. They can leave a voicemail if it’s legitimate.I do kind of miss messing with the occasional sales person. I don’t care about the hard luck stories that caused them to take the job. If I picked up, though, it would probably be a recording asking me to stay on the line.
linsonl over 8 years ago
A no call list does very little good. And, the politicians exempt themselves from it.
kab2rb over 8 years ago
This is when Ruthie is really wanted.
Stephen Gilberg over 8 years ago
What a rude telemarketer. Of course, rudeness is par for the course in this comic.
Hey, Ruthie answers a call for her mother at Creators.com today as well.
QuietStorm27 over 8 years ago
I love it!
ladymadcat over 8 years ago
About 20 years ago when my son graduated from high school, he took a telemarketing job out of desperation! The supervisors were extremely nice at first, then they started docking pay if he didn’t make enough sales. More than one person would tell him, "you sound like such a nice boy, you will surely find a better job soon!’ lol He did! But but it really is a lousy job, and they lure in kids by telling them how they can earn extra pay, etc, etc, all baloney!
stuart over 8 years ago
I am polite to the ones actually attempting to sell a real product. But we get mostly scammers. There is this one guy, with a thick Indian accent, that wants to help me with a security problem with my Windows computer. We haven’t used Windows (or Apple) since 1995, but that doesn’t phase him. Now when he calls, I talk about “why do people do bad things”, and what the Bible and other religions claim is a solution.
I give him credit for being personally on the phone. There is another Indian scammer who just sends a recording claiming to be delivering an IRS notice, and to call this number immediately or face fines and jail time. The give away is that there is no identifying information in the alleged notice.
Paul391 over 8 years ago
Ruthie has a lot of wisdom.