87 year old's answer to telemarketers
Melody | Wednesday, 30 May, 2007 at 7:54 AM As it is, my Granddaddy doesn't much like the phone. He'll talk on it if we call him, sure, but he doesn't initiate calls just to chat. The only time he's ever called me - ever, I'm not exaggerating - was when he was flying from Colorado to South Carolina and ended up stranded in Texas overnight when his one flight didn't get there in time to make his second flight. He found my number in his wallet and called me (in North Carolina,) to make contact with a family member. (To this day, nobody knows how my number got in his wallet.) So, no, he's not going out of his way to use the phone. Only if he deems it necessary.
Last night during a call with my brother who lives in the same south Alabama town as Granddaddy, I learned that the senior Everett is fed up with telemarketers. His solution? He's not taking calls during the day. Any of them. Want to talk to him? Call before 8 in the morning, or after 8 in the evening. I think those are the times - I haven't tested the assertion yet, but I'm told he's quite firm on his decision. Brother told him, "Well if I need to talk to you I can just call and let it ring 3 times, hang up and call again and let it ring 3 more times..." Granddaddy's response? "Nope. You'll be wasting your time. Want to talk to me? Call at the right time!"
Believe him, too. 'Cause he's not even gonna' want to listen to an explanation of how the younger generation handles it. Screening? Wouldn't that mean the addition of one more gadget in his home? Not gonna' happen...
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Reader Comments (8)
That's true--we tried to call him the other day--no answer. Later, I suggested to Don (his son) to let it ring for 3 times--hang up and try again--still no response. I don't know what we'll do if we really need to talk to him in the middle of the day--I guess younger Everett will help us get the message to him.
We love him.
Yep! That's my Dad! He's quite a man. And I haven't even talked to him this week. I got busy Sunday night and it was too late to call him--then, Monday and Tuesday I was working.
What was I doing Sunday night? Best Buy had a super buy on a Compaq laptop. I knew they would be out by the time I got there, but I went anyway. Sure enough, they were out of the Compaq's but they had a Gateway for an almost as good price. So, I'm writing this on my new laptop, from which I have accessed the internet for the first time via Wi-Fi! This is Awsome!
BTW, I hope you are having a good day! I am fine at the moment! drinking tea, and surfing the net in an air conditioned building!
Have a great day!
Dad
Reminds me of the "old" days. Instead of calling someone long distance, you would let it ring three times then hang up, then call back again to let them know you got home safely.
Still, the only technology my grandmother embraced, other than the microwave oven, was the Caller ID box. Pity, she would say, that some poor person would have to type that number in before the call could go through...
Hope your day is a good one...
HA! I love Sean's comment. That's great...
Good to know, Mom...I'll make sure I only call at the right times.
Dad, congrats on your new laptop. How excellent!
I, too, love your Grandma story, Sean.
(Hey Dena!)
BTW, I didn't say that I was in Atlanta Bread Company--a great place to eat a sandwich or soup.
Sean, Some folks--I never did it, but I've heard--would make a (person to person) collect call for themselves to notify family that they had made it home alright. Since they weren't there, there was no danger that what would have been very expensive toll charges would be incurred.
I finally did talk to my dad last night--well past his self imposed daytime telephone curfew. I told him he should get someone to register him in the national Do Not Call registry. I don't think he will take a chance, though.
When a telemarketer gets through to me, I ask him/her, "would you do me a favor?" When they respond, I say, "place me on your do not call list." That usually ends the call.
Don/Dad
Mr. Watson --
We did that up until the late 1980s!
After arriving home safely from a drive down to Atlanta, my Mom would place a collect, person-to-person (operator assisted) call to "Sam," the dog who died decades before. Grandma would reply that Sam wasn't home, but that we should try later.
And you're right -- it was free!
Sean
Now that's great! Sam was certainly a popular member of your family, and his memory lives on...and on...and .on!
Don