Me:
“I don’t need this service, thank you”.
Telemarketer in a clingy (嗲) voice:
“I understand, but I just need to meet my quota, only a tiny bit away.”
Me:
“Perhaps, but i’m not going to buy something I don’t want just to meet your quota. I have to WANT the thing.”
By this point extremely annoying telemarketer:
“I understand, but perhaps you can help me? Just buy it anyways.”
Me:
“If you understand then why are you asking me to buy? I told you I don’t need it.”
Excruciatingly annoying telemarketer:
“We can be friends. Here’s my number [#], all you need is just pay $xx…”
- I tried to be nice; at that point I hung up. This lady was trying to sell me prepaid IDD calling card services. I told her I have cheaper suppliers, and I don’t like prepaid. She tried to pull a clingy girlie voice on me, assuming guys would fall for that. Even though I don’t need what she’s selling.
Is this how people sell in Hong Kong now? More disturbingly, is this how companies are training their salespeople?
Since late 2007 the unsolicited electronic messages ordinance (CAP 593) came into effect. Unfortunately this OFTA ordinance governs electronic communication only – that being SMS, fax, or recorded voice messages. It does not prevent telemarketers from cold-calling. What’s more one has to opt-in to the Do-not-call register by calling 1835000 from that number.
It’s a starter, but much more needs to be done. I don’t agree with then director-general Marion Lai Chan Chi-kuen who suggested that barring personal interactive calling “could hurt small and medium-sized businesses“. How about hurting privacy, adding to illegitimate phone charges (overseas roaming – I won’t even go there), and wasting people’s time? Welcome to Hong Kong: where the pro-business government cares little about individuals.
There has been little debate since. The government run Anti Spam Website gives advice on cutting down unsolicited contact, whilst a voluntary code of practice has been put into place by many institutions, including the HKDMA (Hong Kong Direct Marketing Association). But voluntary self-regulation is not enough – and surely i’m not the only one fed up of sales calls by now.
When will this practice finally be banned? Or, at the very least, extend the DNC register to cover personal marketing calls too. It’s about time.
Is it just me, or are google maps getting worse lately? Many a time have I, in recent months, tried to search for a location – been advised of a name through AutoComplete and yet, even though suggested in the first place by google, will turn up a blank search. Why suggest a nonexistent keyword?
Note: This only works on Safari at present.
