The Worker Ant Chronicles

Telemarketers infuriate many people

September 13, 2009 · Leave a Comment

It’s a weeknight. Since it is also a school night the kids are tucked away safely in their beds and sleeping soundly. The wall clock in the dining room indicates that it’s just about nine p.m. You and your spouse are resting comfortably in the living room getting ready to watch your favorite television program. There is a quiet confidence and stillness about the room

Suddenly the peace and the tranquility of the evening is shattered by the urgent ringing of the telephone. You get up from your comfy La-Z-Boy recliner and walk over to answer the call. You wonder who could possibly be calling you at this later hour. Has there been an accident or an unexpected illness in the family?

You subscribe to caller I.D. so you immediately can read the familiar LED readout of the number if not the name of this late night intruder. Oh no, you say to yourself, I think this is another telemarketer calling! You hesitatingly pick up the telephone receiver and you hear that telltale, electronic pause on the other end of the telephone line. Yes, it is a telemarketer calling to disrupt your evening.

In theory at least, they are at times a company’s first line of introduction to a purchasing public and represent the goods, services and other inducements a company offers the consumer.

This person is someone who sells goods or services over the phone or by fax, and may include someone who solicits donations for charities. Generally they try to promote good will and accord to the people they are calling. They use proprietary software that dials the numbers of potential customers. The phone call is the point of sale and/or resistance for many marketers of this type.

Today,  this type of individual is considered to be  bottom-feeder of society, a person tied into a computer that automatically harvests phone numbers out of electronic databases and always calls you while you are eating or having a shower or other related activities.

These individuals are often tasked to set appointments which means that they  must develop a strong relationship with the account managers or sales force to prioritize targeted appointment setting. This strong bonding influence is often lost on people imposed upon by the telemarketers intrusion.

Normally, all one has to do in order to avoid a telemarketer is to hang up the phone, or install caller id, a telemarketer’s natural predator. The software will automatically hang up the phone of a marketer is not available. This action in itself tends to irritate many people.

The most you can realistically and reasonably expect from a telemarketer is to make calls with the purpose of identifying the right person within an organization, verify or obtain contact information, and deliver a message or invitation. Often time this is a an effective way to make cold calls that pay.

Does anyone really choose to be a telemarketer and work for a ridiculous company paying less than minimal wages? The number of folks employed as this type of marketing agent is growing daily due to the current job crisis.

I know when a telemarketer is calling simply due to the audibly gross, mispronunciation of my name.  My name is never , ever enunciated properly and I merely hang up the phone to disrupt the call. Many folks create a new language and chat gibberish with the caller. This they hope will confuse and frustrate the marketer.

These companies always seem to want to sell you life insurance, automobile insurance at a discount or offer you a percentage off your next purchase from the parent company. If I needed this coverage I would have ordered it long before this phone call.

My message to telemarketers is this: Please, don’t call me..I’ll call you. If you really must call me then please be at least somewhat familiar with the English language. This would be considered a courtesy by me and many other folks as well.


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Some Cell Phone Users Truly Irk Santa

December 20, 2008 · Leave a Comment

“Deck the malls with calls on cell phones. …:

These are the short-lived and often harried shopping days well before the Christmas deadline. All through the numerous malls bargain-hungry shoppers are scurrying wildly to be there for those important and penny pinching in store specials.

Their cell phones are nestled very tightly to their ears in the hopes that important and expected phone messages will always ring clear. Considering today’s economic situation you really can’t blame them for trying to get more bang for their buck.

Bargains are here. Sales are there. In their minds it is imperative that shoppers be immediately notified whenever Xmas specials appear. Keeping up with the Jone’s in this hyper competitive market requires many shoppers to have more than one cell phone on their person. The sounds of sleigh bells ringing and soul soothing Christmas music has been replaced by a screaming hodgepodge of cell phone tones and tunes, moans and groans. The tunes have all been expertly provided and engineered by cell phone manufacturers eager to placate their growing army of demanding users.

Not everyone however is especially thrilled by the increasing usage of cell phones. One group in particular, Rent-A-Santa , claims that many parents are actually “shoplifting Santa photos” whenever they use their cell phones to snap a picture of their children sitting on Santa Claus’ knee . The snapped photos are then instantly relayed to the family’s Face Book web site. The family has the pleasant memories of the little ones visiting Santa and Ole Saint Nick has the unpleasant task of shrugging off his money making photo opportunity. No ho ho ho there for sure.

Many professional Santa Clauses report an increase in the confrontational positions many outraged parents take when Santa staff members attempt to ban parents from taking cell phone picture-taking photographs. The parents feel they have the right to snap the photos. The Santas claim that they have been hired by the malls and stores to not only thrill little Bobby and Susie but also make money with the photo-op session. The cost of the photo is sometimes nominal. The sales ensure that Santa and his entourage will be at the mall for years to come.

Each group is adamant in its position. The parents are labeled thieves. The Santa brigade is touted as miserly and exploitative. The obvious spirit of giving and good cheer is subverted by commercialism and greed. To misquote the miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge “Christmas is a bother and a humbug!” It’s interesting to note that when they were asked the mall management sided with the parents and saw nothing wrong with the parents and grandparents capturing “an occasional freebie pic”.

Cell phones certainly do have an important and prominent place in our society. They allow us to instantaneously communicate with friends , family and loved ones. They should not however be transformed into a catalyst that turns the spirit of the season of love and giving into one of animosity and dissension. “Make it a Kodak moment” should not become the battle cry of parents versus Santa.

Merry Christmas to all ……….. and to all a goodnight!

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The Most Sought After Christmas Gift …..Hope!

December 20, 2008 · Leave a Comment

“Ask not what your country can do for you …ask what you can do for your country.”
–   John F. Kennedy

There was once a time when these well thought out words, vocalized by a young President Kennedy, inspired a nation to bite the bullet and take up arms against a sea of turmoil and trouble and strife and attempt to do its best to work hand-in-hand with the government to solve or resolve problems and issues that were plaguing the world in general and the country in particular.

Throughout  the years the country’s finest and bravest  have  responded admirably. Our brave men and women have tackled whatever situations confronted them with valor, integrity and optimism. The clarion call was always heeded and met with a sense of duty and bravery and outstanding resolve. Throughout the many differing political administrations the American people were always there to support the downtrodden and bring hope and optimism to the world’s economically destitute and politically persecuted.

The days of optimism and hope and good cheer have now been replaced by encroaching clouds of doubt, fear and uncertainty not only in ourselves and our efforts but also in our belief that delayed governmental intervention can or even will effectively stave off economic disaster and ruin. Economic disaster for the country. Financial ruin for many of the country’s working poor who are now struggling even more these days to make ends meet. Cynicism about the market place and the country’s future is growing on a daily basis.

There is a growing perceived loss of faith in ourselves to enjoy life and the fruits of our labors. The glory days of Camelot are now logged in by historians as a mere historical footnote. The nation as a whole is hurting and the bullet can no longer be bitten. Some type of immediate governmental intervention is needed to bring hope to the country.

The buzzword today is “bailout”. The word itself connotes negative feelings of failure, rejection and loss of self worth. Anyone coming to the marketplace with cap in hand these days requesting financial assistance is viewed in the most negative light. Surely their own incompetence, greed and avarice has placed them in this situation. Their own lack of resolve and morality has condemned  them to financial ruin and social criticism.This summation may be true for the larger players in the market. The executives who lost their way and let their fund managers’ greed and over optimistic anticipation of stock market performance govern their course of action.

Joe Average is the true loser in this scenario. He is the true believer in the scheme of things. He graduated high school and fulfilled his military duty when required. He put his life on the line in combat and fought for principles of freedom, democracy and integrity. He totally bought into the concept of the American dream. He wanted decent employment, a house he could call home and a chance to raise his children in a free and safe environment. Sadly this dream has turned into a definite nightmare. His worst fears are now broadcast daily in living color on CNN. His job, the means of his livelihood , and happiness are now threatened. Confusion and doubt plague him daily.

The country now lacks an acting  president. The current  lame duck administration appears to be sitting on the proverbial fence. The president elect seems to be hamstrung by political protocol. Despite his good intentions and planned future programs of financial assistance he and his administration are somewhat powerless to do anything. The programs are supposedly in place and the country is breathlessly awaiting the official inauguration of President elect Obama in January 2009.

Can the country survive this  interim period while the administrations change hands?

Is it not time to change President Kennedy’s statement to read : “Ask not what you can do for your country…ask rather what your country can and should start doing for you?”

Christmas has traditionally been a  time of hope and peace and optimism. These days that sense of hope and serenity has been replaced by rising doubt and fear and pessimism. The nation is turning its sights to their elected representatives to offer them a semblance hope …a  sign that the future will be bright for themselves and their children. It is time for our leaders themselves to heed their own clarion call and commit themselves to saving the nation.

Merry Christmas and God bless you and yours!

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Auto worker ponders his 11th hour employment options

December 7, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Working together we will provide our customers with the right part at the right time and at the right cost“.   Employee mantra

I am currently an employed  automotive worker patiently awaiting the outcome of the important financial and political decisions that will decide the fate of my company and the fate of the country as a whole. I work at an automotive parts distribution center. I have been employed at this profession for almost 29 years.

I enjoy the company I work for, the people I interact with at work and the freedom and opportunities my company offers an individual to educate and advance ones self. Our warehouse provides parts to dealerships to service their customers vehicles.

The fate of the company I work for now depends upon the mutual understanding, respect and cooperation of governments, politicians, advisers and other pundits familiar with the current economic crisis facing the world in general and North America in particular.

Lives and political careers on both sides of the US-Canada border are deeply enmeshed in this historic decision making process..Cool heads must prevail. The costs of making hasty decisions at this time would be disastrous.

I am also seriously examining my own personal options for work- at-home opportunities just in case something unexpected happens. There’s nothing wrong with being a practical realist in this day and age. This aspect would at least assure me of some additional income to carry me through the rough times should they occur.

“Shadow shopping” or “mystery shopping” appeals to me as a part time activity. This allows me to earn some extra income, pay unexpected bills that crop up and more importantly have fun at the same time. If you are observant, pay attention to detail,a people person and enjoy dining out then “mystery shopping” may be the financial avenue for you to investigate further.

In this day and age of relative uncertainty and global unrest you can no longer let your financial future nor the future and well-being of your family rest entirely on your years of seniority earned, the financial soundness of the company you work for or even your bank’s assets and Price to Earnings  ratio to gauge your course of action.

These days you need to be more proactive and do what’s best for yourself and your family. The days of sitting on a fence and hoping for the best are over. To survive today you have to plan for tomorrow and more importantly work that plan with enthusiasm, determination, optimism and personal gusto.

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