I saw a bit on the news about a 70something woman who received a letter form the US Marine Corps encouraging her to consider enlisting with them. I got a chuckle out of it, knowing that it was just an administrative error, but it reminded me of my senior year in high school.
I don't know if recruiters still employ this method, but when I was in high school back in the dark ages recruiters obtained lists of names and phone numbers of high school seniors, and they would call them in their attempt to recruit these young people into their branch of the service. While I did eventually end up joining the Air Force, when I was in high school I had no desire to join any branch of the service. I got the same calls as my classmates, and figured after I heard from each branch that would be the end.
Boy was I wrong! The calls started in January (even though I was only 17 at that time), and they kept calling. I guess they thought I would change my mind.
I finally got tired of it, and sought methods to discourage these persistent recruiters. I finally hatched a plan that worked like a charm. The next time one of the recruiters called, I expressed some interest. I could hear the excitement on the phone, figuring he had just hooked me. I let him go through his spiel, asking all the right questions, then when he asked if I wanted to set up an appointment I told him that it would have to be an evening appointment so my parents could drive me there. He asked why I didn't drive myself and I told him that I was a parapalegic and unable to drive.
He actually got mad at me for not disclosing this to him at the beginning of the conversation. I pointed out that he didn't ask and innocently stated that I thought maybe the military started accepting handicapped individuals for desk jobs.
He hung up, and I think he must have spread the word to the other recruiters as I never received another call from any recruiter.
If only this tactic worked with all telemarketers...
I don't know if recruiters still employ this method, but when I was in high school back in the dark ages recruiters obtained lists of names and phone numbers of high school seniors, and they would call them in their attempt to recruit these young people into their branch of the service. While I did eventually end up joining the Air Force, when I was in high school I had no desire to join any branch of the service. I got the same calls as my classmates, and figured after I heard from each branch that would be the end.
Boy was I wrong! The calls started in January (even though I was only 17 at that time), and they kept calling. I guess they thought I would change my mind.
I finally got tired of it, and sought methods to discourage these persistent recruiters. I finally hatched a plan that worked like a charm. The next time one of the recruiters called, I expressed some interest. I could hear the excitement on the phone, figuring he had just hooked me. I let him go through his spiel, asking all the right questions, then when he asked if I wanted to set up an appointment I told him that it would have to be an evening appointment so my parents could drive me there. He asked why I didn't drive myself and I told him that I was a parapalegic and unable to drive.
He actually got mad at me for not disclosing this to him at the beginning of the conversation. I pointed out that he didn't ask and innocently stated that I thought maybe the military started accepting handicapped individuals for desk jobs.
He hung up, and I think he must have spread the word to the other recruiters as I never received another call from any recruiter.
If only this tactic worked with all telemarketers...