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Stop Soliciting On My Cell Phone Minutes

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Top Bragg Realty, Fayetteville NC, Home of the 82d ABN DIV

How many times have you seen an out of area number come on your cell phone and found yourself rolling your eyes at your phone?  You know you should answer it because, literally, anyone could be calling with use of the internet.  Someone like a Soldier from Iraq or Afghanistan headed my way to Ft. Bragg who need a home.  I take the time to answer to find someone on the other end who wants to sell me something to enhance MY business.  They are not as pushy as most telemarketers but it is nerve-racking.  They try to come off as friendly to sidetrack you and win you over ...although they don't get very far with me since money is involved.  While I may have lots of minutes with my plan, it does NOT mean I want to waste a single one on something I didn't ask or call for.  I think I will start turning the tables to see if I can offer my services as a Realtor before they start their begging. 

Wag Finger

P.S.  Does anyone other than myself think this picture looks a little like me???

Comments (25)

Latonia Parks
Top Bragg Realty, Fayetteville NC, Home of the 82d ABN DIV - Fayetteville, NC
Certified Military Relocation Expert

Cameron, is that what is going on???  Actually, my calls are coming from alot of other "outsiders", I'll call them.

Feb 15, 2008 01:52 PM
Don & Cyndi Shurts
Keller Williams Advisors Realty: Don & Cyndi Shurts - Beavercreek, OH
Your Dreams Are Our Priority!

Latonia, I agree with your approach.  I give a friends and polite thank you, but no thanks to the marketers.  I've also been pleased to find an out of town buyer on the other end.

Feb 15, 2008 01:55 PM
Latonia Parks
Top Bragg Realty, Fayetteville NC, Home of the 82d ABN DIV - Fayetteville, NC
Certified Military Relocation Expert
OK, Don, I am going to see if I can get the same results from turning the call around. 
Feb 15, 2008 11:40 PM
Charlottesville Solutions
Charlottesville Solutions - Charlottesville, VA

It drives me crazy too. I get at least a call a day...

Your Friend in Charlottesville!

Feb 15, 2008 11:42 PM
Latonia Parks
Top Bragg Realty, Fayetteville NC, Home of the 82d ABN DIV - Fayetteville, NC
Certified Military Relocation Expert

Good morning Charles,  I would have to say the same.  Probably would be more if I could answer all of them.  A blocked call coming through really gets me going. 

Thanks for commenting.

Feb 15, 2008 11:48 PM
Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375
Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions" - Grand Rapids, MI
Real Estate Services You can Trust!
Hi Latonia, you hit one of my pet peeves.  This bugs me to no end.  Most of it is something I have no inclination to do anyway...and they act like they know my business....Nice post...for me the photo didn't show.  May be my pop-up blocker who knows.  Nice post.
Feb 16, 2008 03:30 AM
Latonia Parks
Top Bragg Realty, Fayetteville NC, Home of the 82d ABN DIV - Fayetteville, NC
Certified Military Relocation Expert
Thanks Gary,  you missed the best part of the post if you couldn't see the artwork.  ALL of it is something I have no inclination of doing!!  Thanks for commenting.
Feb 17, 2008 07:42 AM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Latonia...Hey, I didn't get to see the photo either.  No fair!  Gary and I will never know what your twin looks like.

Love your idea about the cold calls we're getting.  Hope I think of it the next time I receive a call.

Take care,

Kathleen

Feb 17, 2008 09:18 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Bummer, the picture didn't come through.

When I get a cold call on my cell phone, I am usually polite and simply say that their call was forwarded to my cell phone and I am on an appointment with a client (whether I am or not) - perhaps they could call me another day.  They rarely do.

Feb 17, 2008 02:41 PM
Karen Hurst
RICOASTALLIVING.COM - Warwick, RI
Rhode Island Waterfront!

Latonia,

I can't see the artwork either:(   I have been getting quite a few saying they found me on Active Rain! Now I answer all out of state calls because a lot of my business comes from out of state. This is getting really annoying. I have tried what Margaret does, but they always call back.

Feb 18, 2008 04:07 AM
Darleen McCullen
Raleigh, NC
Broker - Raleigh, NC Real Estate
Latonia, Hi. I always try to answer my phone - even when I don't recognize the phone number. (Sometimes, though, I must admit that I hesitate because it may be someone trying to sell me something - like Internet leads.) :-)
Feb 18, 2008 01:38 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection
Latonia - I know exactly how you feel.  To make things worst these calls happens at the worst moments.
Feb 19, 2008 09:26 PM
Marvin Thomas
Allegiance Mortgage Corparation - Fayetteville, NC
Latonia, great post.  What if anything can be done about it?  I received many calls a day from telemarketers on my cell phone.  I was thinking how did they get my number in the first place?
Feb 20, 2008 06:31 AM
Latonia Parks
Top Bragg Realty, Fayetteville NC, Home of the 82d ABN DIV - Fayetteville, NC
Certified Military Relocation Expert

Hi Kathleen, Karen and Margaret, I don't know why the photo didn't come out as you are missing a treat. :)  I didn't get a chance to reverse the conversation today.  Still waiting for the right call that is overly annoying.

Hi Darleen, I hesitate as well but you still know what an 800/866 # looks like.

Jennifer, I second that.  That is actually my outlet to get off the phone.  They constantly overtalk you to sell their product.

Marvin, If you find out what can be done before me, please let me know.  These are my minutes they are using.  I would like to know what associations we are part of that gives up this info so freely?  Are they the business cards we leave at rallies, etc.?

 

Feb 22, 2008 09:15 AM
Anonymous
Anonymous

Try this for unwanted sell calls. I did. Hopefully it helps!!!

 www.donotcall.gov

 

 

Apr 24, 2008 05:02 AM
#20
Anonymous
Marc

HOW TO STOP UNWANTED SELL CALLS:

                         http://www.nclnet.org/donotcall.htm

 

Apr 24, 2008 05:06 AM
#21
Anonymous
Anonymous

OUTRAGE!!  VERIZON WIRELESS IS SELLING ADS TO YOUR SELL PHONE

Here's a way to stop the madness:

http://networkinstruments.wordpress.com/2007/10/16/outrage-verizon-wireless-to-sell-ads-on-your-cell-phone/

 

Apr 24, 2008 05:14 AM
#22
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

In Georgia, licensee's phone numbers are public records. For those without landlines, that means cell phone. These records are easy to get.

 If you have your own website, or, just on your brokers website, do you list your cell number? Doesn't take too much research to get the numbers from there, either.

 However, you can still them to not call you again, and, they have to honor that. Just keep a record of when you first told them no to call, and of any subsequent calls.

 And, if anyone calls and asks you to participate in a survey, just say no.

 

Apr 24, 2008 01:05 PM
Latonia Parks
Top Bragg Realty, Fayetteville NC, Home of the 82d ABN DIV - Fayetteville, NC
Certified Military Relocation Expert

 

Marc/Mike,  You can get access to anyone's info online these days so I understand how they get the number.  It just irritates me that my minutes are being wasted.  Thanks for commenting and God bless.

Apr 24, 2008 01:22 PM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

This is so irritating, and I've put my number on the do not call list.  It's hard when you use your cell for your business.

Apr 24, 2008 03:56 PM