How do you respond to "professional" cold calls?

Sharon, That's easy, I just hang up the phone.  Most of the time it is recordings so it is not as rude.  I just really don't like the calls.  That is part of the reason that I stopped cold calling for real estate.

I hate them like most people but to be polite I always tell the sales person when I find out what there selling that I also sell the same thing so I wouldn't be interested.

I just tell them a very polite NO THANK YOU!!  I like that last scenario about them knowing anyone that wants to buy or sale real estate.  I had a guy call me and say hey I was just looking through the first four pages of Google and I didnt see you anywhere so I just called to see if I could help you.  I said no thanks...but I can help you by saying change your search terms and I'm sure you'll find me on page 1!

Sharon, Depends on my mood and level of tolerence. I used to reverse the "cold" callers and ask them if they wanted to sell their home or know of anyone....etc.  I do this with people selling advertising.  One good response, tell them you have more business than you can handle.

Easy to identify these callers so they never get through a 2nd time.

I had one guy call me recently while I was out showing a house. I had been expecting a call from another client. I didn't recognize the number but I excused myself while my client was discussing something with her father and I answered the call. The guy on the other end started going into his sales pitch and I politely interuppted him and said that I couldn't talk because I was busy with a client. In a nasty tone he said to me, "Well - then why did you answer your phone if you're so busy?" I responded, "I thought it may have been someone important" and hung up! 

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I get so fed up with these calls.  They launch right in and don't even ask if it is a good time to call.  I have quit trying to be nice and just go ahead and hang up.

I hate receiving these calls.  I also tell our agents that our office policy frowns on cold calling ...

That said, sometimes, I do feel bad for the live callers who are probably just some poor schmucks trying to make a living.  But if I have clients in the office and other lines on hold, I still hang up on them.

The recorded robo-voice calls I hate with a passion that can't be described.  Who invented that evil and unleashed it on the world?  That person should be doing hard time in solitary confinement.

Sharon - I get more of these calls per week than I can count. I love being able to say I am already on page 1 for a number of keywords, or that I will not pay for lead generation. The call usually ends pretty quickly. Tough way to earn a living.

Jeff 

My biggest issue is that my cell phone is on the do-not-call-list and companies are calling me to solicit! I now get angry and next am tempted to figure out who they are and turn them in! The fact that they are waisting my minutes is another story

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Sharon, I just keep my trigger finger on the hang up button.  It works like a charm.

Sharon - I absolutely loathe cold callers, regardless of what they're selling.  I typically get calls for real estate-related products in spite of the fact that I'm not an agent.  Very frustrating.  I, too, try to be polite but t can get extremely frustrating to the point where you really have no other choice but to just hang up.  Especially when they won't take "no" for an answer.

Maybe Brian's finger gives him SUPER powers!  A Super Finger! Brian's finger can hang up on callers at the speed of light!  (Hey, it could happen!)

~Renae

Sharon- I ask them How did you find me? They either say Google or Activerain. My response to them is If you can find me, What I am already doing must be working.