I swore at a telemarketer tonight

Tonight, I finally broke down and gave the lils a bath.  I was going to wait until Willy returned tomorrow and let him bathe them, as is my usual when he is away.  Of course, this after leading him to believe that I had washed them at least once in the time that he was gone (swimming counts, right?).  Sadly, I was foiled by bath-preventing plans for the next three nights and I had to do it.

They were mid-splashfest when the phone rang.  Willy is travelling tonight, and the weather has been sketchy for his route home, so I answered it, expecting him to be calling with a delay.  It was a telemarketer calling about lawn care.  I had a vague recollection of last year telling this company that they could check back with me again this year, so I let him give his pitch, despite the fact that he could not get my name right.*

After his intro I let him know that I weed my grass by hand, and don’t plan on changing this. I don’t want to use chemicals, as I have lil people who roll around on the grass, and I actually enjoy weeding, it’s kinda therapeutic.  He kept insisting that this was bad, and trying to sell me on chemical and organic programs.  He was getting pushy so I started to ask to be put on their do not call list.  Then he told me that he needed to speak to my husband to do that.

At this point I clarified what I had heard, then I lost it a little, letting him know that it was bullsh*t, and exactly why it was.  He tried to give me an excuse as to why it was OK, but I shot that down too.  I am still kinda flabbergasted and saddened by his attitude, and incredulous reaction to my upset.  I did take his name, and will let the company know this new reason why they will not be getting my business.  But mostly I am sad that it got me so upset within earshot of the lils.  They were pretty oblivious in the tub, but I wish I had been more controlled.

*this is my test for determining whether I will give a company my money. Generally, if they cannot figure out that I am Mrs. Lilbunnyrabbitz, not Mrs. Little, Bunnyrabbitz, Rabbitz-Bunny-Lil, I am unlikely to trust the ability to deliver a good or service.

Category: Uncategorized | 9 comments

  • Somekindofmom says:

    I would have asked to speak to his manager! How rude and condescending! We get so many calls from telemarketers that now I just hang up when I hear the dead silence. But I do use your technique too. If someone has the nerve to call me Mrs. Wild-Buffalo, there is no way they are getting an iota of my time!

  • Lara says:

    I have had huge issues with this (I believe) company. HUGE! There is an angry rant on my blog (naming names) but they have finally stopped calling. When they ring at the door the poor teenagers get my “I do not deal with this company!” statements that seem to just shock them and make them look sad 😉
    BAD! That is all.

  • Chantal says:

    that is terrible. Have you called the comany? How did they react?

  • Finola says:

    I actually think it’s OK for the lils to see us upset sometimes. It helps them understand that we are human too. In this case you had every right to be upset too, but I wouldn’t expect this company to react – they have a very bad reputation.

    I have never had anyone ask to speak to my husband, but sometimes they do ask to speak to my Mom. Gotta learn to get a more grown up sounding voice one of these days….

  • yuck! I cannot believe that happened! Ya, way to get some business… NOT. Glad you gave him a piece of your mind. 🙂

  • Brie says:

    Sometimes I just don’t answer the phone. 🙂

  • […] wasn’t interested in their services, until one local business told me that they would need to hear it from my husband before they would stop calling me. I’d had enough repeat callers at this point that I knew I […]


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