Is it rude, perhaps?

Part of my job is to answer phones. I don’t hate this part of my job…I’ve had funny conversations, such as this:

Me: Thank you for calling *company I work for*. This is Jennifer.

Subcontractor: This isn’t *the local hardware store*?

Me: Uh, no…

Subcontractor: Are you sure?

We have caller ID, so the next time this particular subcontractor called I answered:

“*The local hardware store*. This is Jennifer.”

He promptly ordered a box of nails…and then laughed at me.

But, I hate most of all when telemarketers call. I have to admit when I answer the phone and I realize it’s a telemarketer, I automatically coil up and all of my answers become short. Mostly, and I know this is their “ploy”, they act like they KNOW me and my company! Like when they call for my boss, who’s name is David, but they ask for Dave. No one calls him Dave. It drives me nuts.

Yesterday, this is the call I received:

Me: Thank you for calling *company I work for*. This is Jennifer.

TM: I need to speak with the person who handles maintenance at your facility.

It is important to note that our “facility” is two buildings and contains about 15 office personnel. We aren’t exactly working out of a warehouse.

Me: We don’t have any one in charge of maintenance.

TM: Well, who purchases light bulbs and materials?

Me: Whoever needs light bulbs and materials.

TM: Would that be you?

Me: If I need a light bulb.

This telemarketer went on to tell me about some 3-piece cooler they were sending some of the “guys” and if I would give her our street address, she would have UPS drop one off for me. Because UPS is in the business of running errands. I very politely told her we weren’t interested and hung up the phone. While she was still talking.

I know that all laws of etiquette would say that it’s rude…and I know that telemarketers are people too…but I really don’t know how else to handle this so that I’m not sucked into a 20 minute conversation on where we purchase light bulbs, paper towels, toilet paper and hand soap. Nor can I seem to make these people understand that, just because they are contacting a business, they are not always contacting a huge company with hundreds of employees working out of large warehouses or office buildings. Most likely, if they actually visited our facility they would laugh and realize why there isn’t anyone “in charge” of maintenance…it’s that small!

I guess from now on, I’ll just politely decline their offer…see if they have more to “tell” me and if so, just say “I hate to be rude, but I need to take another call”…or I guess I’ll most likely resort to my main method of getting rid of telemarketers!