Easy Ways to Exit Awkward Situations

A Telemarketer

A polite "Thanks, I'm not interested" is your best response to unwanted calls. "The caller will probably come back with a benefit statement or a probing question"―e.g., "Are you aware this will cut your insurance bill in half?"―says Kimberly King, president of InterWeave Corporation, a customer-service consulting firm in Tampa. Again, thank the person and hang up. Don't let her rattle on, which is a waste of your time and hers. And never explain anything or volunteer information. Telemarketers work from a script with responses to common customer objections (called "soft no's" in the industry). Saying another family member needs to make the decision will only lead to more questions: What time will he be in? Can I call back then? Finally, ask to be taken off the calling list, and wait for the telemarketer to do it before you hang up. That extra minute is worth it.