In an attempt to calm things down last week, H. Robert Wientzen, president of the Direct Marketing Association, said his group “will honor the list the best we can.” The DMA represents about 80 percent of telemarketers, so it would eliminate millions of unwanted calls if DMA members honor the list.
Still, that’s a pretty weak statement. Honor it the best they can? If they want to, they can honor it. And they should, for sound business reasons if nothing else. After all, it doesn’t take an M.B.A. to realize that there’s no reason for a company to bother people who’ve stated publicly that they don’t want to be customers of that company.
Telemarketing companies aren’t stupid. They must be making money, or they wouldn’t still be in business. But wouldn’t it make sense for them to specifically avoid any numbers on the no-call list (customers who’ve made it clear they don’t want to hear from telemarketers) and focus their efforts on the other two thirds of the numbers? That’s where the potential customers are, anyway.
So please, telemarketers, whether the do-not-call list is legally binding or not, don’t call me. How about this: when I want siding, a new credit card, better phone service or landscaping, I’ll call you. Say, around seven tonight?