Forming An Opportunity Belief

4A – Forming An Opportunity Belief

I believe there is an unmet need in how to avoid and/or block telemarketing type phone calls. We all get them and for the most part, we ignore them. Rarely is it a real person on the line and sometimes if you do answer, you say “hello” twice before the recording starts. Recently I have noticed that more and more telemarketing phone calls are coming from local numbers. Most people don’t want to answer a call from a 1800 number because that just screams telemarketer. A call from a local number could be one of the school numbers or a family friend. This is not a new need by any means, but even after adding your number to the Do Not Call List, some will continue to receive calls. I feel that anyone in America with either a home phone or cell phone has this need or will have this need in avoiding telemarketing calls.

Interview #1, Female late 20s, married with kids:
Q: Have you ever received a call from a telemarketer?
A: Yes
Q: Do you remember an event that occurred that caused the phone calls to start?
A: Not really
Q: How often do you receive them?
A: At least once a day sometimes more.
Q: Have you ever done anything to try to stop it?
A: I added my number to the Do Not Call List.
Q: Did that seem to help?
A: Only for a few months and then the calls started back again.

Reflection:
This person seems to be the average person who has only knows that you can add you number to a list to stop telemarketing phone calls. She has also said that this only stopped the calls for a short time.

Interview #2, Female late 50s, single with adult children:
Q: Have you ever received a call from a telemarketer?
A: Yes
Q: Do you remember an event that occurred that caused the phone calls to start?
A: It just seems like I have always received them
Q: How often do you receive them?
A: Multiple times throughout the day, maybe 2-3 a day
Q: Have you ever done anything to try to stop it?
A: I added my number to the Do Not Call List. I also got a number from my town clerk to call and report each call. I am receiving call from local numbers that are people I know. Since I know the number I answer the phone, but on the other line is a telemarketer instead of my friend.
Q: Did that seem to help?
A: Nothing has seemed to really. No matter what I do I continue to receive calls.

Reflection:
This persons has went a step further to stop her telemarketing phone calls by reporting each call. She is also receiving calls from local numbers she recognizes which makes her think it’s ‘ok’ to answer. Even though she is going to two different places to add her number and report the calls, it still doesn't completely stop them.

Interview #3, Male mid 30s, married no kids
Q: Have you ever received a call from a telemarketer?
A: Yes
Q: Do you remember an event that occurred that caused the phone calls to start?
A: No. When the calls first started they would ask from a different person. I guess who ever had my phone number before me.
Q: How often do you receive them?
A: Multiple calls a week
Q: Have you ever done anything to try to stop it?
A: I block the numbers if I keep receiving the calls from the same number.
Q: Did that seem to help?
A: Blocking numbers will stop them until they change the phone number they are calling from. Then I have to start over my blocking a new number.

Reflection:
This person only knows that blocking a number will stop the call for a short period of time. He still receives call once the telemarketer starts using a different number to call with.

Summary: There is a problem with the amount of telemarketing calls people receive. Seemingly not everyone receives the same volume. This might cause two different people to be more or less concerned with the amount of phone calls they are receiving depending which side of the spectrum they are on. I think the unmet need still exists. I think it might be a little more difficult in stopping the calls since one person mentioned she is receiving calls from local numbers. 

I think adapting to customer feedback is vital for a business to stay successful and to stay opened. If your customers aren't happy they won't do business with you and they will probably talk it out how unhappy they are with your service.