Companies don't get it anymore. You respect me. I learn to trust you. When I trust you, I keep buying from you. If I really trust you, I go out of my way to buy from you. I recommend you to my friends. But if you don't respect me? I had a telemarketer persistently call me about fixing my unbroken auto glass. I finally told him, "I know your company's name very well now. I'll be sure that I go anywhere except to you when my auto glass needs fixing". I told a Qwest telemarketer I wasn't interested. She climbed down my throat, asking me angrily "Didn't I want to save money?". I told her that if it meant having to deal with her, that I'd rather pay more. These companies are doing themselves a world of hurt, and they don't even know it.

I agree with that - and it goes beyond companies. There are charities - ones that do honest to goodness good work - that have completely turned me off with their phone solicitations. When you are asking me to help out and do a good deed, here's a hint - don't hint that I'm stingy if I don't give. Drives me nuts. Here's another example - late last year, for the first time ever, I made a donation to a political party (never mind which one - in this regard, I doubt it matters). Ever since then, there's been a steady stream of junk mail asking me to give more. I suspect that the postage alone for the solicitations has gotten to be more than I donated! That's irritating, but about a month ago, I got a new one - a letter stating that I "must not care anymore" and was "letting the other side win" - because I hadn't given more! Yeesh, in what Universe will that make me feel like donating again? Hot tip - if you want my money, don't berate me for not giving more! Who does the market research for these people anyway? Whoever it is, they need to go, and they need to go now.