A sales manager at the company comments, “The age of telemarketing is

QUESTION

A sales manager at the company comments, “The age of telemarketing is over.” Is the sales manager correct? Why or why not?

A) Yes, the National Do Not Call Registry marked the beginning of the end of this marketing approach.
B) Yes, customers do not like to be inundated with a company’s calls.
C) Yes, only outbound business-to-business telemarketing will survive and thrive.
D) No, telemarketing will thrive as long as it generates some sales, however irritated customers may be.
E) No, the focus of telemarketing has simply shifted.

ANSWER

Answer: E
Explanation: E) Though telemarketing has certainly changed due to legislation and shifts in consumer attitudes, it is by no means a dying form of direct marketing. As indicated by Choice E, telemarketing is still successfully used, as business-to-business outbound telemarketing and inbound consumer telemarketing are thriving. Choice A does not apply to all forms of telemarketing, as the National Do Not Call Registry affects unsolicited outbound telemarketing but not inbound consumer telemarketing or business-to-business outbound telemarketing. Choice B applies to outbound telemarketing, but not inbound telemarketing. Choice C does not take inbound consumer telemarketing into account. Choice D suggests that telemarketing will thrive despite irritating customers, a position that seems unlikely. Customers who are unhappy don’t continue to be customers for long.