Make an unsolicited call on (someone), by phone or in person, in an attempt to sell goods or services.
as noun cold-calling‘severe new regulations against cold-calling’
‘The elderly, their families and neighbours have been warned to close the door or hang up the phone on a firm cold-calling customers in South Lakeland and trying to sell fire alarms.’
‘Staff from the Stockholm Environment Centre cold-called families picked from the electoral register, then visited those who said they might be interested.’
‘Police believe the company is targeting the elderly and vulnerable by offering to do a safety check after cold-calling customers.’
‘They are given a script which they learn, then cold-call prospective clients whom they invite to a 45 minute presentation at the office.’
‘Since Canterbury doesn't have the equipment for cutting-edge research, Glass cold-calls prestigious scientists to hook students up with labs at the likes of Harvard, MIT, and NASA.’
‘Out of nowhere they basically cold-called us, and said they're interested in putting out our next record.’
‘Also, whenever you're cold-called by law enforcement, you should request their contact information and ring them back to verify that they're legitimate.’
‘When Stewart was trying to make a name for himself on minor racing circuits, he often cold-called team owners and sought rides.’
‘The salespeople cold-call potential customers from massive calling lists, often taken from public records, including shareholders' registers.’
‘This ‘no lose’ opportunity was sold to small businesses by telesales teams and salesmen cold-calling businesses and delivering what trading standards officers described as a very high-pressure sales pitch.’
‘Council trading standards manager Elizabeth Levett said the fraudsters cold-call businesses and claim an attempt has been made to register their business name.’
‘In May, we reported how telesales scammers from the Amerisuites Vacation Club were cold-calling UK homeowners.’
‘There she was given a lengthy test, shown to a desk with a phone, and told to start cold-calling companies in search of a job.’
‘What proportion of your advertising budget does your current agency think you should be spending on cold-calling each year?’
‘Now small business operators and the self-employed are being cold-called by internet fraudsters, claiming to be domain operators, who say that they have been contacted by a third party who wants to register your, or your company's, name.’
‘Having been cold-called by a salesman he raised various points during three or four telephone calls before completing the booking form, with a slight amendment, he told the court.’
‘I cold-called my way through the phone book searching for people naive enough to allow the company's salesmen into their homes.’
‘Legitimate marketing companies do exist, but to reduce the risks of falling for cold-call scams we offer businesses the following advice.’
‘I would cold-call small businesses and ask them if they would like to advertise in the magazine.’
‘Sophisticated computers at MKD's cold-call centres can dial hundreds of numbers at the same time.’
noun
An unsolicited visit or phone call made by someone trying to sell goods or services.
‘the salesmen spend most of their time making cold calls on perfect strangers’
‘In addition, I've had five new comment spams since yesterday evening, countless email spams, a bunch of junk mail and a couple of telephone cold calls.’
‘I was in no mood for cold calls to unfriendly strangers who would resent my intrusion into their lives.’
‘At other times, making cold calls is certainly not beneath me.’
‘After 2 years of effort, including research, cold calls, door to door sales, and a prototype, she got her first distribution contract with Neiman Marcus and a spotlight on the Oprah Winfrey Show.’
‘Supt Dave Coutts, who as head of public access is responsible for the call centres, said today that, while some complained, the cold calls received a ‘generally positive response’ from people.’
‘And when I say ‘helping’ I mean instigating a gruelling schedule of CV rewrites, cold calls to recruitment agencies and hours spent in dank internet cafes.’
‘You know, years ago when I was an Episcopalian, another member of the church used the church directory as a marketing tool for his small business, and started making cold calls using it.’
‘It was so boring and lonely sitting making cold calls to potential clients all day.’
‘I can't believe so many charities blatantly ignore common courtesy when it comes to cold calls.’
‘The Liberal Democrat candidate for Tooting has raised the issue of unwanted phone calls from political canvassers, claiming hers was the only party that avoided intrusive cold calls.’
‘It may seem hard to believe people will fall for cold calls urging them to make split-second investment decisions involving thousands of dollars.’
‘Even though they know it makes me uncomfortable - even though it wasn't in my job description - I have just been given MORE cold calls to make.’
‘Staff leaving straight after a training programme, nonsense faxes and cold calls from energy companies are the top three annoyances for small business in Bolton.’
‘They had to depend on sheer initiative and elbow grease, working crazy hours and making cold calls to jumpstart the business.’
‘People receive the holiday offers via scratch cards, text messages, cold calls and direct mail.’
‘If you receive a cold call or know of someone who has been targeted, call the trading standards consumer advice line on 0845-600-1352 for advice.’
‘Mr Heath said: ‘It started off with a cold call from a lady from Telco.’’
‘We are trying to track down the people who sold Mrs Cooper the security system; we know that it was bought as a result of a cold call.’
‘‘I made cold calls,’ he says, ‘hundreds and hundreds of them a day.’’
‘The conventional wisdom is that a very small number of cold calls work out.’
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