I once answered the phone to someone asking for my wife.
I told the operator she had just been eaten by a tiger - that seemed to throw him.
When we left college a friend of mine got a job as a cold caller to pay off his debts. His brief - to try and sell sets of massive professional fireworks to old peoples homes. In June.
Being technically Dr Zokes, as opposed to plain old Mr Zokes, I quite like responding to "could I speak to Mr Zokes, please" with a cheery: "I'm sorry, it's Dr Zokes here". For some reason they usually just apologise and hang up!
I usually get the calls for my better half:
Them: "Is Mr AdamW's partner there please?"
Me: "No, he's out."
Them: "Can I speak to Mrs AdamW's partner please?"
Me (in deep voice): "You're speaking to him."
They put the phone down usually after that.
This is the [url= http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=16733006 ]best response to cold calling[/url] I've heard
That's excellent verbal.
