Real Consumer Reviews and Ratings
Telezapper Reviews and Ratings
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Overall Rating 
Manufacturer
Royal Appliance Mfg. Co.
Product Description
When a telemarketer calls, have you ever wished you could press a button on your phone that would instantly suck all the oxygen out of the room they were calling from? Of course not because you're twice as civilized as they are. Now there’s an equally effective alternative. It’s something telemarketers hope you’ll never hear about called the TeleZapper and it works like this. Roughly 90% of those annoying calls are dialed by a computer that connects you to the pitch person as soon as you answer. The Telezapper replies to all incoming calls with a signal that indicates your number has been disconnected. The auto-dialers used by telemarketers will record your number as disconnected and remove it from the programmed calling list. Pretty sneaky, huh? It works from all extensions on a single number, and it won’t interfere with your computer or fax line. It will even work through your answering machine while you’re away. Problem solved. When we figure out what to do about death and taxes, we'll give you a call.
Average Retail Value
$39.99 (prices may vary)
Comparisons
N/A
Consumer Ratings
Gradually becoming less effective
1/11/2008 - Christopher of Iowa, USA writes:
I will say right off, I personally have not used the TeleZapper or any similar products. However, I still wanted to post this as an FYI for anyone looking into possibly purchasing one. First off, a brief explanation on how TeleZapper works is required. When you dial an invalid phone number, the phone company plays back three ascending error tones, followed by a pre-recorded error messages ("The number you have dialed is no longer in service" or something similar). When a telemarketer's automatic dialing computer dials an invalid phone number, it'll hear those tones, and automatically erase the phone number from its database. TeleZapper functions by simulating these error tones. When a telemarketer calls a phone number to which the TeleZapper is connected, it'll hear the simulated error tones, and automatically erase the phone number from its database. Now, here is where the problem arises. This is how automatic telemarketing dialers USED to function, they'd hear the error tones and drop the number from their list. HOWEVER, an increasing number of automatic dialers are now being programmed to IGNORE all error tones or messages, real or simulated. This means they no longer erase apparently invalid phone numbers from their list, and they continue calling them. Because of this, TeleZapper is becoming less and less effective with each passing day. There used to be a time when TeleZapper worked quite well. But, with telemarketing firms reprogramming their dialers to ignore error tones, this is no longer the case. It has passed its prime.
Well, it works
8/13/2006 - Erica of Ohio, USA writes:
We used this back before caller ID was a common feature. It did what it was supposed to, and slowly the automated calls stopped coming in, but it does nothing to stop human telemonkeys, and it isn't nearly as much fun as singing loudly to annoy telemarketers. Plus, your friends and family will have to deal with a beep in their ear every time they call, which is why we eventually delegated the Telezapper to a box in the basement.
Works Great
5/16/2006 - Roger of California, USA writes:
Gets rid of almost all unwanted calls except the annoying phone company pitchman and my mother-in-law. If the next model zaps them too, I'll buy it...Its worked great for three years, its a no brainer to connect. No monthly charge like caller ID.... At 4 bucks its a steal...
Best invention of all time
5/8/2006 - Katherine of Minnesota, USA writes:
I have had my telezapper for two years, and I am extremely happy with it. I never got another telemarketer call after the first month of using it. As a person who works nights, that is a real blessing to me, especially if you don't want the monthy expense of caller id, and blocking and whatnot.
Not worth the money and not needed
1/7/2006 - Carol of Arizona, USA writes:
Tired of telemarketers, I purchased this at a store in the mall (known name to all). You hook this into your phone and it gives a signal through the phone lines to those numbers that you want not to call again. I don't remember exactly how it works, but with Caller ID and anonymous call blocking, I didn't need this product. When I tried to take this back to get my $40 back, I had been advised they had clearanced them out for $3.95 and that's all they could give me. I thought I could find a use for it somehow and decided to keep it. Mistake. It's sitting in my closet. I actually did try to use it when I got it and it didn't work well.
