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dear sir
only 4% of Canadians donate blood.  Your wife has a blood type that they need really much.  Although it is slightly uncomfortable, donating blood can save three lives.  One day you or your wife may be in need of blood, and if everyone thought like you, there wouldn't be enough to go around.  Please donate for all the people that are in need of blood.
 Thanks
Terry

I've given blood about 6 times, but then I've had a lingering cough/cold for a few weeks, so I didn't hop back in the chair exactly 56 days later. They called me when I was a few days away from being able to give, I explained my symptoms and that I would go in when I had recovered.

They called again two weeks later, I was still sick with an upper respiratory infection and minor case of bronchitis. I explained this to them.

Then I got the demand again stating "we need your blood, a clinic is available this Wednesday at xyz, what time works best for you?"  I was heading out of the country that day so I said it wouldn't work for me, so she directed me to another clinic the day after. This process goes on until I say "You still have the permanent clinic at Bridgeport street, right? ok, I'll go there when my health and schedule say I can".

Then they called a week later. I figure I've given 6 times, so I've proven I'm a recurring donor, they don't need to push me, I'll give when I can.

My other beef with them is their calling protocol. I usually get called at 8:30 on a sunday night, and generally, I don't get called on my cell unless there's an emergency. Why don't they call through out the week, when most "business" calls are made?

Lastly, they're pre-amble at the start of each call where they introduce themselves, give the declaration about possibly recording the call for QA reasons, give their sales pitch, and then give me my marching orders. In some cases, they call and I'm trying to get off the phone but can't get a word in edgewise.

Their cause is noble, but they could improve their "customer service" and tone down the edginess a bit. Not to mention their inability to take no as an answer. A phone call requestin donations should not be a battle

If you have had a tattoo or piercing (even in your ears) done within the past 6 month you cannot donate blood because of the potential heath risks associated with these tips of things that can take up to 6 month to show up in blood tests...... So if you really don't want these people to call you thats the best excuse.

I donated blood for the first time a few months ago just because I know I was getting another tattoo very soon... They call around 2 months after I donated blood asking if I was interested in donating again... I told them that I could not because I have had a tattoo done. They said no problem and hopefully in 6 month I would consider donating again.

Can't really get mad at me or be rude when I would if I could be according to their regulations I can't....

Amazing... the gentleman expressed his opinion on how he did not feel he was treated well by Canadian Blood Services, and more than two people jump on his guilt trip.  If only  4% of Canadians donate blood, what a horrible job Canadian Blood Services does.  Aren't you supporting his reasons for not donating with that ridiculous statistic?  I wouldn't complain unless I really thought that I could do a far better job for far less money than CBS CEO Graham Sher.

You know the problem for anyone asking for donation : they think just because they can volunteer to ask for things-it gives me moral right to become bit pushy !!! And same goes for Canadian blood services.I donated twice a long time back ,maybe 3 years back.First time was nice experience but 2nd time,it didnt feel comfortable : the donation centre was small and the nurse's looked too tired to carry out the "injection part" safely!!! 2nd time,I got pinched bit hard!! and when I looked up,I see this female nurse who looked as if she was on some type of drugs,trying to be there,doing her extra volunteer job.
To make matters worse,after the blood donation,I rested and then I saw this "blood donation campaign" that was supposedly all in good fun : "race based donation as to see which race donated the most blood",-I was shocked and let this attendant know that such times of racial based competiton should not be allowed in any voluteer or paid paid community charitable work!!! Needless to say,I didnt go back next time around,and ever since  then they have been harassing me my blood-then one day this lady calls literally asking me "why you not donating blood-in a rough voice' ,I replied I didnt feel that your centres were adequate enough,safe enough with "safe staffs" to carry out blood drive donation.
Besides,I am type two diabetic and felt quite tired after the experience.
The problem with blood donation is that "it should be frankly incentived,like some short of prize draws-yes even if its for fun, or perhaps a government tax incentives for individuals and family members who donate blood- like you can claim 5 percent as tax deductible or something like that.but governments dont want to think like that and "want to have it both ways".Society should start rewarding people who are registered organ donors or involved in blood donation and even volunteer services.Thats the only way ,more people will begin to participate.Otherwse,we are just too "lazy".Human nature.
Anyways,for those who are donating blood,godbless !

Had you read my post, Terry, you would know that I do not object to blood donation. I object to telemarketing. My wife will donate blood if and when she so chooses. Her experience was unacceptable, not "slightly uncomfortable."

They've repeatedly called me, using very aggressive language, trying to persuade me to donate, when for personal reasons, I cannot and am not sure when I will be able to again. I have actually disclosed these reasons to Canadian Blood Services in an effort to get them to stop calling, but they will not. I'm not sure what to do but I can certainly vouch for the negative experiences of those posting here. The volunteers at the clinics I've been to have generally been nice, but the phone people are very pushy and rude. They almost make me want to refuse to donate in the future based solely on how badly they treat their donors. I realize this is rash, and likely will not take this course, but I certainly feel as bullied as those posting here. I've begun to get the harassing calls again, and I believe it may come to the point where I need to report them for their business practices.

Its very unfortunate that so many people on here feel bothered that someone is calling them to donate. Yes, it is a pain to get repetitive phone calls especially when experiences have not been all that great. However, as a person not even 21 and donated 10 times its not that big of a deal. Even if there it is somewhat uncomfortable to donate the odd time, think of the cause. Although, they rarely find my veins first try and their is some pain occasionally. Everyone has said that donating blood is good, but we need incentives to do so? Isn't it enough incentive that you could give "another life" to a child, friend, family member with Leukemia, Lymphoma, or that has been in an accident? The sad part is that our mild discomfort donating and bruised arm is nothing compared to what the people go through that need the blood. I say, call me all you want, and I will donate as soon as I can because I know that someday when someone close to me needs it, I did the best I could.

FORCING public to DONATE something like BLOOD GEEEEEEEEEEEEE. LET us put a STOP to this

These lazy jackwads should work on getting the other 90 plus percent of the population to donate instead of bothering people who do and pissing them off till they stop. It's also very sad that they try to harass people here with their posts in the same way. It has the opppsite effect and soon they will get no blood at all and it will be their own fault that people die.

After putting off several piercings I wanted for quite some time to donate as often as possible, I finally got them done. Then the aggressive phone calls from CBS started. Unlike some other people have said, I didn't have an appointment to be reminded of - they were calling to tell me they would make one for me, basically. I told them I'd gotten new piercings and would contact them when it had been at least 6 months. They asked when it would be EXACTLY 6 months so they could start calling again! I was at work at the time and didn't have my calendar with me, and they said they'd call again the next day, after I'd checked my calendar. They absolutely called again the next day and asked. I gave them the date I'd gotten my piercings, and they sure as hell called again 6 months to the day. In the meantime, I'd gotten more work done, and told them so. The caller accused me of lying to get out of appointments. After having to deal with several different people calling me every day for almost a week, I finally got them to stop calling me. It's been a couple months and nothing yet. I'm hopeful, but I've had really bad experiences with CBS callers.

Please move my phone # from your list and don't call anymore.

I understand you had a bad experience... tons of people have veins that are hard to find. But I think complaining about the services is completely besides the point. The point of the matter is Canada is in NEED of blood. And being pushy is the only way we can constantly be reminded of this. If when they call you are reminded of your horrible experience, remember that it's not all about you or your wife. It is about the people out there (and there are A LOT) that NEED that blood. And giving blood is not supposed to be a selfish act. (Like just being curious about your blood type.)
I'm so sorry about your negative experience.. but put the past behind you and remember what it's all about.

Unacceptable? Unacceptable that the highly trained people were unable to find small veins in an arm? I suggest next time you make sure your wife drinks plenty of water before coming in... if the unacceptable part of the experience was that they couldn't find a vein, well that's just too bad. You know what I would call unacceptable? It's unacceptable that only 4% of canadians donate. I find it unacceptable that people can't put their fear of being poked behind them because I'm sure there are thousands of sick people out there that aren't too fond of being poked - yet they need the blood. But Guess what! Many can't get the blood.. because of people who are too afraid to be poked.
I'm so sorry about being so negative but it's time to look at someone other than you and your wife, and the telemarketers. Think of the people you can help instead.

These people aren't like other charities where half your donation goes into administration fees and salaries. This goes straight into the veins of people in need.

I am type O-, so I will be donating as much as possible, knowing my blood go straight into accident victims and premature babies... I just wish some people would get off their high horse and do the same. Asking for incentives? You've got to be kidding me.
Robbing a cancer patient of blood that will save their life, because you had an experience where your arm was tender for 6 or 8 hours afterwards? I guess if you're that selfish.

Hopefully one day they implement a system where, in case of a blood shortage, blood donors get bumped to the front of the line.

Am I speaking a foreign language here? My wife drinks plenty of water. The issue is not my wife. She is currently pregnant, and when she went for her most recent blood work, the tech once again had difficulty, was too rough with the blood draw, and caused an injury that required medical attention. The doctor told her she has very small veins and gave her a note to carry indicating which size of needle needs to be used for a successful blood draw. The other thing the doctor told her was that it was "inadvisable" to donate blood. My father-in-law has the same problem whenever he needs to have blood drawn. It's one of those things.

I'll repeat my point yet again, since you apparently missed it the first few times. I AM NOT DISPUTING THE FACT THAT DONATING BLOOD IS A GOOD THING! I have donated myself several times.

The fact that donating blood is essentially good does not mean they need to employ the services of telemarketers. Existing donors know how to book appointments if they wish. It's extremely annoying to receive repeated calls directing you to a donation centre when you (in this case, my wife) have decided after due care and consideration not to donate again.

Combat the lack of donors with an information campaign. It is not necessary to call the same people again and again, particularly those who have asked not to be called. I don't see why this is such an objectionable proposition.

Why do you people insist on bringing up the scarcity of donors? It's a problem. Telemarketers are NOT the solution. In fact, telemarketing is NEVER the solution to ANY problem.

When I went to a donation clinic offered at work, I filled out the form and left the phone number blank. The intake person called me back and demanded that I provide my number. I explained politely that I've had problems with telemarketers from CBS in the past, and don't want my number on file. She initially claimed they couldn't accept my application to donate blood without a phone number for their file. She claimed it had nothing to do with telemarketing (yeah, right). I ended up having to speak to a supervisor before they would agree to process my form without a phone number. I said they were free to contact me my mail, but not by phone. The supervisor agreed and gave the intake person a funny look.

I got my donor card in the mail and went back to donate again, and AGAIN, they took my card and said, "Oh... there's a phone number missing in your file. Could we have your phone number please?" And I had to go through the same process again.

This isn't about donating blood. I think it's great to donate blood. Everyone (who can do so safely) should try it. But I don't hold with telemarketing. Telemarketers are doing a disservice to blood collection by annoying existing donors unnecessarily.

I am glad they call to ask me to donate blood. It reminds I can do it otherwise I tend to be lazy and not bother. It is a friendly call so keep calling.

This is the same with me.  Every time they call me, it makes me not want to donate, just because the calls are annoying.  They also call my home and cell, and they will call me at work.

I just got a call from them this evening for the 3rd time.
I told them that i was donating blood for a friend, they told me I was needed besides her.
I hung up on them.

after i donated for the first time about a month later they called to let me know my blood type (O+) and let asked me if i wanted to book an appointment i told them that i did not know my work schedule and that my first time was not the best experience (i don't think i ate enough before) and that i would make an appointment when i knew my schedule and that was that.