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An overseas call center can present both advantages and drawbacks when compared to a similar US situated call center. Without doubt, the cost of operating a domestic call center has escalated greatly in the past decade�and especially in the last few years. In today`s uncertain economy, the profits from call center performance typically cannot keep up with the expenses of call center operations. In general, a telemarketing call center can be built and run at modest maintenance and equipment costs since such call center are usually furnished with basic office gear and equipment. However, in our current global economic state, all commerce costs are on the rise, and some are increasing quite rapidly. Although mechanical telephone and data base processing hardware can be purchased in bulk, at a discount by businesses, data telemarketing call center equipment is becoming more sophisticated every day, and may need replacing fairly often.

Because of escalating costs and more slowly rising profits, many businesses which depend on the services of a telemarketing call center have forsaken the US domestic call center for overseas call center operations. Whether in India, Malaysia or China, outsourcing call center operations has become a accepted option for many US businesses, both large and modest in size. For, workers in many such countries are accustomed to receiving wages or hourly wages far below the minimum wage requirements in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Europe, Japan, parts of South America, and other business minded countries and regions all over the world. Often, workers who are in general paid lower salaries will gladly work longer hours in order to increase the amount of their paychecks. Many of these less paid workers may be quite young and inexperienced, and not expected to question the rate of their wages or to demand more money. And, in many low income regions, there are plenty of unemployed people excited to find ongoing work or steady employment, whatever the payment, hours or working circumstances in a telemarketing call center may be.

Yet, many people in the US labor force are very concerned and upset by the brisk rate at which US business owners will end a cost effective and well operated domestic call center in favor of opening one abroad. Although initial costs may be appreciably less overseas, often the cost of ongoing teaching in another country as well as more equipment and work hours necessary to manage call center operations abroad with American offices can lessen any financial and production savings of relocating business to the new location considerably. Frequently, too, extra technical staff members are needed round the clock to assure smooth, unremitting workflow communications, as well as computerized and telephone exchanges between the distant offices. Although some US businesses maintain two call centers�having both a domestic call center and an outsourcing call center�in nearly every such case, many US workers pay the heavy cost of layoffs and even long term job loss.

Many Americans feel that the current popularity and high incidence of outsourcing call center operations is very inequitable to US workers and even detrimental to the survival of the family structure as we know it. For, there are a rising number of unemployed US workers who must leave their spouses and offspring to find work in other cities or towns, commuting when they can to spend what free time they can spare with their families. In these cases, the cost of moving the entire family is too great, especially when one parent is not working. Often, a telemarketing call center is one haven for the unemployed; since training time is short and varied work schedules are usually available to enhance general call center performance and effectiveness. Although those with sales, marketing or telephone understanding may have an advantage, most call center operations are open to all workers who apply and can sell a product, promote a service, or collect debts or payments by phone successfully. Such domestic call centers can be a lifesaver for students, the elderly, or for young parents with small children, due to the diverse work hours available.

Most of all, many US citizens and residents feel strongly that, although offering jobs in other countries where needed is important, US businesses owe first employment opportunities to US workers. It is also essential that salaries in the United States not be lowered to compete with lower wages now acceptable in less successful countries around the world. While use of an outsourcing call center may help create increased productivity and profits for US businesses, most United States citizens or residents feel that call centers overseas must be a source of aid for the US domestic call center and workforce, rather than a replacement.

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