I have a set of 4 phones that have screens on them. Only one has to be attached to the phone jack. When any of the phones ring, it shows the number calling and the name of the caller IF I've entered it in my directory. If not, it shows "Unknown Caller". In that case, I can hit the "answer" and "off" buttons in a microsecond. If I'm not home when it rings it offers to take a message. That never happens if someone wants to sell me something.
Just once, I was about to hit the answer/off trick when a friend of mine said "Don't hang up, it's _____. I got a new number".
There are probably others, but mine are made by VTech. I don't remember what they cost, but it was worth every penny.
