Phone manners

[damarisgw]

Quote:
I do that. But not to be rude. I have extreme anxieties, and the phone is a big one. I hate talking on the phone, I don't answer it, I let the machine pick up. Depending on my mood, and how much the telemarketers are calling and annoying me depends on what I do. They were so bad at the apt. my BF and lived at a few years ago that I would answer and try to sell them something. Or ask for their info or what ever it was they wanted to know. Sometimes I would keep them on the phone for 20 minutes or more, then tell them wrong number.

I used to do the same with my bf's mom or sister way back when I was still scared of her lol I thought his mom didnt like me

 

[zippitydooda]

I only WISH I was kidding. It took me forever to figure out what their number actually was because folks calling just said Remax, look up Remax and there's boodles of numbers but not one that's even close to mine... guess it's an internal line or something not the main switchboard? Anywho, when I did finally reach them the just blew me off, I don't think they even believed me, and since I've never seen a sign myself I can't prove it with a picture, etc. I even tried calling the Arlington Realtors Association... said they'd take care of it... nothing. They can't force those people to throw out cards and signs any more than I can. So, I just tell people "Sorry, for years they've been aware that they're misprinting their signs and cards and they've done nothing about it. If you manage to get ahold of them would you please let them know which sign it is that's misprinted?" Usually folks are happy to oblige, but it's still not done doodly.

The worst one ... "Hello"
"Yes I'm calling about the house."
"You're trying to reach Remax, this is our home they misprinted the sign"
"NO, I'm right outside the house and looking at the sign"
"Yes I know, the sign is wrong. It has our number instead of Remax's number"
"Well I don't need the realtor you can show me the house"
"No you don't understand, I'm in my house. You're in front of THAT house. Two different houses"
"You just don't want to show me the house!"
"It's not my job to show houses, but even if it was you aren't parked outside MINE."
"Yes I am I'm looking right at the sign"

Finally get her off the phone and she calls right back... and we go through it again.
And again.
And again.
Tried throwing in "Look, my house is YELLOW, white trim, with a big blue truck and a maroon car in the drive. Is THAT what house you're looking at?!?!?" Even still, would NOT accept that I wasn't inside that house just being evil.
Tried telling her "My number is 123456789 the number you need is 123459789, see they just made the 9 into a 6 is all" nothing doing, I'm a liar, etc.

Called again and I didn't answer... four rings, answering machine on, hang up... over and over and over and over for over half an hour. Finally I managed to turn the phone on before the next call came in and dialed the real Remax and said "Look this lady won't stop calling me PLEASE call her *rattle off number from caller ID* and stop this" got a few more after that but then blessed silence.

It was freaking scary. I was actually getting worried about whoever DID live in that house (if any) because this person was a total loon.

So... yeah, NOT happy with Remax. Also get calls for Mountasia Minature Golf... this used to be their number about a decade ago BEFORE THEY SHUT DOWN... it's not longer in the regular phone book, but there are web sites that list it... I contacted all of them, most removed it, but there are a couple that aren't really functional anymore ... or at least their webmaster doesn't exist anymore so those are still there... people call about this business and I tell them that it shut down a decade ago and they're like what why is it still on this site.... but they aren't mad at me about it.

Every now and then also get calls for the BMW dealership... REALLY... I can't afford ONE of those, much less a whole lot of them. I just find those calls amusing.

And that's on top of your regular, just dialed wrong, wrong numbers. In the end our phone rings a LOT each day, but actual calls for us... maybe 1/wk for kids... a few for DH (buddy wants to hang out)... and maybe 3 from family checking in. ALL the rest are just bogus.

I think if REMAX had MY telephone number on their sign, I would make sure they lost every customer that called that number.

Example:

You: "Hello?"
Customer: "I want to look at the house on XXX Street"
You: "OK! I'd be glad to help you. I can be there in 10 minutes. Oh, and that house lists for only $35,000! We have had so many people look at it.... "

I'd use one of their agents names and lie my butt off about the house, making it look like an awesome deal. Then when they actually realize nobody is going to show up after waiting, and they march over to the realtor's office, they will be completely misinformed. AND ANGRY!!

The realtor will be glad to get your phone number off their signs & cards after they start losing MONEY. Hit 'em where it hurts!!!!

Go get 'em tiger!

 

[zippitydooda]

I am 51 years old. I was taught to answer the phone politely, offer to take a message & get a name as well as a phone number. Then came the age of the answering machine (I want to kiss the person who thought that one up). I screen EVERY phone call on the landline, and only answer my cell phone if I am not busy doing something else. It makes my mom & brother crazy when they call and have to leave a message. They have even complained "you never answer your phone"... to which I reply "Yes, it is MY phone that I pay for, and will answer or not answer it as I PLEASE. If it is an emergency, leave a message and I will deal with it immediately. If I am at work, or not home, I can NOT be there to get the call, can i?" They have to deal with it.

As far as people calling and being rude, I simply hang up. I usually don't have to deal with it because I just don't answer the call.

It is really liberating to NOT let some appliance that makes noise rule my behavior!!!!

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
This happens constantly to me. I have a deep voice and I am forever getting calls and the caller says "Good Afternoon Sir" or "Hello Mr. Smith". I had one solicitor call and address me as Mr. Smith, I said "No this is Mrs. Smith" and the caller went on "Mr. Smith, we are calling with a fanastic opportunity...I said "We, we who? " he went on "this opportunity is a once in a lifetime chance and if you get in early" and I cut him off "Do you want to speak to my husband?" caller said "No sir" and he giggled By this time I was so ticked off I said...Excuse me moron but if you will shut up, listen and focus you will hear the important fact that I am NOT Mr. Smith! So, hold on and I shall get him to the phone. He started to speak and I said "Shut it, I will get him... hold on".

I sat the phone down and yelled "Honey telephone" to a husband who was outside in the garage then I proceeded to cook dinner, 20 minutes later I walked by the phone picked it up and said "Who are you holdig for?" Mr. Smith "hold on please I shall get him" I sat the phone down, finished dinner, set the table and again went to the phone and said "Hello, who are you holding for?" MR. SMITH " he snarled I said "Oh he has not picked up yet then? I shall get him hold on please". I sat the phone down and we sat down to eat...sometime during the next 20 minutes the moron finally got a clue and hung up.

The last jerk water that insisted I was my husband, I hung up on, he called back and as soon as I heard the phone, I grabbed an air horn and I answered...when he began Mr. Smith and I said No this is Mrs. Smith and he continued I hit the air horn, he yelled I hit it again. He hung up.

I mean really...you call my home and I tell you that you are mistaken, I am not my husband and you are going to argue with me or ignore that fact? Nope

The other day we got a toll free call...I answered "Hello" waited a second "Hello" waited a second and said "Time's up" and I hung up.


I was taught proper phone etiquette and always try to adhere to it....but some days these callers make me nuts!

 

[lovesduckies]

we don't even answer our house phone anymore

 

[justbugged]

I have learned that it is way okay to let the phone ring. I will not answer unless I want to. And then there is that cell phone thing, I lived most of my life without. I just can't get the hang of having to carry it with me everywhere. I have so say that I keep that phone number limited to family. On the other hand DH sends all his time on the cell phone. I swear he is worse than a teenage girl. And now he gets his e-mail on the cell phone. I have to say that can be a bit of fun.

 

[justbugged]

I have also learned that it is okay to hang up the phone on telephone solicitors. If they don't understand no, then I think that they might understand the phone being hung up. It's my phone and I pay for it, I get to control it.

 

[dedicateddourly]

My husband has 6 sisters and they all sound very similar. And when they call, they all say, "Hi Ren," but NEVER identify themselves. It's always a guessing game.