Telephone Etiquette

[ksacres]

Quote:
We get something similar. Montan-Dakota Utility Company is listed right by our number, but I can assure you that we are *not* MDU, and no, I won't turn your power back on, regardless of whether or not you paid your bill!

Sometimes I have to spend several minutes explaining that to customers. They just can't seem to grasp the concept!

 

[DuckLady]

I hate it when people assume you have caller ID.

Person: "Didn't you get my call"?
Me: "Did you leave a messsage on the machine?"
Person" Well, no, but I figured you would check your caller ID and see I called"

I don't need caller ID anymore. I live almost 500 miles from my MIL now!

 

[English Chick]

oh boy how I do relate to most of these... as a Front of House Receptionist and Probate Administrator for a large Auction House... we aways answer............

given the time of day i.e "Good morning Blah blah Auctioneers........."

(we never give our names out a the point of call)... "Hello is that blah blah Auctioneers......"

"Yes Sir/Madam, it is how may I help you...."

"I have had a letter from you........."

"Can you inform me who signed the letter and I can put you through to that Specialist..........."

"Well you wrote to me don't you know..................."

as one bites one's tongue for the millioneth time............

"My apologies Sir/Madam there are a number of Specialists within the building and unless you know who signed the letter I cannot put you through to the correct dept.............."

"Are you stupid" ........................

How I would desire to reply.. "nope quite educated, but then again it seems you are not, nor do you have the manners to use a phone correctly..."

although to be quite honest I have been known to put the phone down on anyone who is rude..... whilst telling them as I do... good manners cost nothing, would you speak to your wife/husband/mother etc in the same manner you have just spoken to me............. shuts them up everytime..... no answer to that one then.....

It takes not but a moment to be polite............. and at the end of the day you get a far better response from whomever answers your call...........

 

[DuckLady]

Quote:
Someone asked me once if I thought they looked stupid and I replied that "My opinion doesn't matter, but if the possibility concerns you perhaps you should talk to a trusted friend about it".

I got in trouble for that one.

 

[English Chick]

Quote:
Someone asked me once if I thought they looked stupid and I replied that "My opinion doesn't matter, but if the possibility concerns you perhaps you should talk to a trusted friend about it".

I got in trouble for that one.

 

[miss_jayne]

it comes down to one basic fact....SELFISHNESS. they don't care to listen and pay attention. their full attention is not on YOU. they want what THEY WANT. their time is all about them.

we answer our phone, "Dollhouse."

when we call someone we say, "Hello, this is _____. May I speak with________ please." It doesn't matter WHO answered the phone.

if we call someone familiar (ie, if i call catray44, she knows it's me i may say, 'Hey!') but that is unique.

Americans are lazy and all about 'RESPECT' that they DESERVE, but they don't feel they need to pass it out, they feel everyone needs to EARN it but not them, OHHHH no, they should just get it.

so dumb. next time, just repeat yourself, say exactly the same thing you said when you answered the phone. they don't need more info until they tell you who THEY are.

 

[lorrir]

I hear you sister.

 

[ksacres]

Quote:
So true, I have people that will charge in with whatever they have to say when I'm in the middle of saying what I'm required to say.

Because I'm completely passive-aggressive, I let them finish, and then start from the very beginning as though I didn't hear a thing they said.

They usually learn pretty quickly to let me finish without interrupting...

 

[Katy]

Quote:
My mother in law used to always ask "Who's this?" when she'd make a phone call. Many of the elderly in our small community also do the same thing. When someone calls us and asks me that I always just say...."who are you?" They never know what to say and stammer around for a bit.

 

[Julie08]

Quote:
See now I'm horrible I would actually take the reservation!!!