Does no one answer the phone or return messages anymore??

[Jennasis]

I have been on the phone all afternoon desperately trying to get answers from people. Nobody answers their phone at the office, and the many messages I've left since last week have gone unreturned. I'm a small business owner and if someone calls me, I return the call the second I get the message or at least within 24 hours.

I'm so frustrated! Some of the calls pertain to dealing with not-for-profit groups, and some have dealt with corporate offices. All of the things I'm calling about are time-sensitive things (not complaints or customer service type stuff) which I've explained in the messages. UGH!

Grumble.

 

[pryncess527]

lol, my voicemail message at work practically begs you to email me instead. I hate the phone. And I hate that there is no record of a phone conversation, I really value my email trails.

But as much as I might like to, I don't actually refuse to answer, and I do return voicemails But emailing me is ALWAYS faster, even if it's to set up a time to talk on the phone.

 

[Jennasis]

Perhaps if any of the folks I've been trying to get through to would include their email in their voice mail message I could attempt to contact them that way...but alas...

 

[ImDMous]

I don't like the phone either, rarely answer it. Most of the time when I do it's a telemarketer or wrong number. If someone actually wants to talk to me and leaves me a message, then I do return it. Email is always the fastest way to ask me something. This is for work anyway, personal life - text me.

 

[HM]

I am of the opinion that any workplace should have a person designated to answer the phones. Where I work, the Board made sure that was the case for many years. We had a receptionist who connected you with the people who work here. Then the economy downturned and everyone got their own phone number and you are now in charge of answering your phone. Some people let it go to voicemail, I'm sure.

I know you must be so frustrated.

At home, if we don't recognize a number we often let it go to voicemail depending on what we are doing.

 

[Diane♥Disney]

My boss doesn't take calls she always has them put to voicemail. Then she never returns the calls. The clients keep calling back and complain that she never calls them back. I work in an insurance agency so most of the calls are people needing help right away.

 

[kimblebee]

It's not business related but my mom knows not to leave me a message. I'll see she called and call her back. I don't usually listen to voice mails before I return calls so I'll call her and say you called? Then she says didn't you listen to my message and then I say no. LOL happens every time

 

[mom2rtk]

I think this is pretty common. And I've decided I just don't have time for it. If I answer my phone (unless caller ID tips me off to a telemarketer) then you should also answer yours, at least sometimes. If you don't, that's fine, it's your life. But I refuse to participate in that game.

I'm giving up on a friend of many years right now over my long-term frustration with this. I shouldn't be the only one who ever answers.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have been on the phone all afternoon desperately trying to get answers from people. Nobody answers their phone at the office, and the many messages I've left since last week have gone unreturned. I'm a small business owner and if someone calls me, I return the call the second I get the message or at least within 24 hours.

I'm so frustrated! Some of the calls pertain to dealing with not-for-profit groups, and some have dealt with corporate offices. All of the things I'm calling about are time-sensitive things (not complaints or customer service type stuff) which I've explained in the messages. UGH!

Grumble.

It is Labor Day weekend. So that is one strike against you for people even picking up the phone or even being in the office today.

Friday's in general are horrible for making calls imo. Many places are closed or people let it go until "next week".

Sounds like you are in a tough spot.

 

[Jennasis]

I know Friday before Labor day is tough, but I was calling 4 different states, 4 different offices (same NFP org). Plus the guy I left a message for LAST week never returned my call after I left him a message. I am trying again...I finally got a hold of the switchboard operator and got his email address and sent him a detailed email. Hopefully he will respond.

My father, an insurance salesman, instilled phone etiquette in me early on. Return calls promptly. he would have gone out of business a looong time ago if he was so blase about returning calls.

 

[LilyWDW]

Work is different. Honestly, in my opinion, when it comes to your job you should attempt to answer the phone. I know at times that is impossible. Trust me, I get that that 100%. But to (1) not answer your phone and (2) not returning my message in any way, you are tell me as a customer or as a business partner that I am not important to you and your business. By telling me that, it makes me not want to do business with you in any way.

Now, in my personal life, I don't answer a number I don't recognize. I do however check the voice mail as soon is possible and return the call if it is needed. I do this because I get calls for collections against my mom who is dead. I understood it the first couple of months, but now the estate is being closed and money is going out. Plus, it has been over a year! Tempted to give them an address of the cemetery.

 

[cheerful chickadee]

I have the same frustration this week. I have applied for a job through a temp agency, the contact person calls and leaves a msg when I'm out, when I call her back she doesn't answer so I leave her a msg and the cycle goes on and on. She gave me her cell phone number to call since this kept happening all week and lo and behold...I call her cell and she still doesn't answer!! ay yi yi. I gave her my email address and said that is probably the best way to get info to me but she still would rather call.

I emailed her this morning about a job offer, she emailed me back with more info and within a half hour I emailed her back saying I was very interested. 5 minutes later I received an auto email saying she will be out of the office for the rest of the day. ugh.

I hate the phone and I hate phone tag even more. I especially hate when someone tells you to call them, even at a specific time and still doesn't answer.

 

[Sabeking]

My boss doesn't take calls she always has them put to voicemail. Then she never returns the calls. The clients keep calling back and complain that she never calls them back. I work in an insurance agency so most of the calls are people needing help right away.

I am curious how he/she keeps their job? especially if clients complain.

I have a friend that never checks email or voicemail. Then she will call me during the week and ask me a ton of questions in regards to the classes our kids take together. Read the email like everyone else. The teacher got so frustrated with her she started asking me to ask my daughter to ask her friend if they were participating in (fill in the blank.)

 

[NotUrsula]

First off, I'm hard-of-hearing, and so phones are not really my favorite method of communication. However ...

PLEASE do not leave me long, complicated voicemails, most especially anything that reels off numbers (except for a phone number for returning the call.) If it is complicated, put it in writing, or don't be surprised if I cannot figure out what you want me to do with all that oral info.

If you don't know my email (and you would if you called my work phone, because I have it on my message), then please just identify yourself and give my YOUR contact details, or (novel concept), send me a snail-mail letter.

Our phone system puts all voice messages into WAV files and posts them to the email system. If you are blocked from the email list for some reason, then I won't see the message.

 

[tvguy]

I am of the opinion that any workplace should have a person designated to answer the phones. Where I work, the Board made sure that was the case for many years. We had a receptionist who connected you with the people who work here. Then the economy downturned and everyone got their own phone number and you are now in charge of answering your phone. Some people let it go to voicemail, I'm sure.

I know you must be so frustrated.

At home, if we don't recognize a number we often let it go to voicemail depending on what we are doing.

We got direct dial extensions in about 1985, the receptionists started going away then. Voice mail 10 year later was kind was the next nail in the coffin for receptionists. Secretaries becoming Administrative Assistants put answering the phone beneath many of the remaining people.

I'll be honest, if I have one more person tell me to e-mail or text them instead, I'll scream. My rate of response to emails is less than that of voice mails. Telling me to email or text is just warning me that you won't be replying. I know companies that have set up email addresses and voicemail boxes that nobody ever checks.

But it is the way of business these days. When I got out of college, I got a rejection letter for every job I applied for that I did not get an interview for. Now, job ads say "No Phone Calls Accepted", my last place actually added "Applicants calling to inquire about their application will be removed from consideration". You never hear anything unless they want to interview you.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I almost never listen to voicemails, let alone reply to them. They're annoying to me. Text me, email me, or call me back.