Why is it so difficult to speak to people.
Discussion
One of those... "is it just me?" posts
Automated operator... one minute of 'press 1 for this, 2 for that... none of which relate to why I'm calling or an option to hold for an operator requiring me to go through the process again and press any number of hope for the best.
Clients that don't give you their phone number.
Had a series of eight OOO bounce back messages this morning before looping back to the first person I was trying to reach.
Phones that go unanswered. Numbers that don't even work....
This isn't cold calling. This is all to do with actual work and necessary communication which to me seems an anathema to an increasingly large portion of the client world.
Am I alone on this?
Automated operator... one minute of 'press 1 for this, 2 for that... none of which relate to why I'm calling or an option to hold for an operator requiring me to go through the process again and press any number of hope for the best.
Clients that don't give you their phone number.
Had a series of eight OOO bounce back messages this morning before looping back to the first person I was trying to reach.
Phones that go unanswered. Numbers that don't even work....
This isn't cold calling. This is all to do with actual work and necessary communication which to me seems an anathema to an increasingly large portion of the client world.
Am I alone on this?
No, you aren't alone.
Phones dead in my organisation. Can't remember the last time someone phoned me. If we don't communicate via teams, we pretty much don't communicate. My boss asked if I still need a mobile as my bill for usage is pretty much 0 every month.
I do need it, I mainly for the 2nd factor authentication app that it runs, WIFI, in the office or at home is essentially the default means of connectivity, so I don't cost much more than the base contract price.
Trying to get hold of anyone else in any other organisation is a nightmare - I hate the systems that want you to talk to them - if they don't respond to "put me through to a human now" then I'll find a different way to communicate.
I tried to dial 101 the other day to report something minor I'd witnessed while driving to work, 5 levels of IVR deep there was no option that was anything like what I wanted to do, and no generic option - so I hung up. I guess the police don't want people reporting stuff that might lead to them having to do some work.
Phones dead in my organisation. Can't remember the last time someone phoned me. If we don't communicate via teams, we pretty much don't communicate. My boss asked if I still need a mobile as my bill for usage is pretty much 0 every month.
I do need it, I mainly for the 2nd factor authentication app that it runs, WIFI, in the office or at home is essentially the default means of connectivity, so I don't cost much more than the base contract price.
Trying to get hold of anyone else in any other organisation is a nightmare - I hate the systems that want you to talk to them - if they don't respond to "put me through to a human now" then I'll find a different way to communicate.
I tried to dial 101 the other day to report something minor I'd witnessed while driving to work, 5 levels of IVR deep there was no option that was anything like what I wanted to do, and no generic option - so I hung up. I guess the police don't want people reporting stuff that might lead to them having to do some work.
StevieBee said:
One of those... "is it just me?" posts
Automated operator... one minute of 'press 1 for this, 2 for that... none of which relate to why I'm calling or an option to hold for an operator requiring me to go through the process again and press any number of hope for the best.
Clients that don't give you their phone number.
Had a series of eight OOO bounce back messages this morning before looping back to the first person I was trying to reach.
Phones that go unanswered. Numbers that don't even work....
This isn't cold calling. This is all to do with actual work and necessary communication which to me seems an anathema to an increasingly large portion of the client world.
Am I alone on this?
You're not alone. Having real people responding to calls cost money so the more that companies can automate the better, regardless of how crap it makes the business/customer relationship. Also, the worse they can make it the more likely people are to turn to webchat, or even Google for an answer to their problems, which means they can justify cutting even more costs.Automated operator... one minute of 'press 1 for this, 2 for that... none of which relate to why I'm calling or an option to hold for an operator requiring me to go through the process again and press any number of hope for the best.
Clients that don't give you their phone number.
Had a series of eight OOO bounce back messages this morning before looping back to the first person I was trying to reach.
Phones that go unanswered. Numbers that don't even work....
This isn't cold calling. This is all to do with actual work and necessary communication which to me seems an anathema to an increasingly large portion of the client world.
Am I alone on this?
First Direct used to be excellent but have deteriorated massively over the last 5-8 years.
My phone hasn't been plugged in for over a year. It's set to ring four times and go to voicemail.
Its voip and I know it is still connected, because about once a week I receive an email with a voicemail attached. I don't think i've listened to one in 2023.
If it's important they'll follow up with an email
Its voip and I know it is still connected, because about once a week I receive an email with a voicemail attached. I don't think i've listened to one in 2023.
If it's important they'll follow up with an email
On a much smaller scale but I generally don't answer my phone now and have even disabled voicemail as it's mostly people wanting information from me for free that took me years of effort to learn. It's a fine line to balance and I know some people don't like it, but I have to rely on online booking just to weed out some of the chancers.
The younger generation aren't fans of phone calls or even doorbells. Cold callers days are numbered I think!
The younger generation aren't fans of phone calls or even doorbells. Cold callers days are numbered I think!
lizardbrain said:
My phone hasn't been plugged in for over a year. It's set to ring four times and go to voicemail.
Its voip and I know it is still connected, because about once a week I receive an email with a voicemail attached. I don't think i've listened to one in 2023.
If it's important they'll follow up with an email
I get exasperated when I leave a message, then they ring me back and say 'Wot?' Listen to the fIts voip and I know it is still connected, because about once a week I receive an email with a voicemail attached. I don't think i've listened to one in 2023.
If it's important they'll follow up with an email
king message I just left you! Now I have to say it all over again!Having a mobile phone so you can be contacted anywhere then not answering it seems bonkers to me. If you don't want to be contacted, do what I do - leave it at home and enjoy yourself.
Simpo Two said:
Having a mobile phone so you can be contacted anywhere then not answering it seems bonkers to me. If you don't want to be contacted, do what I do - leave it at home and enjoy yourself.
You have wrongly assumed that everyone who has a phone with them wants to be contacted. I certainly do not. My phone comes with me (often switched off) simply in case I may need it to phone someone , for example for recovery if my motor has a breakdown. When it is on it is usually on silent unless I'm expecting a call from someone. I expect you are of the younger generation where your phone is basically your comfort blanket and cannot be parted from it for more than 2 seconds? 
Simpo Two said:
I get exasperated when I leave a message, then they ring me back and say 'Wot?' Listen to the fking message I just left you! Now I have to say it all over again!
Having a mobile phone so you can be contacted anywhere then not answering it seems bonkers to me. If you don't want to be contacted, do what I do - leave it at home and enjoy yourself.
It’s a work landline. But you are right I should turn voice mail off. I guess I told myself it was least worst option to ring off to voicemail vs ringing forever. But I was just being lazy. king message I just left you! Now I have to say it all over again!Having a mobile phone so you can be contacted anywhere then not answering it seems bonkers to me. If you don't want to be contacted, do what I do - leave it at home and enjoy yourself.
There are definitely jobs it’s better and quicker to speak on the phone. Mine isn’t one of them.
lizardbrain said:
My phone hasn't been plugged in for over a year. It's set to ring four times and go to voicemail.
Its voip and I know it is still connected, because about once a week I receive an email with a voicemail attached. I don't think i've listened to one in 2023.
If it's important they'll follow up with an email
What if it’s a customer and they decide to call somebody else instead?Its voip and I know it is still connected, because about once a week I receive an email with a voicemail attached. I don't think i've listened to one in 2023.
If it's important they'll follow up with an email
nuyorican said:
I hate having to deal with things over the phone. It's generally a bad time, or a bad line, and there's no record of the specifics of what has been discussed. I would much rather have the option to email, if they would respond in a timely matter (unlikely).
As a sole trader myself, my phone is always set to go straight to answerphone and I'll call or text back those who leave a message as soon as possible. This is a great way to weed out the timewasters/marketers etc as they NEVER leave a message? They'll just keep calling every day. I had one business ringing almost hourly for ten days before they gave up. Why do they do this? Are they not allowed to leave messages because then their sales script won't work or something?
I agree with this if you have a good way of being contacted online or via text message / WhatsApp.As a sole trader myself, my phone is always set to go straight to answerphone and I'll call or text back those who leave a message as soon as possible. This is a great way to weed out the timewasters/marketers etc as they NEVER leave a message? They'll just keep calling every day. I had one business ringing almost hourly for ten days before they gave up. Why do they do this? Are they not allowed to leave messages because then their sales script won't work or something?
However if a business doesn’t have the above and I end up calling I won’t leave a message, I’ll just move on to another supplier instead. Voicemail belongs in the 1990s.
In the 90's? I don't think it even really belonged there.
But talking is human. I do lots of business on the phone. I sell myself and my services on the phone. We are a small little baby company, and could not be without a phone. It's a lifeline. It's hard to think of the number of times people have given us hundreds or thousands of £ of business after a conversation. It's a give and take you don't get with anything else other than face to face (which is better, but not always possible). We've got websites, and whatsapp, and all the other rubbish, but people call to have a chat, and to see if they can get on with us. And if they like what they hear, they buy. And most people who call, end up buying from us. Because they hear something in that conversation they like and trust.
So, in my view, phone is very much not dead.
Big companies have lost the plot in far too many cases IMO.
But talking is human. I do lots of business on the phone. I sell myself and my services on the phone. We are a small little baby company, and could not be without a phone. It's a lifeline. It's hard to think of the number of times people have given us hundreds or thousands of £ of business after a conversation. It's a give and take you don't get with anything else other than face to face (which is better, but not always possible). We've got websites, and whatsapp, and all the other rubbish, but people call to have a chat, and to see if they can get on with us. And if they like what they hear, they buy. And most people who call, end up buying from us. Because they hear something in that conversation they like and trust.
So, in my view, phone is very much not dead.
Big companies have lost the plot in far too many cases IMO.
My kids had booked and prepaid for the early morning coach back from Reading Festival and got to the bus stop 2 hours before departure.
It was busy and when the coach turned up the driver let everyone who pushed, on and took cash, leaving my boys behind.
I couldn't find numbers for the company and tried Twitter, now X.
Amazing, refund sorted and the complaint has been bumped up to the 'next level'.
Took me a while to work out how to DM and attach tickets though.
Having to ring insurance, utilities etc fills me with dread as I know it'll be a wasted morning at the very least.
It was busy and when the coach turned up the driver let everyone who pushed, on and took cash, leaving my boys behind.
I couldn't find numbers for the company and tried Twitter, now X.
Amazing, refund sorted and the complaint has been bumped up to the 'next level'.
Took me a while to work out how to DM and attach tickets though.
Having to ring insurance, utilities etc fills me with dread as I know it'll be a wasted morning at the very least.
bearman68 said:
In the 90's? I don't think it even really belonged there.
But talking is human. I do lots of business on the phone. I sell myself and my services on the phone. We are a small little baby company, and could not be without a phone. It's a lifeline. It's hard to think of the number of times people have given us hundreds or thousands of £ of business after a conversation. It's a give and take you don't get with anything else other than face to face (which is better, but not always possible). We've got websites, and whatsapp, and all the other rubbish, but people call to have a chat, and to see if they can get on with us. And if they like what they hear, they buy. And most people who call, end up buying from us. Because they hear something in that conversation they like and trust.
So, in my view, phone is very much not dead.
Big companies have lost the plot in far too many cases IMO.
Depends on the business you’re in and your target demographic, but I’d say business who are offering a generic product or service will be at a big disadvantage if not taking bookings and payment online.But talking is human. I do lots of business on the phone. I sell myself and my services on the phone. We are a small little baby company, and could not be without a phone. It's a lifeline. It's hard to think of the number of times people have given us hundreds or thousands of £ of business after a conversation. It's a give and take you don't get with anything else other than face to face (which is better, but not always possible). We've got websites, and whatsapp, and all the other rubbish, but people call to have a chat, and to see if they can get on with us. And if they like what they hear, they buy. And most people who call, end up buying from us. Because they hear something in that conversation they like and trust.
So, in my view, phone is very much not dead.
Big companies have lost the plot in far too many cases IMO.
A current exception for me is local MoT and Tyre places. They all seem resistant to it. I could book online with other companies but they are in the next town rather than walking distance - so instead I phone and it’s a time consuming experience. As soon as one of the three garages that are a 10 min walk away let me book online that’ll be the one that I use.
Same with window cleaners. Have to phone and then go through my diary and theirs to find a suitable slot (that’s once you’ve got through to them as they spend a fair amount of time actually cleaning windows) - would be easier and quicker if they just used an app to put their availability online and then I could just book the next convenient slot .
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