Returning Phone Messages

[westernrvparkow]

This is the off season for many RV Parks. Often you need to leave a message on an answering device to speak to a park employee. I have a few suggestions that will help that process.

1. Speak slowly, clearly, and repeat the phone number.
2. Include the area code when you leave that phone number.
3. Include your name in your message.
4. Include the reason for your call
5. Keep the background noise to a minimum, screaming kids and booming music won't speed up a callback or make it easier for us to understand your message.
6. Even if you are upset we didn't answer the phone, don't tell your spouse "They aren't $%&#ing, answering either" before leaving your message.
7. Leave a BRIEF message about what you are seeking, but please, don't leave an unpublished novel.
8. If you are calling to complain about one of our policies, it is best to wait until you are called back before starting your rant. I am very unlikely to return a call from someone who's message is "Why do you have the stupid policy that we have to have our dogs on a leash?"

We really do want to call you back, but nearly one out of every 5 messages in unintelligible. If you don't get a callback, it won't hurt to try again, because it is possible we couldn't understand your message, unfortunately it happens.

[Fizz]

monkey44 wrote:


Once a potential client has initiated contact to a business, it's the responsibility of that business to call enough times to get the person, not just once and assume that is sufficient. It's not sufficient, in fact, it's rude and unprofessional.

WHAT?
Since when.
Too many people here take on airs of self importance.
You are owed nothing.

[monkey44]

Tvov, I understand your situation. I was a contractor for years ... and yes, it would and does annoy me when someone answers a phone while we're talking, especially in a supply yard, and then goes and takes care of that problem while we sit and wait -- when that happens --- this is me leaving ---

But to the point: my post above was more about a person returning a call ONCE, and then expecting that to be a responsible way to do business. IF it's true, that a person like yourself can't answer often due to work, then return a call to a potential client MORE THAN ONCE. When a business returns my call, and says, call me back (AGAIN), I don't, I go find another business. My time is as important as anyone else's, and to expect me to continuously return a call to a number that is never (or infrequently) answered makes no sense, especially when my return call once again gets a message.

Once a potential client has initiated contact to a business, it's the responsibility of that business to call enough times to get the person, not just once and assume that is sufficient. It's not sufficient, in fact, it's rude and unprofessional.

[Tvov]

monkey44 wrote:
The worst situation here, and many of you TVOV just as an example, almost never answer the phone for whatever business reasons you name.

THEN, you call me back at your convenience - THEN, if I don't answer because I'm in the shower or whatever, you tell me "call me back" ... WHY would I? If I call you back, I get another message with the same "leave a message, I'll call you'...

So we get an unending 'call me back' ... It seems to me - and this is exactly how I do it - I'll call you back until I get you.

Medical offices and other businesses always call you back and leave a message but often NEVER actually answer the phone - the mentality is, the machine will get it and I'll call back later, and they call ONCE and think that is OK ... But, when a person calls, they never get an answer, and if they are lucky enough to answer when that person calls, it can get business done.

Personally, if I'm calling a small business, I call once, if that person calls and tells me to call back again, I'm on to someone else. Anyone that owns a company and wants my business should return a call MORE THAN ONCE - keep trying until you get the client, don't just call back one time, leave a message (again) to call you back. I won't. Because if you call a couple times, more than likely, you'll get me - but me calling you never gets you.

All this electronic "stuff" might SEEM convenient, but most often it just spends a lot of wasted time dialing and listening to extended messages that help no one.

There are always different sides of a story.

It is also about the size and type of business.

I am basically a one man operation (used to have crews).

If I actually answered all the calls my business line gets (having it forwarded to my cell phone when necessary), when exactly would I do any work?

If I came out to your property to give you an estimate and my cell phone rang, how would you feel if I said excuse me and turned my back to you to have a 20 minute conversation with another customer? I know I get mad when people ignore me, standing in front of them, to talk on their cell phone ... so I don't do that to customers, I let my answering machine pickup.

We do the best we can with what we have.

Is Spring here yet?

[2oldman]

IDoMyOwnStunts wrote:
What I hate is giving my number, wondering why they haven't returned my call, and when I finally get a hold of somebody days later they say, "I sent you a text." It's a landline!

Then they aren't paying attention. A text to a landline should return an error to the sender.

[Veebyes]

Gotta love the people who listen through the machine speil then don't leave a message. How are you supposed to know they called if no message is left?

Living in Bermuda we have another problem. People don't call back often because our area code is blocked due to very high toll charges. Nice. Robo calls are few & far between.

At this end I have a flat rate to call as much as I want to US & Canada so it becomes an excerise in keep calling till you get a human.

[IDoMyOwnStunts]

What I hate is giving my number, wondering why they haven't returned my call, and when I finally get a hold of somebody days later they say, "I sent you a text." It's a landline!

[DrewE]

2oldman wrote:

FunnyCamper wrote:
example is the business is closed YET the retailer returns your call after hours on HIS cell personal phone, leaves message to call him and HE GARBLES his cell phone number.

His number would be shown on your phone in call history.

Some (very few, but some) of us have landlines without caller ID; I'm one. If I received a call back on my home line/answering machine, there's no call history for me to look up.

[2oldman]

FunnyCamper wrote:
call history? I have no idea how to work my home phone cause I threw out the manual 🙂

Get your 9-yo grandson to do it.

What phone? You do have an address book (in the phone)... right?

[FunnyCamper]

call history? I have no idea how to work my home phone cause I threw out the manual 🙂 I guess I could press a zillion button combinations?? but I guess I could search my phone on the internet, get the manual and read how to do that but being older, I don't care to even bother LOL

speaking without a mouthful of marbles would be easier for me if the person would just do that much

[2oldman]

FunnyCamper wrote:
example is the business is closed YET the retailer returns your call after hours on HIS cell personal phone, leaves message to call him and HE GARBLES his cell phone number.

His number would be shown on your phone in call history.

[monkey44]

The worst situation here, and many of you TVOV just as an example, almost never answer the phone for whatever business reasons you name.

THEN, you call me back at your convenience - THEN, if I don't answer because I'm in the shower or whatever, you tell me "call me back" ... WHY would I? If I call you back, I get another message with the same "leave a message, I'll call you'...

So we get an unending 'call me back' ... It seems to me - and this is exactly how I do it - I'll call you back until I get you.

Medical offices and other businesses always call you back and leave a message but often NEVER actually answer the phone - the mentality is, the machine will get it and I'll call back later, and they call ONCE and think that is OK ... But, when a person calls, they never get an answer, and if they are lucky enough to answer when that person calls, it can get business done.

Personally, if I'm calling a small business, I call once, if that person calls and tells me to call back again, I'm on to someone else. Anyone that owns a company and wants my business should return a call MORE THAN ONCE - keep trying until you get the client, don't just call back one time, leave a message (again) to call you back. I won't. Because if you call a couple times, more than likely, you'll get me - but me calling you never gets you.

All this electronic "stuff" might SEEM convenient, but most often it just spends a lot of wasted time dialing and listening to extended messages that help no one.

[ReadyToGo]

Pet peeve. I can't understand you, both when speaking to me or leaving a voice mail. Up to 5 or 6 times replaying a voice mail. If in person, I say talk slower. I an old, on a cell phone, and have hearing aids.
Is it today , or have we ( me included) always spoke fast?

[Tvov]

For all the people who hate dealing with answering machines, imagine the small business owner who is flooded daily with robo calling.

I have a small landscaping service. If I personally answered all calls, I would get nothing done. Also, most customers calling want an estimate or a date for meeting at their property - things I need to look up, which is easier to do if I don't have the phone jammed under my ear. I prefer people call and leave a message - that way I can research an answer, and be ready for questions when I call them back.

You need to leave a message with WHY you are calling! I have had salespeople leave the "Hey, get back to me at xxx-xxxx", and of course it is just a sales call. So I do not return those calls now.

Also, for established customers, I almost prefer not talking to them directly - most times I am calling to let them know when we will be there and what we are doing. They can call me back if there are any changes, otherwise we'll just do the work. I tell all my customers that they have to leave a message due to robocalling, and I will pickup if I am next to the phone and hear them.

Since I have a business line and want customers to be able to find the number, it is not on the "do not call" list (which is almost impotent now anyways), and it is listed in the phone book and online - which means, I am inundated daily with robo-calling. Multiple calls an hour. I CANNOT answer every call and get anything done! Even if I did have a human receptionist, they would not be able to get anything done if they answered every call!

This is why so many businesses have answering systems now, either simple message machine or push button choices. It is the only way businesses can get anything done in today's robo-tele-marketing world.

[FunnyCamper]

westernrvparkowner wrote:
it won't hurt to try again, because it is possible we couldn't understand your message, unfortunately it happens.

I absolutely understand your list of 'requirements' needed to get a return call after leaving your message.

I wish that a business when returning the calls to customers were smart enough to also make sure all those requirements are met 🙂

example is the business is closed YET the retailer returns your call after hours on HIS cell personal phone, leaves message to call him and HE GARBLES his cell phone number. No use calling biz, they are closed, and the retailer wants to chat with you about a purchase and screws up his message to you. (just happened with a new carpet install I am having completed by small local company)

This is a fast paced world. Don't you know it is tough to slow down a message on a recorder to someone? 🙂 🙂 🙂

I hate answering machines but they are sure useful cause I also hate answering the phone mostly 🙂

[Pangaea_Ron]

I agree that a business should answer the phone from 9-5, but many of the RV parks that we stay at are small mom and pop operations that can not afford an office presence. Many of these parks are also in rural areas with limited cell phone coverage. I can wait for a call back from a reasonable and informative message. I just hope that I am within cell phone coverage when they call back.