Making an appointment - for a phone call

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Pretty much nobody answers the phone and half the time they don’t return it if you leave a message. So here is a solution that works pretty well. I text them and say, “Give me a call AYC (at your convenience.)"

Am I alone in this? Am I the only one who thinks it is nuts that we have come to this? Or is this normal now?

 

[Go West Young Man]

My first question is "what will be the purpose of this call?" My second question is "how about I just text you that info now and save us both the trouble?"

 

[the_edski]

+1, convenience is king these days!

My second question is "how about I just text you that info now and save us both the trouble?"

 

[dpm802]

Like you, I hate playing telephone tag. I don't answer the phone if its a number unknown to me. Likewise, I can't answer when I'm working or driving even if its someone I want to talk to.

I can't stand it when people ring me and don't leave a message. If they have something to tell me, then go ahead and say it. I can't make myself available 24/7 to everybody, but I'd still like to hear what they have to say.

And then, when I do call them back ... THEY don't answer.

I don't have a texting plan on my phone, so I discourage texting. That doesn't stop people from texting me anyway. At 25cents per message in or out, it adds up fast, but its still cheaper than paying $10 a month to get a plan I will not use.

The alternative is Facebook messages or eMail, but the latter seems to be out of fashion, and the former just seems to be a silly waste of time.

 

[ironfisted]

I guess it depends on the context too. With my friends, we have an understanding that we don't leave voicemails, but we return missed calls promptly. Basically, nobody wants to waste time logging into voicemail to hear that Rob called, when it is sufficient to see my missed call and call me back. Having said that, if there's something important, it may warrant a voicemail message, and obviously we use familiar numbers, not payphones to call each other. I don't return missed calls to numbers I don't recognize.

On the other hand, for business calls, it is quite common to schedule a phone call so that we can clear up matters that are taking too long via email, or involve input from multiple parties. In this case, we need to find a time that suits everyone, and then the expectation is that everyone is going to commit to that time, be on time, and not be distracted. I'm in sales, so I still prefer to go face to face whenever possible, and even with my customer who is 400km away, I spend more time in his office than I do on the phone with him.

 

[jd_1138]

I think a lot of it has to do with people not knowing how to communicate well. If you answer the phone with some people, they sit there and talk your ear off, and won't let you get a word in edgewise. A lot of people are selfish talkers. They never ask you how you're doing or what's going on with you. This happens in person too. How many times do you start talking to someone, and they dominate the conversation and if you try to get in a few words, they cut you off.

I think technology has mitigated a lot of this, and now you can simply text people or pass along information via voice mails (or emails). I leave voice mails telling them what's happening or asking the question I need to ask or whatever, and then they will call back. If you don't actually include any content or meat in the voice mail, the person may think that all you want to do is shoot the breeze, and they may be too busy for that if they are working or currently engaged in something else.

 

[JoshuaNY]

I can't stand it when people ring me and don't leave a message. If they have something to tell me, then go ahead and say it.

I too hate when people do not leave a message, if it was not important enough to leave a message then it is not important enough for me to call you back.

My first question is "what will be the purpose of this call?" My second question is "how about I just text you that info now and save us both the trouble?"

Im with you. I am more likely to text you back then call you, unless it is something in depth.

 

[dpm802]

I too hate when people do not leave a message, if it was not important enough to leave a message then it is not important enough for me to call you back.

On the other hand, as soon as I see the Caller ID, I pretty much know why they are calling. And someone else mentioned that it takes too long to check voice-mail to retrieve the message, and then call them back.

Do you think Alexander Graham Bell could have possibly imagined what his invention would turn into?

The other day, I was talking to a sales rep at a Wireless Kiosk, and I asked them a question that has been bugging me for about 20 years ... why is it that my Smartphone can do almost everything under the sun, but I can't make a voice-call without a lot of distortion, signal breaking up, and dropped calls?

You would think that they would work on improving this, but it seems to be more important to develop a new edition of "Angry Birds" or an Alarm Clock app than it is to make sure our voice calls can be heard clearly and distinctly.

It seems especially problematic with digital phones. I don't remember the audio being this bad when I had an Analog cell-phone. I wish I could get a Smartphone that would have Digital data service and Analog voice. That would give me the best of both worlds.

And the Wireless rep had no answer for me, except to tell me to blow out the dust in my speaker. I doubt that would solve the problem(s) I've been having. And this rep was too young to know what an actual land-line is, so they don't have anything to compare our present service to a POTS (plain old telephone service / copper wire / twisted pair) line.

 

[Rustonrazor]

we are now in the final stages of paying all the medical bills for our new daughter. A representative from our insurance company wrote me an email to address the issue and asked that I email or call back. I have done both as well as my employer calling to help resolve the issue. We finally heard back after 2 weeks. Seems that some just don't get in a hurry to respond unless you tag it "ASAP".

 

[Kentos]

Communicating with your vocal chords is so 20th Century.

 

[Rustonrazor]

heard a comedian the other day that said texting is the modern day telegraph. morse code is back. I agree, don't have a smart phone just because of it. If you need me, you can call me. If I need to check email, get this, I will sit at my computer and read it. I am from an old fashioned small town where people still sit around an talk face to face. Probably in the minority being that I am 30 and don't like technology changing as quickly as it does.

 

[COHunter]

On the other hand, as soon as I see the Caller ID, I pretty much know why they are calling. And someone else mentioned that it takes too long to check voice-mail to retrieve the message, and then call them back.

Do you think Alexander Graham Bell could have possibly imagined what his invention would turn into?

The other day, I was talking to a sales rep at a Wireless Kiosk, and I asked them a question that has been bugging me for about 20 years ... why is it that my Smartphone can do almost everything under the sun, but I can't make a voice-call without a lot of distortion, signal breaking up, and dropped calls?

You would think that they would work on improving this, but it seems to be more important to develop a new edition of "Angry Birds" or an Alarm Clock app than it is to make sure our voice calls can be heard clearly and distinctly.

It seems especially problematic with digital phones. I don't remember the audio being this bad when I had an Analog cell-phone. I wish I could get a Smartphone that would have Digital data service and Analog voice. That would give me the best of both worlds.

And the Wireless rep had no answer for me, except to tell me to blow out the dust in my speaker. I doubt that would solve the problem(s) I've been having. And this rep was too young to know what an actual land-line is, so they don't have anything to compare our present service to a POTS (plain old telephone service / copper wire / twisted pair) line.

The distortion and all the noise comes from the land lines that are carrying your call. Wireless calling isn't exactly all wireless. The call traffic ends up on land lines and through switches just like the old school version. The wireless part is from the source (your phone) to the nearest tower, then down the old school network it goes! Just think of it like a cordless home phone.

 

[dpmtherrien]

I guess I'm really old fashioned, but I like to talk to a live person when I use the phone. Today doing that seems out of place, and I guess its becoming a lost art.

I wonder why? and where we've gone so wrong?

 

[rickboone1]

I answer the phone almost all the time. If I don't, I call back pretty quickly when I can. What do you want to talk about? I get bored at work and can chat all day some days. Give me a call if you need to get your phone call fix taken care of.

 

[jd_1138]

I answer the phone almost all the time. If I don't, I call back pretty quickly when I can. What do you want to talk about? I get bored at work and can chat all day some days. Give me a call if you need to get your phone call fix taken care of.

Wow, I wish I had a job with some free time on my hands. lol. I am super busy all day.

But back to the phone calls, it's just a matter of people not knowing how to effectively use a telephone. It's like when someone calls at around dinner time, and you tell them you are about to eat, but they keep droning on and on. Technology makes it easier to mitigate time wasters like that. Just let the voice mail take the message for you, and then you can call them back later.

Also, a lot of people don't know how to end a call without awkwardness, and so the call goes on and on. Just say you have to go, and then let the other person respond, and then say bye.

 

[professorchaos]

Alas, with caller ID and voicemail being delivered via email, I rarely check voice mail.

 

[cb91710]

My first question is "what will be the purpose of this call?" My second question is "how about I just text you that info now and save us both the trouble?"

My feeling goes the opposite.

I hate texts. If it's a quick FYI that needs no response other than "K", then I'm cool with it.
If it's going to be at all conversational, just flipping CALL ME!

 

[DC_MPA]

What irritates me is when they text with a question then immediately call. What also irritates me is when I call and no answer, I get text reply asking what I needed.

 

[Go West Young Man]

I guess I'm really old fashioned, but I like to talk to a live person when I use the phone. Today doing that seems out of place, and I guess its becoming a lost art.

I wonder why? and where we've gone so wrong?

Why does it seem we've gone wrong? We have dozens of completely customisable channels to efficiently transmit information at all times, I'd say we're doing BETTER than ever.

 

[Judge Dredd]

I work for a telco...and I HATE the frickin phone!

No other invention has done more to undermine productivity than the telephone. I'm at my desk, working away...then that blasted machine rings again. There goes my cognitive engagement. Then I have to have an inane conversation with someone who was too lazy or too dumb to do their own job. Then it's 5 minutes to lunchtime, so I might as well go and eat. Then before I can even resettle into working again, all the other hacks are on the blower again at 1:50pm because THEY'RE back from lunch and they stuffed around all morning and now they need it done before 4pm because they have to drop it into a slidepack for bozo the clown upstairs who is jumping on a plane at 7 and needs to see it before his 8am meeting (which is inevitably cancelled anyway).

I hate when people send me an e-mail...and then ring me straight away to say "I've just sent you an e-mail...". Oh goodie, did you send footmen as well, and an advanced guard with carrier pigeons and messenger hawks?

I get around 200 e-mails a day (yeah, it's a quiet patch) and often go through a 1 or 2 full battery charges per day on the mobile. Then there are the endless CONFERENCE CALLS with a cast of thousands...is it any wonder I can't get any work done? There are even disputes about who's going to set up the conference call and put it in everyone's Outlook calendar (you do it, no - YOU do it).

So I've taken to filling my calendar with blank appointments. I refuse to have my time commandeered.

Having said all that, the phone does it have its place and that's where you don't want to leave a paper trail. E-mail's better, because it leaves fantastic paper trails, especially for irresponsible co-workers that who screw things up and try to blame everyone else when it hits the fan.