Cell Phone Etiquette

Am I the only one? When I call someone, whether on a cell or at home, the answer is a slight pause, followed by Hello with a question mark. Caveat. Most of my calls are business-related, and my name - not my company's name - shows up in the caller id; I don't block my number. And despite the fact that most customers know our names, the answer is still: Pause. Hello?

Has telemarketing become so common that when we answer the phone we expect it to be telemarketing and are suspicious of almost anyone who calls? That's pathetic.

Okay, now my cell phone etiquette question. Cell phones belong to individual people, not households with multiple people. So it seems pretty stupid to say, "May I speak to so and so," when calling a cell phone. But if you mention the person's name - Is this Jane?, or Hi Jane, or Jane? - I get the the same pause and questioned response: Pause. Yeessss? As if I'm somehow going to ask them some harder question or I'm being questioned as to how I can have the nerve to call them. Again, mostly business - and, no, not telemarketing. Sure, if you're calling a woman and a man answers, it's reasonable to ask, May I please speak to Jane. Of course, if the husband answers, you get the same Pause. Ummmmmm. May I tell her who's calling? You get the idea.

It shouldn't be this complicated.

people don't talk to each other any more, this question is soooo 2004!!!

i don't answer the phone, and i just text/email, amazing the awkwardness your post brings back -- get an unlimited texting plan and leave all that crap behind

anyway no one likes getting called on the phone much above age 14, we're busy people, we got stuff to do

you're lucky they answer the phone at all, i actually copied my voicemail message after a friend's which is something along the lines of, "i do not answer the phone, i do not listen to voicemail, if you actually know me and have something to say to me, you have my email address"

I'll be changing mine to something similar as soon as I find the bloody user manual. Presently, a patently robotic voice says simply: "Please leave a message at the tone." Yes, it's the one that came with the phone.

But business is business, and I need to use the phone. Believe me, I'd prefer e-mail, but too many of my customers don't check it, or it gets lost amid other e-mails and spam, so the phone is important. I do like the message, however. I wish I could get away with it.

1) yes telemarketing is that bad

2) some people still have land lines! yes it is true

3) some people, for various reason can't see the damn screens/caller ID and might be expecting SOME call so they answer anyway...

lots of possible explanations for the reaction you are hearing...

when I call somebody less than a close friend I usually say something like "Hi, I'm trying to reach ____"

So yes, telemarketing is that common and yes, it is pathetic.

Next on our list -- caller ID!!

unless your name is in my address book, only your number shows up if you call. I rarely get a call where only a phone number shows up, but if you called me I would. You arent in my address book.

I would answer your call, but I would say Hello? And you would probably hear a pause first, because for some reason, no matter who calls my cell phone they never hear me the first time I say hello. I dont know why.

and hung up.

for some reason. Never did before. :shrug: I hung up on him twice before he finally reached me. Ha! }( Luckily nothing important.

:evilgrin:

if I get a phone call and you're not in my phonebook, I just get a #. If I don't recognize the number, I don't answer. If you don't leave a message, I don't call back. When I answer my phone, I don't say anything (and everybody I know, knows this.) and wait for the caller to announce themselves and their intentions. If they don't, after 3 seconds, I say "goodbye" and hang-up...and will not answer callbacks.

I have one number that has been calling me daily at 12:26PM-ish for 2 months near-daily and never leases a message. I've never answered that call, never will and since they don't leave a message, I will never call them back. As far as I'm concerned, they're a nuisance upon my daily-life and can go f**k themselves.

I always identify myself first and then ask for the person I want.

Wow.

When my phone rings, I usually answer "Hello".

Sometimes, I just answer "Yeah?", but mostly it's "Hello".

I don't usually bother looking at the phone to see who's calling. I just answer the phone.

If I'm calling someone, when they answer, I usually identify myself, as in "Hey, Jane, this is Bozo". Then there's no pause while Jane wonders how to respond. She can say "hi Bozo", or "I told you never to call me again" or whatever. No hesitation needed.

It's really not very complicated.

Now, creating a three-way conference call, that's complicated.

:hi: