When you call a place of business and ask to speak to someone and the switchboard operator says that person is not in or is unavailable, what do you do? Do you believe them and say "thank you" and hang up, or do you fight your way to talking to that person? Do you go ahead and introduce yourself and say where you're calling from? Do you think the person who answered is the person you're calling and immediately say their name? Do you state your problem as soon as that person answers or do you ask who you would talk to about the problem? Because I've been a switchboard operator/receptionist for going on three years now and people just don't seem to believe me when I say someone is not in or they are unavailable, we don't announce your call before you're transfered, there are other people in the place you're calling and we would like it if you ASKED for the person you're trying to call instead of ASSUMING we're that person, and contrary to popular belief, we don't know all the answers.
2007-04-02 04:38:33 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
I just got reminded of another one: when you're told someone is not in don't ask where he/she is, don't ask if they'll call in to check their messages, don't ask if he/she is on vacation, etc. I don't know! I'm not a freakin' fortune teller! And is it REALLY any of your business? NO!
And on a side note: Jin_Jur has the right idea!
2007-04-02 05:15:06 · update #1
Don't you love the ones who call and say "someone called me from this number" like you have any idea who, out of the 400 people in the building, called them? Or how bout the ones who get voice mail then hit zero and say "I asked to be put through to Joe Blow and YOU gave me his voice mail!" Like you can force people to pick up their phones! It never occurs to them that maybe, just maybe Joe Blow doesn't want to talk to them. Oh nooo it's always the evil operator preventing them from getting through. Or when you say "I'm sorry, so and so isn't in" and they say "But I NEED TO TALK TO THEM!" Well sorry, but they still AREN'T HERE! People are soooo rude and ignorant it truly boggles the mind.
I am always polite and friendly to people on the phone because I've worked as a switchboard operator myself and as a result of that, I am fully aware of how infuritating it is to be ragged on for something you have absolutely no control over. I remember getting calls where people would get snarky with me because they didn't know who they were calling for! They'd just ramble off their problem and assume I would know. It's one thing to be an idiot, but don't get mad at me for your lack of intelligence.
2007-04-02 04:54:43 · answer #1 · answered by ♪ ♫Jin_Jur♫ ♥ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have also been a switchboard operator, and so many people think that we have all the answers and know where everyone is at, then some get rude because you don't have all the answers. So when I contact a company and speak to the receptionist or the operator, I try to be as nice as possible, and if the person that I really need to speak to isn't there, I say, "Well maybe you can assist me" I never assume that they can.
2007-04-02 11:45:48 · answer #2 · answered by vegaschic 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I try to be as nice and polite to operators as I can. I'm an office manager at a company and sometimes I cant take my calls. There are different reasons, I may be out of the office, or in a meeting with clients or the business owner, etc. I totally understand how these things work and I realize that it is NOT the operators fault. You are just doing your job and people have no right to be mean or rude to you for that.
2007-04-02 11:46:38 · answer #3 · answered by I know, I know!!!! 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
At any place of business or other institution, I treat operators with the same courtesy as I would treat my friends and family. With the phone company, though (pressing "0"), it's a different story. For some reason, those people insist on treating you like a cancer, and will try to rush you off the line as quickly as possible, cutting you off if they have to.
2007-04-02 11:43:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, because I've been in that position before, plus rude callers may get hung up on "by accident", or stay on hold forever. The only good thing for me was that I had caller ID because I worked in a probation office. So repeat rude callers are sent to the security dept.
2007-04-02 11:45:04 · answer #5 · answered by Evil Girl Geniuz 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I worked as computer help guy over the phone for a couple years. I try to be as nice as I can.
2007-04-02 11:42:08 · answer #6 · answered by JC 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes I treat them nicely, but I have had to be stern once or twice after several calls and it became obvious the owner of the small company was ducking me, what a terrible position to put your workers in.
2007-04-02 11:46:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I am. If someone is unavailable, I ask if I can leave a message.
2007-04-02 11:41:39 · answer #8 · answered by Tony M 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am nice to them. I was a telemarketer once, and I hated it. I know that people hate to have them call, but there is no sense in being rude.
2007-04-02 11:41:04 · answer #9 · answered by country_girl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well done. . .I used to work as a receptionist too and I know what you're talking about.
2007-04-02 11:42:32 · answer #10 · answered by Brenno 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋