Or are we programmed to always answer the phone?
2007-09-13 05:55:35 · 7 answers · asked by Yahoo 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
It IS annoying when one is dealing with a sales clerk who continually interrupts your service to answer the phone. Rather than lashing out at the hapless employee, go to the manager and ask why there isn't adequate staff. Or at least some adjustment of priorities so that electronic patrons don't "jump the line" to receive service ahead of the actual flesh and blood patrons.
2007-09-13 06:14:33 · answer #1 · answered by kill_yr_television 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
really it shouldn't be answered, just out of courtesy. However it depends on a few things, who is calling, nature of call, expecting call, and really what title the person receiving the call is. Obviously if its an emergency then it is more than OK, and if it is an expecting important call it can sometimes be OK. If it is your boss calling then it is usually thought of as OK, just check in on the transaction. What one should do is look at the phone, screen it (this shows respect to the person you are dealing with), finish the point you are on, then excuse yourself and call back the person (if it is necessary to, if not wait until the business transaction is complete.
2007-09-13 06:09:18 · answer #2 · answered by chrchll129 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No phone calls should be taken during a business transaction or meeting unless they directly relate to that meeting. We have had answering machines, voice mail and secretarys for years to handle inopportune phone calls and as far as I can tell, no one has to take any phone call at any time if they choose not to. Misplaced self importance seems to have many people thinking they have to answer every call.
2007-09-13 07:33:47 · answer #3 · answered by dawnb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yay, business ethics!
Well think of it this way. If you are a customer on the phone, and in the middle of ordering something and your representative says, "Sorry need to take this call." Would you be upset?
Have a hold message that says, "Sorry for making you hold, but much like the customer service we are giving to our current customer, you'll receive the same attention."
First come, first serve seems the most ethical way. No matter how much the customer is ordering, especially when it's only a matter of minutes.
2007-09-13 06:02:49 · answer #4 · answered by shotindustries 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it's very rude to take a call when you're conducting business with someone. It's also rude when you're conducting business with someone when another person comes in right in the middle of your transaction and looks past you and they start doing stuff....It happened to me recently. I went to a printer and was discussing a contract to print children's books in bulk (we're talking 1000's of copies) and another person came in and did exactly that....So I told the woman at the printer I would take my business to someone who wanted it. She tried to stop me but I was angry and insulted, as I think I had the right to be.
2007-09-13 06:16:44 · answer #5 · answered by ndn_ronhoward 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Never. If the phone rings you should quickly push the button to make it stop and dont even look at it until the meeting is over.
2007-09-13 06:20:10 · answer #6 · answered by mable3691214 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Should not, but there should be a backup to answer and determine if the call is an emergency.
2007-09-13 06:02:49 · answer #7 · answered by Info_Please 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋