You pick up a phone and call a company ....

[jaF0]

... how do you start out when they answer?

Do you greet, make small talk or chatter?

Or do you jump right in with your question/issue?

Does it matter how THEY answer or start out?

We're talking a small, local company where somebody answers the phone, not a megalopoly that uses machines to answer.

 

[thør]

I identify myself and my company and then, a short explanation of why I'm calling. That allows the person answering to either answer my question or redirect me to someone who can. You never know who answers the phone at a small company, so you don't know who can help you. If I know enough to ask for a certain person, I do that. If I know someone at the company, I usually start with them.

 

[pointless]

i scream "but who was phone!?!?" and then i hang up, let out a fart and take my plate to the sink because i'm full. then i move on with my day.

 

[islandman]

i scream "but who was phone!?!?" and then i hang up, let out a fart and take my plate to the sink because i'm full. then i move on with my day.

Common courtesy says you should fart before you hang up. Otherwise, how will the person on the other end know that you care for them?

 

[pointless]

there's nothing common about my courtesy. i am a rare breed.

 

[Liar]

Who I am. Then to the point.

I don't assume that it's appreciated that I waste their time.

 

[LupusDei]

Were I'm living, small talk between strangers is very rare. Such stems both from nordic reservation and ex-soviet rudeness, in various combinations.

It still may sometimes happen if I had dealt with the person answering repeatedly already, particularly if we have met in person, but even then also only if the person answering have recognized me in return and signal openness for such digression by relaxed tone and/or a coequal question of their own. I may be more inclined to incite such if I feel like asking a favour with the business I intend, but too much insistence may easily backfire, especially if I'm a man insisting on non-bussiness conversation with a woman, with can be easily misconstrued as uninvited and even offensive.

 

[FescueFan]

... how do you start out when they answer?

Do you greet, make small talk or chatter?

Or do you jump right in with your question/issue?

Does it matter how THEY answer or start out?

We're talking a small, local company where somebody answers the phone, not a megalopoly that uses machines to answer.

I greet them, and then get to the bidnizz. Thank them if they take care of me.

 

[HisArpy]

I greet them, and then get to the bidnizz. Thank them if they take care of me.

The best part is at the end of the call when I tell them that I hope they have a great day. You'd be surprised at the number of pauses I get before they say a quick, "you too!"

Apparently most callers are rude and just hang up when they're done.

 

[neci]

*ring ring*

Company X, so and so speaking, how may I help you?

Hello! This is neci. I am calling about XYZ.

Let me direct your call or help you with that.

*chat ensues*

Thank you so much! Have a wonderful day!

...

 

[butters]

*ring ring*

Company X, so and so speaking, how may I help you?

Hello! This is neci. I am calling about XYZ.

Let me direct your call or help you with that.

*chat ensues*

Thank you so much! Have a wonderful day!

...

^^pretty much this

 

[Liar]

*ring ring*

Company X, so and so speaking, how may I help you?

Hello! This is neci. I am calling about XYZ.

Let me direct your call or help you with that.

*chat ensues*

Thank you so much! Have a wonderful day!

...

How do you pronounce ?

 

[hobbit.]

How do you pronounce ?

its pronounced 'you cunt' it fits most sentences and is a real attention grabber.

 

[hobbit.]

the better ones are when they phone you. game on...

either say ''please send the police, he's got a gun''

or if its the ''we believe you've recently had a no fault accident'' ..... ' yes thank for calling me, i didnt think you'd take the case on, the police claim that TPAC is a lawful move, BUT they never showed me a risk assesment, and the pedestrian was only killed by the flying debris not the actual impact, some details around who owned the vehicle are also a bit sketchy''

Or simply scream ''HELP, PLEASE HELP;;

 

[longfellow5169]

Always, always, start out by asking them what they're wearing.

 

[BrokenBarbie]

I’ve started answering all incoming calls with “Hi, I’d like to speak to you about your vehicles extended warranty!”

 

[FL30]

... how do you start out when they answer?

Do you greet, make small talk or chatter?

Or do you jump right in with your question/issue?

Does it matter how THEY answer or start out?

We're talking a small, local company where somebody answers the phone, not a megalopoly that uses machines to answer.

Depends on the reason that I'm calling, but I usually try to be nice by introducing myself, then asking how they're doing and then the reason that I'm calling. If they answered the phone with their name, then I try to use it to personalize the conversation a bit more and to let them know that I recognize that they're a person and not a machine.

 

[Conager]

I just launch. If they aren't the right person after I dealt with their tedious phone menu, they can say so. If they are chatty, I'll talk their ear off. If not, get in, get out. They have a timer on their phone and stats are being tallied if they are concise.

Every Taco Bell drive-thru says, "Hi! How are you?" (Some of them are pre-recorded) the KFC/Taco Bell locations have an overly-effusive recorded, "Welome to YOUR KFC! What can I get started for you?!??" Annoys the fuck out of me. If I am already hungry and cross, (likely) I ignore that and start to order. If I'm in a congenial mode I will give something like, "Just ducky. You?"

Safeway has a rule that each employee is required to greet you if you get within seven floor tiles of them. I circle around them at least eight times away I hate enforced familiarity. I'm the chatty is guy on the planet if you want to actually engage with me that's fine. If your boss makes you, just leave me alone.

 

[hobbit.]

Safeway has a rule that each employee is required to greet you if you get within seven floor tiles of them. I circle around them at least eight times away

Thats just fucking weird. why do you circle them so many times, don't you get dizzy?

 

[LLCox]

The first thing I do is listen to their voice. If they talk too fast or with a foreign accent I hang up and try again. If it happens a second time I ask to speak to an American then it's right down to business after I thank them for being American.

 

[neci]

How do you pronounce ?

that is the happiness and positivity shining through phone via the tone in my voice.

 

[HisArpy]

that is the happiness and positivity shining through phone via the tone in my voice.

So basically you're trying to blow electronic sunshine up someone's skirt?

 

[neci]

So basically you're trying to blow electronic sunshine up someone's skirt?

i don't try. it just is. most people are taken back when the mean mom voice gets used, because it so sparingly comes out.

 

[Sean]

"Hello, is this International Widgets?"

"Yes it is. How may I help you?"

"WHERE'S MY ORDER, YOU THIEVING CUNTS?"

 

[neci]

...