Gracy Bee

Telephone Etiquettes

Posted on February 8th, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: General.

I don’t dare to say I have the perfect phone etiquettes, but I can say I have more or less the basic manners when I’m talking on the phone. And obviously depending whom I’m talking to, I executed different manners. For eg, when talking with friends, then we can speak like nobody’s business; when talking to someone you never know before, then it has to be different.

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All these while while at work or calling to companies in different countries, I have faced with different types of phone etiquettes all influenced by the different cultures. There are some who are nice and professional, while there are others sad to say are a bit out of the way.

There are particularly two types that can really pissed me off. Recently at work, I have encountered these. And it is really not a good experience I have to say.

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The 1st type: talking speed is faster than a machine gun

This is how the conversation goes.

Phone rings. I pick up the phone

Me: Hello, this is YYY.
She:IamcallingfromDcompanyweboughttvfromubeforebutudincome
collectchequesinceyourbossnoeABCsoipassedthemand ucollectfromherok?
Me: (??) hmm..I’m sorry where did you say you’re from?
She: Dcompany
Me: ehm.. you are from T company?
She: DCOMPANY!!
Me: ok…I’m sorry. Hmm.. how about this. Why not you give me your phone number I’ll tell my boss about it.
She: threefoursixsevenoneeightfour (in mandarin)
Me: three four six four one eight four
She: NO!!SEVENONEEIGHTFOUR la! Howcomeyouallalwayslistenwronglyone???
Me: Well, you are speaking so fast, my ear need my time to adjust. I’m sorry I will tell my boss what you have said, and if she don’t understand she will call you ok?
She: ok *phone down*

Well, I think it is the basic courtesy that if you are speaking to someone she/he don’t know much of the contents you are saying then you have to speak SLOWER and CLEARER.

The 2nd type: 1st time caller to you they expected you to know who they are

Phone rings. I pick the phone.

Me: Hello, this is YYY
X: Hello, I tell you ah, my tv very spoilt liao…ask someone to come and fix ok?
Me: Sure, no problem with that, can I have your particulars please so that I can arrange for an appointment?
X: no need la…your boss know me one…you tell him I called then he knows who I am already
Me: Well, at least can I have your name and telephone number?
X: I tell you NO NEED LA! OK AH….I WAIT FOR FOR THE TECHNICIAN BYE!
Me: ??!!

Well, please have the courtesy to state who you are and the address la. If you are a frequent caller and i personally know you then is fine la…But obviously when I don’t know then tell me la…. I can’t see you thru the phone and it wouldn’t kill you by telling your name right?

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