|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 508
addict
|
addict
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 508 |
While we're on such phoney matters - how long before the computer gives up trying? The last several days I've come home to the same computerized message on my answering machine wherein the mechanical (or digitized?) voice mispronounces not my Polish last name but my fairly ordinary first. Don't know if this qualifies as a rant, but it's at least a pet peeve: I DETEST computerized calling and cannot imagine anyone being so desperate as to return a call from a computer! Particularly when it gives only a number, no company, no reason for the call, no nothing. Grrrr .
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
I like 'em really pithy (surprise!). if you can give them the repeat menu option I would go with Flatlander's, but winnow out even more words; to wit:
Welcome to [name] manufacturing. You may enter an extension number at any time.
to reach the sales department, press 2 for accounting, press 4 for shipping, press 5 for a directory organized by first(??) name, press 7
If you need further assistance, press zero or stay on the line.
Thank you for calling [name] manufacturing.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891 |
Yup, I'm with tsuwm on this one. The shorter the message the better. It is a chore having to wait through loads of useless information. Just make sure you enunciate so that people don`t have to redial just to understand what you said.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146 |
We had an answerphone for many years. When it finally gave up the ghost we decided not to replace it for a while and see if the world fell apart. It didn't. We've never replaced it.
However, I have always admired the message that Kris Kristofersson(?sp) had on an answering machine in a movie (he was a forest ranger in a tower). It simply said "Speak!" They don't come any pithier, do they?
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439 |
Tsuwm has it just about perfect. And the note about enunciating is spot on! I find it annoying that some machine voices do not take into consideration that you may have a phone with the dial buttons IN the handset ... so have to take the handset away from your ear to punch a number and in the two seconds it takes to get the handset back to your ear the NEXT instruction is half done! Arrrrggghhh. No way to fix that, I guess. Can't imagine they haven't thought of that circumstance and failed to correct it. I know that the answer is for caller to use a set with the buttons on a separate unit of the telephone. But not always possible ... friend's home...hotel... wow
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379 |
they don't come any pithier fitting that the pithiest would be in a wood
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289
veteran
|
veteran
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289 |
YARTalert I plead guilty and throw myself on thr mercy of the court. I received this from a friend of mine in an email and entirely forgot that it had already appeared here, I was so busy laughing.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 197
member
|
member
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 197 |
>>>in the two seconds it takes to get the handset back to your ear ... No way to fix that, I guess.<<<
that should be easy to fix. record a second or 2 of nothing before you begin the message.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
When I worked for Xerox, I was in the field. In NYC, Xerox had a number of field office, that Xerox employees used as lunch rooms. These facilities had phones, but the numbers were not listed as "Xerox", so customer did not know the number.
Sometimes, managers tried to reach employees at the field offices to alert them to hot calls. Technicians who wanted to have a work free lunch hour disliked the interruption. One technician was beeped by a manager, but wanted to wait till he had finished lunch before taking any calls.
A few minutes later, the field office phone rang– the tech suspected it was the manager. He answered the phone, and spoke in a very mechanical way "You have reached a non working tech rep at a Xerox field Office. If you wish to speak to a working tech rep, please call (the 800 # for service) or try again later." and then hung up!
The phone rang again, repeatedly for several minutes– before the noise bothered me. I answered the phone, all sweetness and light. The manager at the other end was hopping mad– and wanted to know who else was in the office. I lied– and said "no one" and then he asked if I had seen anyone exiting the office. I commented that I came to the site a few minutes ago, but had first gone to the Ladies room to wash my hands, and when I entered the office, no one was in it, and the phone was ringing...
The other tech reps watched and listened as a blithely lied– the manager wanted to interrogate me, but I asked him "how long will this take? And how do I account for my time on my work sheet? Xerox business?" Since he was not my manager–he ended the call. And I ate my lunch.
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,386
Members9,182
|
Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
|