Answering machines

[Anonymous-0]

I bought an answering machine,thought it would be a good thing to have when i'm not home.Well, today i had 6 messages and not one number i could use.I have a couple tractors advertised and most were conserning them. Two i couldn't understand there numbers they talked so fast,a couple didn't leave enough numbers for a return call,one didn't leave an area code and then a couple mumblers.So,i've probably got a few guys mad because i didn't return there calls.I've had the same problem with emails,a lot of guys don't know there correct email address.Sometimes the wife will call a few days later and give me the correct address,one called this morning and said she heard her husband give me the wrong address and waited till he left to call me.

 

[RobMD]

AND THEN once you've got the phone numbers from a few, you'll find out that they're nothing but tire-kickers and are out to waste your time.

 

[Steven f/AZ]

I dislike when people call and I just miss them, but they don't leave a message... so I figure it's not that important. Then they call later asking if I'm OK?

There's a reason I come on saying "leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can." If you don't bother to leave a message, I'm not calling back because it might just have been a wrong number or something.

On the flip side, I sure am happy to have a decent paying steady job so that I can afford to have a phone with voicemail and this computer and internet service.

 

[NCWayne]

I had an answering machine for years and always left a message saying what number they had reached and that if they would leave a number and message I would call back. I"d have to say that 99.9% of the calls and messages left were telemarketers, the rest friends or wrong numbers. When that machine died I got a new one and left the generic computer voice, that is the default, without personalizing it at all. The new machine was combined with a phone that also has caller ID and saves up to 45 of the last numbers that called. Now I very rarely get any messages left but if I check the past ID"s, once again, 99.9% of the calles are telemarketers. The way I see it, it"s like my Grandpa used to say, "If it"s important enough they really need to talk to me then they"ll call back"

 

[old]

Thats why I have the answering machine and caller I.D. That way it I can't get the number off the machine I have it on the I.D. Plus the ones that don't leave a message I can still call back
Hobby farm

 

[MarkB_MI]

I have a similar problems with callers asking about my rental properties. Messages people leave on answering machines drive me nuts. If it wasn't for caller ID, I wouldn't be able to return half the messages I get. Part of the problem is that people are so accustomed to leaving messages that they forget when they're leaving a message to a total stranger. When I'm leaving a message for someone I don't know, I always state my name and why I'm calling. Likewise I will repeat my phone number in case one digit gets garbled.

Equally as bad as the callers are those folks who won't state their name on the greeting, leaving callers to guess whether or not the called the right number.

 

[Anonymous-0]

FWIW....My 2 bros & I were inagreement that for my ma's answering machine, it would be better to leave the computer generated voice instead of a little old ladys voice. It was also easier for her, in that, when the power goes out, she doesn't have anything to do (her machine does not have battery backup).

 

[tlak]

Hate any call that is computerized and says wait for the next operator. Sometimes I hang up, sometimes they get"$#%#@!@!#$%, why do you thing you can call my house and put me on hold?"