Answering the phone with, Hello....

[luckyg]

Would you agree it is very important to answer with your own name?

I answer "hello company x, Graham speaking"

DO you think the name is important?

I really do. The reason I ask is that I called two call answering services and they just answer with "hello company x", in one I was put through to the sales manager and he just answered hello very abruptly.

Am I being too anal? I didn't even bother going nay further with them after that as I think answering the call with your name is so important.

 

[saxondale]

never have, never will, i`m not bothered who I`m speaking too ........

 

[Drpepper]

I go with company name, good morning/afternoon. I hate it when you have what seems like a ten minute introduction i.e "hello, thank you for calling xyz, your speaking to fred in accounts how may I help you today". I couldn't really care less whom I talking too, and if I need to take a name I'll ask for one at the end, or a reference number.

 

[luckyg]

I go with company name, good morning/afternoon. I hate it when you have what seems like a ten minute introduction i.e "hello, thank you for calling xyz, your speaking to fred in accounts how may I help you today". I couldn't really care less whom I talking too, and if I need to take a name I'll ask for one at the end, or a reference number.

fair point. i do notice some people still ask me at end of call for my name even though i gave it.

good to hear your opinions

 

[AdamJ]

I don't think the name is important initially - once I'm through to the right person and it is going to be an ongoing contact then yes, but not straight off.

There is a book called Watching the English by Kate Fox which is really interesting and covers revealing of names - its written as a study on various English behaviours and is intersting in itself but also can be useful for work. One chapter covers revealing names and compares how in America the "Hi, I'm Bob" approach doesn't translate over here. Generally, the English feeling is that "once I know you I will tell you my name, but until then that is personal and I'm not comfortable reavealing it". From a sales perspective that can be really important - one of the most annoying sales tactics on cold calls is when someone asks your name and tries to strike up some kind of matey conversation which is pure Americanism - it may work there but its way too personal here.

(It is 'English' rather than British as the book refers to England only rather than the whole UK population).

 

[Indigo Cherry]

Absolutely not! I answer, Good morning/afternoon, Idigo Cherry.....

When I ran the private ambulance service, I just answered 'morning, ambulance service.

Never give my name unless they ask for it

 

[NuBlue]

Yep, I always say company name and then my name. Not that I think the caller cares but because it is poolite and it formally introduces who I am. This is usually followed by the caller formally introducing who he/she is.

It does throw me when someone just says "hello" as there is that feeling of uncertainty that you may be talking to the wrong person!

 

[AdamJ]

I used to work in Woolworths when I was a student and once answered the phone with "Mornin', Woolies Cardiff, what do you want". It was head office

 

[NuBlue]

I used to work in Woolworths when I was a student and once answered the phone with "Mornin', Woolies Cardiff, what do you want". It was head office

haha, is that why you 'used' to work at Woolies?

 

[Indigo Cherry]

haha, is that why you 'used' to work at Woolies?

Lol, I think it might be hard to work at Woolies now, even if he had an amazing telephone manner!

 

[NuBlue]

Lol, I think it might be hard to work at Woolies now, even if he had an amazing telephone manner!

very true

 

[AlphaTalk]

I used to work for a high street video games retailer, we had to answer with the most amazing long spiel, along the lines of:

"Thank you for calling [company], [town]. Where you can pre-order [big new game] for [amount] and get [pre-order bonus]... [Name], [Position] speaking. How can I help you?"

The usual reaction I got was "Oh, you're a real person, I was beginning to think it was a recording!"

 

[Indigo Cherry]

I used to work for a high street video games retailer, we had to answer with the most amazing long spiel, along the lines of:

"Thank you for calling [company], [town]. Where you can pre-order [big new game] for [amount] and get [pre-order bonus]... [Name], [Position] speaking. How can I help you?"

The usual reaction I got was "Oh, you're a real person, I was beginning to think it was a recording!"

Lol I would have hung up by the words pre and order!

 

[James1980]

Callers like to know that they have called the correct telephone number - if you simply answer the phone, "Good morning" there is a possibility they will then ask something like "Am I through to Widget Ltd?"



James

 

[saxondale]

Callers like to know that they have called the correct telephone number - if you simply answer the phone, "Good morning" there is a possibility they will then ask something like "Am I through to Widget Ltd?"



James

yes - the question is about giving your name too.

 

[arcon5]

Depending on the industry name can be important. For example, most of my suppliers I email over the order, get a confirmation on the price I worked out then alot of the time phone and make payment over the phone - so its nice to know who I am talking to from the off so I know whether to ask to speak to XXX.

But for retail a company name is all you really need! I operate under two different names so when I answer the phone with just "hello", the usual response is "is this [company name]?".
I have also rung a few businesses that have been working from home so the phone number you ring is their personal number aswell.. they answer with the standard "hello" which can make you feel like you are inconveniencing them or sometimes sound abrupt (even if unintentionally) - my initial though is 'I think ill go elsewhere'. Although most of the time they turn out to be very kind and accomodating - but have to work that little bit harder to counter the first impression.

 

[Drpepper]

Callers like to know that they have called the correct telephone number - if you simply answer the phone, "Good morning" there is a possibility they will then ask something like "Am I through to Widget Ltd?"

James

Yes, which is why I think just a polite "company name, good morning" is all that most people want.

 

[ThePublisher]

I find it extrodinary how many small business (self employed trades in particular) answer the phone with a slightly suspicious 'hello' without saying what the business name is. I don't think it sounds at all professional. If you give advertise your mobile number, expect to get business calls on it and sound like a real business when you answer the phone!

The worst I've ever heard (from one of my own customers) is a real strong Essex/London accent saying 'This is Jill and John's answering machine, please leave a message and we'll call you back' (names changed to protect the guilty)

Both Jill and John are customers who each run their own business, neither of which name is included in their machine message.

Fortunately when I called and left a message recently, it had defaulted to the standard pre-recorded message for their machine, which while it didn't sound professional, was a lot better than their effort!

 

[James1980]

yes - the question is about giving your name too.

One of our telephone answering clients request that we mention our name when greeting the caller, and in my experience callers tend to respond positively to this.



James

 

[Indigo Cherry]

I normally pick up the phone and say "Eenie Meenie Macaraca, Rare Rye Dominaca, Chicapoca, Lollipoppa, Om Pom Push - Can I help you?"

 

[akirk]

I normally pick up the phone and say "Eenie Meenie Macaraca, Rare Rye Dominaca, Chicapoca, Lollipoppa, Om Pom Push - Can I help you?"

by the time you get to Om Pom Push, I guess the baby has arrived

Alasdair

 

[Indigo Cherry]

by the time you get to Om Pom Push, I guess the baby has arrived

Alasdair

Usually right ON the word push! lol

 

[Indigo Cherry]

I used to work for a high street video games retailer, we had to answer with the most amazing long spiel, along the lines of:

"Thank you for calling [company], [town]. Where you can pre-order [big new game] for [amount] and get [pre-order bonus]... [Name], [Position] speaking. How can I help you?"

The usual reaction I got was "Oh, you're a real person, I was beginning to think it was a recording!"

Can you imagine having to to give the caomany name and location if you company was PATOSS THE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIFIC LEARNING DIFFICULTIES LIMITED and located in Taumata*whakatangihanga*koauau*o*tamatea*turi*pukakapiki*maunga*horo*nuku*pokai*whenua*kitanatahu

It IS a real place, sheck it out! lol

 

[ThePublisher]

I remember 20 years ago we had a telephonist apply for a job at a company I worked for. When asked why she wanted to leave her current employer, she said she was having problems answering the phone with 'The Grass Roots Group'

Sadly for her, she didn't get the job with us and the name was much easier to pronounce.

 

[AdamJ]

I find it extrodinary how many small business (self employed trades in particular) answer the phone with a slightly suspicious 'hello'

That is so true

 

[ThePublisher]

That is so true

We can't all be the Taxman afterall!!!