Does ANYONE follow instructions anymore?? (rant)

[Edwina's Secretary]

How annoying. The one that drives me nuts is when people do leave their number but, because it is familiar to them, they rattle it off faster than the speed of sound, so that it is impossible to make out!

And you have to listen to the message five times to figure out the number!!!! Sometimes I just cannot be bothered.

But it goes both ways! I sometimes do recruiting for clients. I will call the number on the resume on my house phone as I have unlimited long distance calling and leave the number - emphatically! for my office phone - which is set up for that purpose. If I could tell you how many people just do automatic redial! They just failed the first test....

[pomtzu]

I'm with Sandie - tho I do have a cell phone. The home phone is just basic service - no caller ID, call waiting, etc., (nor do I want it) but I do have an answering machine. I find it most annoying when people leave a message and are talking at breakneck speed, and I have to replay it repeatedly to finally understand it. But even worse, are the ones where people either mumble or talk like they have a mouthful of hot potatoes, and no matter how many times I replay it, still can't understand it. I guess if they want me bad enough, then they'll call back later. And no Sandie - the instructions are a waste of breath and the callers will do what they want anyway.

[finn's mom]

I listen to voice mails. I do exactly as asked. haha. It's just simpler that way. I leave my phone number any time I leave a voice mail for someone I know doesn't contact me regularly. Again, less issues that way. I also make sure to articulate and repeat. Simple. I'm all about keeping it as simple as possible.

I would record the message Karen suggested.

[Asiel]

I'm one to follow instructions to the letter so if I get a voice mail I do as it says, I like keeping things simple myself. I also will leave my number with a short message on an answering machine when I need for the person to call back. I have caller ID for the simple reason that we get so many calls from call centers - if I see a call from a call centre I just click off the phone .

[cassiesmom]

My mom and dad's caller ID shows on the TV screen when they have their TV on -- so now when the phone rings at their house, they look at the TV, even when it's not on.

How nice of you to hunt down the contractor's business card in order to return his call! He's fortunate to have such a thoughtful customer.

[Taz_Zoee]

I would leave a number regardless if the person I was calling instructed me to. Especially if I am calling from work. I never assume they have caller ID and know the number. You know what assume means.....

The fast talking message just happened to a co-worker of mine. She had to listen 5 times. It didn't help the person had an accent so it was even more difficult to understand. I listened to it the 6th time and actually caught a name that she didn't catch the other 5 times.

But the obvious answer to your question.............NO.

[Freedom]

I don't get it - why does every one spend money on caller ID? We did fine without it for years, and the cost ($3 per month, here) adds up over the years.

Same thing with paying for voice mail on a home line ( Quite different w/ a cell, of course). You can buy an answering machine and use that. You pay for it in a year of voice mail. Just not a money saver, in my mind.

Oh, the contractor, nothing major, just a handyman type, to clean my gutters.