These Guys Are Going to Have Long Frustrating Day

[Dips]

Eugene is out of the office today. Unfortunately it's because he needs to have a melanoma removed.

One of our more clueless resellers has been calling the main number and hanging up repeatedly when either I or Mark answers the phone.

When we checked Eugene's voice mail and found yet another hangup from the same number we realized they must be trying to reach him directly.

Has the fact that they couldn't reach Eugene at his direct extension stopped them from continuing the main number and hanging up when Eugene doesn't answer?

Nope. Apparently it hasn't occured to them that each of our employees, Eugene included, takes time off now and then.

Of course we'd be happy to fill them and let them know that Eugene has a life outside of work (and is obviously doing something a BIT more imporant than answering phone calls from dealers right now).

And, of course, we'd also be happy to help them out with whatever it is they need from us. It's our job to cover for each other, after all.

But it's kind of hard to help someone who hangs up the exact moment you pick up the phone.

[TexasT]

Could you answer it, "Hello, Eugene.....is out of the office today"

[persephone]

Hope Eugene is okay! I'll be thinking about him.

And those people are idiots. It's like the people who hang up in phone ques and call back because they're sick of waiting. Just going to make the wait longer! Seriously -- just talk to whoever answers -- they can either transfer you to Eugene or tell you what's going on! What's so hard about that?

[Dips]

Could you answer it, "Hello, Eugene.....is out of the office today"

They've been hanging up before I get two words out so that would be difficult.

Don't forget they've never bothered to actually ask to speak to Eugene or leave a message for him. We take our cues from our callers. If it's not important enough to ask about or leave a message about, then it's not important enough for us to go to any extra effort over.

Hope Eugene is okay! I'll be thinking about him.

Thanks! A few minutes after my first post, Eugene called Mark and he's doing well. He has to wait for test results but they think they got it all.

He was *apologizing* because he didn't think he could make it in this afternoon.

Mark told him not to even thing about and to take tomorrow off if he doesn't feel 100%. Hopefully he feels better.

[EricKei]

If it's not important enough to ask about or leave a message about, then it's not important enough for us to go to any extra effort over.

This is my mantra, both at home AND at work ^_^

I hope he is OK! He certainly sounds chipper about it

[Boozy]

Could you answer it, "Hello, Eugene.....is out of the office today"

I get so many phone calls for my boss at work. One day it reached the point where I just picked up and said, "Good afternoon, Boozy's Wine Purveyors, Linda's not here."

It was Linda. Oops.

[Ironclad Alibi]

This reminds me of a phone message I recently got on my business line. I'm a patent agent, and help people file patent applications. One guy calls, says this is the 4th number he's called, and no one will answer so he can tell them about his invention. He doesn't want to leave his phone number so I can call him back. He says to answer now, or lose out. His final words were "Too bad, you lose my money." He was calling at 3 am.