The Return of Ranty McRantypants

[the_other_sandy]

After waiting two weeks for notification that the car parts I ordered (and pre-paid for) had arrived at the dealership, I finally gave up and called them. The parts manager then bawled me out over how difficult I am to get in touch with and how much I've inconvenienced him. When asked, it turned out that he'd been calling my home number the whole time even though my work number is on file with them.

This happens to me a lot. Whenever I have to leave my phone number with someone (doctor's office, car repair place, pharmacy, car dealership, etc.) so they can call me back, they always ask for both my home and work phone numbers. Then they get annoyed because I never answer the phone at home. They get even more annoyed when I suggest they might have better luck calling me at work, which is where I frequently am during work hours on a work day.

Seriously, why do they even ask for my work number if they're never going to call it? And if they're at work making phone calls, what makes them think I won't be at work too? Do they think they're the only people on earth who have jobs?

Comments

[samazon13.livejournal.com]

Bastards. But here's and idea: just don't give them your home number. At all. When they ask for it, say "this is the number you need to contact me" and leave it at that.

I had the same problem with my cell back in Chicago. Everyone wanted a cell number, but I didn't want to give it out. So I didn't. Now that I'm in California and it's the only number I have, I only give out this one. When they ask for my home number as back-up, I say I don't have one. I do, of course, but that's none of their business!

Remember, *they* work for *you*. You get to control the terms of the interaction, not them.

Thus endeth your pep talk for the day. :0

[the-other-sandy.livejournal.com]

I do that now. The problem is with businesses I've been dealing with for a really long time, like the car dealership and the pharmacy. When I first started my current job, there was only one phone in the whole department and it didn't have a direct dial number; you had to go through the switchboard. Since my desk was not closest to the phone and I didn't want everyone knowing my business, I gave out my home number.

Now that I have my own phone on my desk with a direct dial number and voicemail, that's the number I give out. I also gave it to all the old businesses and told them to make it my primary contact number, but they all persist in calling me at home anyway, then acting surprised when I don't answer. Maybe I'll have to start lying and tell them my home phone number has been disconnected or something to get them to delete it.

[samazon13.livejournal.com]

Wow, that is annoying! Yeah, say whatever it takes to get them to actually listen to your needs. Hello, you're the customer! Oy.

-Samazon