How many times do you let it ring?

Hi rainbowfrogpops! You do learn something new everyday. I never knew that receptionists have a policy on the number of rings. What happens if you have lots of calls, and you just can't get to the one or two calls after the fourth ring? Does it go to an automated response? Or do you still answer it? How would anyone know if you didn't answer before the 4th ring was up?

Well four was the number to aim for lol, but I frequently got a lot of calls at once, so when that happened the phone would just keep ringing. However if I was say sitting around and just let it ring, my boss would get on to me, I think anyways. I always did my best to answer promptly. Most companies have a policy as to how many rings are allowed before you pick up, it's mostly to help the receptionist. We were not allowed to leave the desk, except for brief restroom breaks, so we would eat up front when no one was there. I found out I have the ability to completely chew and swallow a bite of steak, sip on a drink, and answer the phone perfectly within four rings.

That's great multi-tasking!

The wonders of call display eh! Hi cher913. Those are the worst kind of calls, the people who want money. They want you to pledge an amount to some charity. I don't mind helping, but not at these current times where I am also hard up. A few years ago, I used to pledge to a number of charities. Every year, they keep calling. I have to say no (or don't answer . Maybe next time, when money is not tight, I might start answering those calls again.

Yes, they seem to ring when you are at the middle of something. And it is usually the landline where you have to get up and walk and see the call display. Unlike the mobile, where we can just grab it from our pockets. And if I see in the display that it's a cold caller, well I'm always busy.

Yea that is what I do,I wait to see who it is so I know if I want to talk to that person or not.If I don't I press the ignore button that goes to my voice mail,which says "hello,hello,hello!,Oh yea leave me a message."*LOL*

I guess if you work for a service company, it is advisable to answer the phone right away. The next ring might be a customer wanting to offer the company more business. You don't want to be in the way of that, as that would mean more revenue for the company. Specially if you love the company you work for, and you show a form of loyalty.

Hi menolly22! I guess it's just habits right? Some of us who grew up without call display and voice mail tend to do whatever our habits were at answering the phone. If you got used to answering right away, you would always be like that. I am used to answering after the first 1 or 2 rings, so I will always be like this. But, like you say that you have childcare at home, I guess the parents would like their calls answered right away. Part of your customer service, right?

Ya, it's pretty much habits I think. I guess I think I would get a little worried if my babysitter didn't pick up the phone. I would wonder what was wrong! lol

Yes! There are other more important things in life than answering a phone right away. Like eating and drinking! Even if the call very important. Thanks for dropping by.

not a good response

Thanks for responding anyway.

I get what you're saying that ethically the phone should be answered within 3 rings, but with the advent of technology, that is call display, sometimes you just don't want to answer it. Specially if you know it is a cold call. In that case, you let voice mail take care of it. Thanks for the response.

That seems sensible enough! Sometimes, it's just budlay! Thanks for responding.

Budlay? Are you from my country? I was looking for the meaning of the word in English but I just can't

You must be really patient to wait that long?! Don't you feel anxious waiting for the 3rd ring, specially if you are waiting for a call? Or if you know who is calling?