Have You Ever Tried Answering The Phone Without Saying HELLO?

United States
August 17, 2008 5:58pm CST
We are used with answering the telephone starting with "HELLO". This has been the first word we utter in answering the phone that is widely acceptable and has been on practice centuries ago. But recently, friends of mine attended an orientation on telephone manners and etiquette and were imparted with other alternatives on answering the phone without saying hello. I wonder if it could really be possible to change it since hello itself is a greeting by nature, right? But anyway, here is how they do it "Good Morning, this is _. How can I help you?". Conversations lasted a while but noticeably the word "hello" was never been told. . How about you? Have You Ever Tried Answering The Phone Without Saying Hello?
7 people like this
38 responses
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
18 Aug 08
This is easier to do these days. What with caller ID. You can just say hey! And then leap into a conversation. But mostly I will stick with hello. It is like an old friend. I's nice and comfy.
1 person likes this
@ari8388 (167)
• India
18 Aug 08
ya tried it but it is really difficult i m still unable to find a word which can replace hello
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Aug 08
When I worked I answered the phone by simply giving the name of the company followed by "this is Susan". At home we have caller ID so I often answer the phone according to who is calling. For instance, if it is my son, I might say, "hi Andy".
@Lxandra79 (1535)
• United States
18 Aug 08
I do that when a telemarketer is calling, it just gets on my nerves when they call...i just dont say nothing....and then slam the phone down!
1 person likes this
@roanne05 (1290)
• Oman
18 Aug 08
yes,,,i was call center agent before and we introduce ourselves and the company and what department we are in as part of telephone manner...hello is not used when i was there...anyway,,,when i use my own phone after work,,,i also sometimes do not say hello..i would simply say yes good morning, afternoon or evening...
1 person likes this
@neilchua (888)
• Philippines
18 Aug 08
well i have done that. maybe i did but i alreaddy forgot it. it's always an instinct for most of us to say hello whenever we pick up the phone. and trying to change it will definitely be hard for me. i'm gonna try it, let's see what will happen. lol. have a good day wendhieRN.:)
@zer0charly (5614)
• Philippines
22 Aug 08
it's possible for us to change it, but like what you've said, we are used to it. anyway, if someone's calling on my phone, and if I know them, I just ask them "why? what's the problem?" or "hey (name) why?".. but if I don't know the person, I will ask him/her on who they are before I tell them my name.
@elmiko (6630)
• United States
18 Aug 08
Yeah I got a caller id so instead of saying hello sometimes I say hows it going.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Aug 08
Orientation on telephone manners? I've never heard something like that before. Interesting. There have been time where I just said "Hmm?" when I picked up the phone. And that's only because I knew who was on the other line before I answered it. I do say "Hello" like 99% of the time. Saying "How can I help you?" makes me feel like some type of operator, lol.
1 person likes this
@momalisa65 (1971)
• United States
17 Aug 08
I've had to say something different when I answered the phone at places I worked before. But at home I always say Hello. Unless I see on the caller ID that it is my son and I say "Hi Brad" instead.
1 person likes this
@elitess (5070)
• Ipswich, England
20 Oct 08
Hi there. At times i get tired of saying hello so i say "yes" instead, and it seems to work, as yes is a positive response and encourages people to be more receptive and open to what the discussions leads to.
@mscott (1923)
• United States
17 Aug 08
I do it all the time. Sice caller id and cell phones let you know who is calling I often say many different things when I know who is on the line. Sometimes it is a funny reply and some time I just use an alternative greeting. If I don't know you it is though I generally answer saying hello. I guess at my place of work I use hello along with other words of greeting.
1 person likes this
@zeny_zion (1283)
• Philippines
18 Aug 08
yes. many time already. i will answer the phone by saying this is ????? residence, there are a lot of ways to answer the phone. even if you are woking in an office. you will say the company name like gandiongco realty goodmorning or gandiongco realty may i help you.
@jaffna (778)
• India
18 Aug 08
no,not even a single time..but i have wondered so many times this five letter word comes of all of a sudden while we call up someone...i have tried so many times to start up a conversation without saying it,but it looks odd for me...
1 person likes this
@subha12 (18441)
• India
19 Aug 08
it happens for me sometimes. say when i know who is calling and that person is like my dad or mom. i start by saying tell me.
@kellys3ps (3723)
• United States
18 Aug 08
When I was a secretary I had to answer the phone with the name of the business, followed by, this is Kelly, how may I help you?"
@Uroborus (908)
• Canada
18 Aug 08
I rarely answer "Hello" on the phone if I'm at work. People have to know that they've reached the place of business they were trying to reach. So, at work, I answer, "you've reached -----, at ------, How may I help you? At home it's usually "hello", but when in a strange mood, I have made things up just for fun. Things like, "Roadkill Cafe. You kill 'em, we Grill 'em", and other such sayings.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
18 Aug 08
i did when i had my on buisness. my grandmother always answered the phone with "all right" & she never told you goodbye. i usually just say hello at home.
@nytrisco (567)
• Philippines
18 Aug 08
When I was a kid and I was the one who always answers those phone calls, I seldom use "Hello" when answering it, I always use "Yes good morning, who is this?". Now coz you could see the number who are calling you, I usually answer it with through there names like "Nean! what's up?" or just "Yep?".
18 Aug 08
well i do and thats only cause my family and friends call and they know that i do that saves my breath lol