Do You use or would You consider having an answering machine?
By ShepherdSpy
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
Omagh, Northern Ireland
October 29, 2009 11:51am CST
Would you think they are a good or a bad thing?
Have You experience of using one?
Would You recommend one to someone asking Your advice?
I have one at present,as I thought it would be useful to be able to pick up messages from callers who rang while I might be at work or out of the house..When at home,I'll use it to screen calls,as I don't want cold callers wasting my time trying to sell me stuff I don't need or want..the thing is,if someone doesn't leave a message,I can't know who or why they called in the first place,especially when many business related calls come from a switchboard that won't give a response from the "Last number called" service..this past week or so,I've had several messages left on the machine from VERY Ill Mannered callers..They don't leave any callback information,they'll just repeatedly say "Hello?!" several times like I was there to listen,and then hang up! I'd just like to be there to ask them not to call again,as I wouldn't like to do business with people like this..How about You?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
30 Oct 09
Unless I know who is calling me I like to use a machine, or voice message box, whether or not I am able to answer the phone.
As it is I just got a few calls last night. The caller(s) didn't leave a message and there was no call back number on my cell phone. I did give this number out when filling out my job application, but as I only sent it in early yesterday morning I don't think it was them. Plus, they'd be more inclined to leave a message, right? 
For once I hope it was those darn telemarketers and not something more important like a potential job interview.
Happy mylotting!
For once I hope it was those darn telemarketers and not something more important like a potential job interview.
Happy mylotting!1 person likes this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
31 Oct 09
I don't give out my cellphone number when it would likely find it's way to a telemarketer..I just give my landline number and screen the calls!
1 person likes this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
31 Oct 09
I use my landline phone to access the Internet. No one can ever get through with that phone number. LOL
Are you sure that the calls you are getting are from a business and not someone prank calling you? It's just a thought.
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
30 Oct 09
I have had an answering machine off and mostly on for well over 25 years and I think they are a good thing. Not perfect of course, but heck of a lot better than no answering machine.
You would think that having cheap answering machines for over a generation (20 years) people would know how to respond to them.
1 person likes this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
31 Oct 09
You said it..nearly every freakin' business and their dog now use voicemail services to keep current..you'd think with "customer service" standards being so important to their company development plans that they'd be able to get their heads around the concept...
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Oct 09
hi shepardspy I do wish I had one on my phone here as just about ninety percent of calls I get are bloody wrong numbers. Then it could pick up calls when I am not here ,and if the callers leave a phone number I can get back to them,When we
still had our apartment we always had our answering machine
and it was handy because we sometimes when out. then the caller could leave a message and phone number so we could call back
at our convenience. I really like having one.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
29 Oct 09
Hi ShepherSpy, I used to have one in my office at work but would never have one in my home. I just don't see the point. My home phone lets me put numbers in like the mobile does and it shows missed calls and it also shows who it is whilst it's ringing. We've only just started getting cold callers out here and very irritating they are too, I just pretend I can't speak Greek and that usually gets rid of them.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Oct 09
hi thea I learned the perfect way to get rid of telemarketers, just speak a gibberishly poor spanish to them, and they just hang up on me. 
@SQD444 (677)
• India
30 Oct 09
hi there..
yeah i think having an answering machine is a very useful things,.,,and thi can help you from loosing any importand calls.. i thik most people are ready to leave a message at the answering machine these days.. and thus we can make sure that we dont loose any importand calls or information or news
cheers..
