Calling in to a Call Centre..Have you Ever Enjoyed the Hold Music??

@Jshean20 (14349)
Canada
September 11, 2012 11:14pm CST
I work at a call centre and one of the biggest complaints I hear on a daily basis is how much people hate the music that they had to listen to before reaching me. I often have to wonder why we don't offer customers a certain genre of music or even offer them the option of listening to silence if they don't like the choice in music. In reality if someone is calling in and they're already upset, having to sit through horrible music just makes their mood even more sour which doesn't help anything. Have you ever called into a call centre and actually enjoyed the hold music? What kind of music was it? The call centre I work at plays some kind of classical tune and most people hate it.
1 person likes this
9 responses
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
13 Sep 12
thats funny, i just hung up on waiting for someone to answer me at my doctors this morning because they have this strange music like someone running or something that gets on my nerves and stays in my head. yes they should have a choice. only waiting music i like is my t-mobile that has todays pop music on it.
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
13 Sep 12
I suppose it depends on which department you're trying to reach with T-Mobile. Sometimes when I call there, the hold music is an instrumental peice which isn't annoying at all but it certainly isn't pop genre; I bet it varies based on the department you're trying to reach.
@Blondie2222 (28611)
• United States
12 Sep 12
Well i've never really had to call into a call centre before but I work at a hospital and I have to call certain doctors office and some of the music on their phone when they put you on hold can be annoying too. Or some of them have the message that we are busy on another line please hold your call is important to us someone will be right with you and that repeats over and over until someone picks up. It's annoying hearing these messages when put on hold for more then 10 mins. Sometimes I just hang up and call back later because it aggravates me.
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
13 Sep 12
I can understand it becoming annoying after a while. I also hate when calling in and a song will start then 15 seconds later a voice will come on saying: "your call is important to us, a representative will be with you shortly" and this just repeats itself over and over again.
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
12 Sep 12
The company or I should say account that I worked with has a cool music. It's Christina Perry's "fireworks" but only instrumental. One of my customer doesn't know the song and she likes it very much. So, she just called in to be put on hold to listen to that song
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
13 Sep 12
That's too funny that she calls in just to be placed on hold to listen to it. Maybe you better find her a copy of that song and give it to her as a gift..haha.
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
12 Sep 12
I really never noticed what kind of song I've heard when I make a call. Or maybe that I just don't call often and I donLt pay much attention to because I was also busy. For me it doesn't matter what kind of song they play as long as it is pleasing to the ear and not those loud music that will break my eardrum.
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
13 Sep 12
I don't really have to call into a call centre very often either, it's extremely rare and I'm glad for this. I work in a call centre so I get to hear enough complaining, I don't feel like calling in and whining like the annoying customers I deal with daily.
• India
12 Sep 12
Hi friend, i called to CC persons several times, most of the time we are in need to stay a long and hear the music, some times i like it if i have more time to wait, otherwise i simply hate the music and cut the call
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
13 Sep 12
I think hearing good music that you enjoy would make the long wait a lot more pleasant. Having to sit there for half an hour waiting for someone and listening to an annoying sound in your ear would be enough to make someone lose their cool I think.
• Philippines
12 Sep 12
It's okay but sometimes, maybe the fact that listening to it longer than expected makes it irritating. I had encountered before an article if people prefer being on hold with or without music. The result displayed that most of them doesn't agree with the music especially those melodic ones. It's like the perception of waiting associated with music is almost negative. Even those ringback music I hear when I call someone, I don't like them, I still prefer the traditional ringing of the phone when I call someone.
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
13 Sep 12
From all the complaining I hear, I also don't think most people approve of the music. Companies are constantly trying to improve the customer experience so I really don't understand why these things aren't tweaked.
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
12 Sep 12
Yeah, sometimes there are hold musics that are really wonderful! like Christmas time... hehe I like the hold music when it is Christmas time because i like to sing along with fun jingles! :D I don't like the very solemn ones that kind of make you want to sleep while listening he he
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
13 Sep 12
Usually I've noticed that the music played is very mellow and it just keeps repeating itself. I wonder if they do this on purpose in an attempt to calm the customer down to a more level headed state of mind before reaching someone on the phone.
• India
12 Sep 12
I don't call too often at a call centre, but whenever I had I have always heard a good piece of music there. I never felt irritated at holding a call rather I have enjoyed that. I like your idea of giving choice to the customers whether they want to hear music or not.
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
13 Sep 12
I'm glad you like my idea. I don't understand why call centres have not implemented this idea, I don't think it would be a hard thing to build into an automated system and it would be more customer friendly.
@Raine38 (12257)
• United States
12 Sep 12
Well, at least it plays classical music, a step up on the call center hold music that I always hear, and that is some tinkling music like coming from a music box or something over and over again. I think the only time when I hear some really cool music when put on hold is during the Christmas season, and then again, not all of them have quite a selection still.
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
13 Sep 12
I also don't mind the Christmas music, a lot of people complain about us playing Christmas music though! I suppose I hear a lot of moaning and groaning on a daily basis, people will fish for something to complain about including the music they hear before reaching a representative.