Has anyone else noticed how hard it’s become to get someone on the phone at a business? I’ve seen so many standards slip since the pandemic, and one of the most frustrating is how some places just don’t answer their phones anymore. I’ve called repeatedly during business hours, and still, no one answers. I get that times have changed, and I’m fine with email and social media, but nothing beats a phone call for quick and personal service. It feels like phone culture is dying, but it’s still such an important way to connect with customers. What’s going on here? Is it just me, or do others feel this too?
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I think a lot changed after Covid. One thing I’ve noticed is that many businesses are using automated systems now, and some people avoid picking up calls flagged as spam. It’s a lot easier to ignore calls with all the filters in place.
@Wren
That’s true. I’ve noticed many people using cheap eSIM numbers, and those often get flagged as spam. I use a couple of them myself since they’re affordable. You can usually figure out pretty quickly if a call is legit, though—it takes just a few seconds. Thanks for pointing that out!
Honestly, calls can feel like a waste of time. You have to deal with small talk, you can’t share documents or images easily, and there’s no record of the conversation. That makes it easy for people to misremember or outright lie.
I manage three client lines, two business lines, and one personal line. All calls eventually forward to my personal number. If I miss a call, it’s only because I’m busy, and I always call back as soon as I can. Even flagged spam calls get answered if they call again. It’s not hard to stay on top of things.
I’ve been sending emails to lawyers, leasing agents, and other professionals, and I often get replies saying they’ll call me. But then… nothing. They don’t follow through. It’s so frustrating.