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There would be apoplectic outcries if I answered the phone in such a way lyringlas Send a noteboard - 22/09/2010 09:45:56 PM
i rarely have to ask who it is because it's just my own clients calling me... usually they'll tell me who they are right away :P also, caller id is very useful - if i don't know the number (unless it's work hours, of course [ or if it's unlisted {i hate that! :P } ] ) i usually let it hit voicemail and then i find out who it is that way...

i'm my own secretary and a tiny business. i am not the biggest fan of phones etc. but i'm very polite about everything when it's a new client. usually, though, i answer the phone with 'hey, what's up' or something like that depending on who it is.


We're a very large department for a very large university. Although I have a fairly advanced caller id system, and I have most of the numbers memorized for our 100 faculty/staff, I forget some of the 75 adjunct faculty whom sometimes call and also the randoms that have inquiries about the department.

Generally I know who it is, but I get the occasional person I have to ask.
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. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:19:28 PM 1558 Views
I think "May I ask who's calling" is more polite. Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:26:55 PM 984 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:31:17 PM 945 Views
Well, but... Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:42:22 PM 1028 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:05:01 PM 902 Views
you may not BE a receptionist... LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:20:09 PM 1055 Views
"And your name, so I can tell (the person you asked for)?" *NM* Hezzah - 23/09/2010 12:34:18 AM 456 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:33:24 PM 1019 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:38:45 PM 855 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:55:34 PM 1200 Views
Well, the whole asking permission bit is part of being polite. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 09:05:43 PM 422 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:06:47 PM 899 Views
Not so good for the phone answering, then. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:29:34 PM 454 Views
Hmm... Isaac - 22/09/2010 08:59:23 PM 1054 Views
It's "who" *NM* Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:50:15 PM 450 Views
Quite true Isaac - 22/09/2010 10:07:46 PM 1002 Views
I say, "May I ask who's calling?" Tigr - 22/09/2010 09:00:10 PM 991 Views
What do you do if they say "No" ? TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:43:42 PM 933 Views
Than you say. ''Ok." They may have a reason for not disclosing their name. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:56 PM 945 Views
That reason is often that they are nutters. M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 10:29:19 PM 1058 Views
I hate it when people pull the "attorney-client privilege" thing. Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:31:01 PM 855 Views
They are almost invariably nutters. Elaine - 23/09/2010 01:45:41 PM 1298 Views
Ah, you mean because they want to sell my boss storm windows or vinyl siding. *NM* TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 10:30:15 PM 457 Views
Tools! Tigr - 22/09/2010 10:13:32 PM 925 Views
I usually ask: "Who am I speaking with, again?" ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:12:29 PM 1031 Views
I'm of the opinion that when you are at work, you represent your employer M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 09:14:58 PM 1158 Views
^ this. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:23:00 PM 432 Views
Re: I'm of the opinion that when you are at work, you represent your employer lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:42:29 PM 1076 Views
+1 *NM* Rebekah - 22/09/2010 10:10:59 PM 517 Views
I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:27:05 PM 1071 Views
Re: I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:40:10 PM 1090 Views
well, i can sympathize with that a bit at least LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:00:34 PM 1221 Views
"Who should I say is calling?" *NM* TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:41:57 PM 427 Views
This. It's polite, and asks the question correctly. beetnemesis - 23/09/2010 02:05:01 AM 900 Views
I usually say "Who may I say is calling?" but that works too... Tom - 23/09/2010 01:59:03 PM 1312 Views
language games..... temeraire - 22/09/2010 09:42:35 PM 980 Views
There would be apoplectic outcries if I answered the phone in such a way lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:45:56 PM 1129 Views
yeah.... i'm happy i get to be informal! temeraire - 23/09/2010 02:58:31 AM 1006 Views
Who is this? is unprofessional random thoughts - 22/09/2010 09:45:05 PM 1007 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:48:58 PM 1177 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:54:13 PM 971 Views
it is not US standards. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:03:47 PM 445 Views
good. *NM* ironclad - 22/09/2010 10:13:22 PM 513 Views
I generally don't because BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 10:43:38 PM 871 Views
well fair enough... ironclad - 23/09/2010 08:07:08 AM 973 Views
it doesn't matter if you HAVE to know their name. LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:07:18 PM 1048 Views
You don’t have to transfer for them if they refuse but you should still ask politely random thoughts - 22/09/2010 10:31:55 PM 1042 Views
You are being silly and immature. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:20 PM 859 Views
Thanks for your input? lyringlas - 22/09/2010 10:17:21 PM 1078 Views
I usually say, "B*tch, who you be!?" Mats Gambling Buddy - 22/09/2010 10:13:57 PM 963 Views
Do you pronounce that with a click sound? Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 10:15:29 PM 989 Views
And I be all, like, sobbing and crying cause you're a rude jerk. And then you laugh at me some more TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 10:33:38 PM 945 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? Zeeb - 22/09/2010 10:29:33 PM 805 Views
Perfect. *NM* Avendesora - 23/09/2010 12:47:14 AM 507 Views
No you are *NM* Zeeb - 23/09/2010 11:53:07 AM 500 Views
Please stop splitting hairs. You're way is simply inccorrect. You cannot justify the rudeness away. M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 10:49:05 PM 1091 Views
politeness is practically the definition of professionalism. LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:37:27 AM 1015 Views
Who is this? always comes across as rude. *NM* Chas - 22/09/2010 11:17:31 PM 429 Views
"Who may I say is calling, please?" is short and polite. Tashmere - 23/09/2010 01:13:43 AM 933 Views
when someone asks me "may I ask who's calling?"... damookster - 23/09/2010 03:29:30 AM 907 Views
that's because you're a tool LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:39:08 AM 1237 Views
because it amuses me *NM* damookster - 23/09/2010 03:41:18 AM 455 Views
It's quite simple, really. Do you like getting paid? Then answer the phone the way your boss wants *NM* Missa Sedai - 24/09/2010 03:46:24 AM 493 Views
Huh Sareitha Sedai - 15/07/2015 02:06:55 PM 529 Views
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