Why do folks ignore voicemails in returning calls??

[dm200]

Why o so many folks ignore the return phone number on voicemail?

An organization I manage (part time) uses a Magicjack phone for many outgoing calls (local and long distance) because it is less expensive, but want incoming calls on our normal business line. Despite leaving our desired return phone number as the normal business number (land line), almost everyone returns calls on the MagicJack. Why don;t folks listen to voicemails?

[damjam]

I hear you. It's very annoying.

[HueyLD]

Why o so many folks ignore the return phone number on voicemail?

An organization I manage (part time) uses a Magicjack phone for many outgoing calls (local and long distance) because it is less expensive, but want incoming calls on our normal business line. Despite leaving our desired return phone number as the normal business number (land line), almost everyone returns calls on the MagicJack. Why don;t folks listen to voicemails?

Because there are a lot of lazy people. It's easier to look up the caller id and press dial.

[bungalow10]

If it's that big of an inconvenience, why not find an alternative to the Magic Jack that works better for your organization?

I don't always have a pen and paper near my cell phone. Usually that means that messages that require writing down a separate number for calling them back don't get a response right away.

[prudent]

I know I'm (potentially) guilty of this. If I have been playing phone tag with someone and I get a VM from the person, I know I missed their call, hang up, and use caller ID to ring them back. If the call goes through, mission accomplished, right? I know who it is and why they called, don't see any need to listen to the entire message just in case they want called back on a different number, then have to be ready to write it down just in case. Maybe that makes me lazy, but if I am always getting through to the right place with caller ID, that's just much easier for me.

Frankly, given that you are finding almost everyone is doing it, I see little hope of changing their behavior.

[Beantown85]

May be in part a generational thing. I know I will always default to using the number on the ID for the missed call, and really dislike voicemail in general.

[bradshaw1965]

Was against voice mails when they were in fashion and now that they can be universally screened or ignored without repercussions I'm a much happier person. On to email... (only slight facetious).

[englishgirl]

Because it's easier?
Because they might not have heard the number you want them to call correctly, but their phone remembers the number that was called perfectly?
Because most people assume the number you called from and the number you want them to call back are the same? Even if I played such a message, unless you SAY that it's a different number, I won't realize, and may not bother writing the call back number down because I know my phone stored the incoming number.
Because they might be driving and not able to write down a number, but they can easily call back the incoming number?

I'm sorry this is un-Boglehead of me, but don't be so cheap, and the annoyance will go away. I have no clue how magicjack works, but first impressions count in business, and if you're not answering your return calls because they're getting lost in the magicjack ether, then you're going to lose out on business. So whatever you're saving in phone charges is going to be lost anyway.

[Dianne]

Because most people (not necessarily you, but most people) do not leave voicemails correctly. Instead of reciting their phone number carefully at the beginning of the call, most people who call me leave a long-winded message, then quickly rattle off their phone number at the end. This means (a) a human who doesn't hear it correctly the first time may have to listen to the whole message again, and (b) transcribing systems such as Google Voice or Vonage may stop transcribing before getting to the phone number.

And so most people receiving calls have gotten in the habit of just reading the number off the Caller ID. This works most of the time, which reinforces the habit. If it doesn't work, they still have the option of listening to the message. When someone actually recites the number first, people still follow their habits. Also, many phones have a button that dials the number on the Caller ID, which further reinforces the habit.

My question is, why can't the Magicjack folks figure out how to transmit whatever number you program into it to the Caller ID at the other end? Then everybody would be happy.

[Boglenaut]

Why don;t folks listen to voicemails?

It doesn't make a difference why. You'll need to adapt to human nature because human nature isn't going to adapt to you.


... even if you are right.

[Imperabo]

Why don;t folks listen to voicemails?

It doesn't make a difference why. You'll need to adapt to human nature because human nature isn't going to adapt to you.


... even if you are right.

Such a good answer.

[Dianne]

I'm sorry this is un-Boglehead of me, but don't be so cheap, and the annoyance will go away. I have no clue how magicjack works, but first impressions count in business, and if you're not answering your return calls because they're getting lost in the magicjack ether, then you're going to lose out on business. So whatever you're saving in phone charges is going to be lost anyway.

Also, (to the OP), have you investigated what you look like on the Caller ID at the other end? Does the Magicjack project the image you want to project? I sometimes receive calls that look really odd on the Caller ID -- a non-standard number of digits, or a name like "SNFC MT-EV" or "Toll-Free Call" or "San Francisco." I don't answer those. Every now and then, one of them leaves a message and it turns out to be a colleague or business that I would have picked up for if I had known it was them. And then I wonder what kind of cheap phone system they have, and if they're saving enough money to justify not getting through.

For my own business, I make outgoing calls on a landline that is registered to my full name, and I have verified that the Caller ID at the other end shows my full name and the number that I want people to call me back on. It works very well for me. My clients take my calls if they are available, and if not they find it easy to call me back. The extra expense seems minor compared to the benefits of making it easier for clients (or potential clients) to contact me.

[jebmke]

I leave a Google Voice number when I am calling for TaxAide "business". When I make outgoing calls from home I just use *67 to prevent my number from going out. Then they have no choice but to call the Google Voice number.

[HueyLD]

When I make outgoing calls from home I just use *67 to prevent my number from going out. Then they have no choice but to call the Google Voice number.

Do you add *67 before or after the number you want to call?

[jebmke]

When I make outgoing calls from home I just use *67 to prevent my number from going out. Then they have no choice but to call the Google Voice number.

Do you add *67 before or after the number you want to call?

I dial *67 first, I get another dialtone and then make the call as normal.

It really works to their advantage to call back on the Google Voice number. If I am home and willing to take their callback I can direct the number to my home number. If I am out, I have it go to voicemail and it sends me an email. I can also listen to the VMs on my IPOD.

[campy2010]

In your case, you're asking someone to listen to a voicemail, write down a new number and then return the call to that new number. The Magicjack number is already in their caller id, so they return the call to that number. It isn't too surprising, really. It is more surprising to me that you're shocked by this behavior.

[Rodc]

Because most people (not necessarily you, but most people) do not leave voicemails correctly. Instead of reciting their phone number carefully at the beginning of the call, most people who call me leave a long-winded message, then quickly rattle off their phone number at the end. This means (a) a human who doesn't hear it correctly the first time may have to listen to the whole message again, and (b) transcribing systems such as Google Voice or Vonage may stop transcribing before getting to the phone number.

And so most people receiving calls have gotten in the habit of just reading the number off the Caller ID. This works most of the time, which reinforces the habit. If it doesn't work, they still have the option of listening to the message. When someone actually recites the number first, people still follow their habits. Also, many phones have a button that dials the number on the Caller ID, which further reinforces the habit.

My question is, why can't the Magicjack folks figure out how to transmit whatever number you program into it to the Caller ID at the other end? Then everybody would be happy.

This drives me crazy. I have a hard time listening and writing at the same time. Why do people all of a sudden speed up to spit out a return number? And then having to start over and listen to the whole da*n message again. Grumble grumble...

[Rodc]

Why o so many folks ignore the return phone number on voicemail?

An organization I manage (part time) uses a Magicjack phone for many outgoing calls (local and long distance) because it is less expensive, but want incoming calls on our normal business line. Despite leaving our desired return phone number as the normal business number (land line), almost everyone returns calls on the MagicJack. Why don;t folks listen to voicemails?

You want the return call, right?

Don't make it hard.

Business 101: don't make life hard for your customers.

[Crazy_Aussie]

I know with my MagicJack that I can re-direct unanswered incoming calls to another phone number. I login to my account on the magicjack website and change the settings and provide the phone number.

Maybe that would solve your problem.

[linuxuser]

Why o so many folks ignore the return phone number on voicemail?

An organization I manage (part time) uses a Magicjack phone for many outgoing calls (local and long distance) because it is less expensive, but want incoming calls on our normal business line. Despite leaving our desired return phone number as the normal business number (land line), almost everyone returns calls on the MagicJack. Why don;t folks listen to voicemails?

You want the return call, right?

Don't make it hard.

Business 101: don't make life hard for your customers.

+1

If you have competitors, your customers will most certainly call them.
I know that is what I do unless you have a service that I absolutely positively must have.

[LadyGeek]

This forum is not for making general complaints and is off-topic. This thread is locked. See: Forum Policy

Personal Consumer Issues

...Note that topics must be directly connected to your (or your friend's or family's) life as a consumer. General comments or complaints about these topics will be removed.

Note that this subforum has a much lower threshold for locking or removing posts than the financial and investing subforums. In general, controversial, offensive, pointless, divisive or mean-spirited posts or topics may be locked, edited or deleted (with or without notice) at the discretion of the moderating staff even if they do not otherwise violate forum policies.