The Phone and Train Deals

John;

 

Unfortunately, some folks just have the personality and intelligence of the northern end of a southbound mule.

That is funny and just when I needed a good laugh.

 

Ed

Some folks are shy or cannot always think of what to say on the spot. Email gives them a chance to choose their words more carefully. Email also affords a written record of the exchange in case something is forgotten and needs to be verified later.

I never really thought about it before, but here is my take one the matter. You could call me, but if I'm busy and don't recognize your number, I will let you leave a voicemail. Then I will call you back at a time that is more convenient for me. So then, I call you back and you are busy or whatever, so I leave you a voicemail message. This goes back and forth in a little game called phone tag. Email is kinda the same thing as phone tag. I can send you message at my convenience and you can reply at your convenience. Sure, it takes what would be a 5 minute conversation and stretches it out over a few days, but that is ok for things of low priority or urgency. For situations that require immediate attention. Then I understand the need for a phone call. Toy trains are just not that important. Sometimes at work, I will speak directly to someone and say: "I need 100 nuts and bolts for this project" Reply: "do you need it today?" "No" "then send me an email" In this case, the email replaces a hand written reminder placed on a persons desk.

Plus, with an e-mail, you can reply at a time when the customer might be asleep, and not disturb him.  If it is information you need, that should be good enough.  If you need personality or personal interaction that a phone call provides, you might not get what you want.  

Each form of communication has it's bonus.  The difficult part is getting us to agree on that form and for what purpose.  And using the proper protocols that each form requires.

"I would much rather talk to someone than just do everything by email."

 

Please explain why this is necessary...since you're asking others to explain why it is not.

At work we have an unwritten policy: OK to try email first, but if an issue cannot be resolved within 3-4 emails, pick up the phone.

 

The big advantage of email is the written record, should a dispute arise.

In the cases where a phone call is used, the conversation is summaried, and emailed to the other party.  (also unwritten policy)