Fine. (Is this rude?)

[ChallengingFigureANDUnrulyFlaps]

Hello

If I phone a client, is this rude of them?

Me: Hi, it's ChallengingFigure from MyCompany, how are you?
Client: Fine

(client does not say "thanks" or even "how are you?")

This is an existing client btw, not someone I'm cold calling.

What to do you think?

Is it not a bit sad that no-one has time for a pleasant greeting? I am a human, after all, as well as your <insert job title> and we do aim to look after our clients and their families for decades so aim to foster a pleasant rship.

Fine is normally shorthand for "cut the crap, what are you going to try to sell me?"

So am I and I have no such problem. But often I reply “I’m sure you’re not calling to check on my health so what is the reason for your call?”

In my long career nurturing client/customer relationships, I very rarely started a call that way. It's a blatantly empty opener, and I'm surprised you don't get empty replies all the time.

I've just been dredging around in my memory. I think I mostly just said "Hi, Client, it's Garlic from Mumsnet" and waited for them to set the tone. If there's a specific purpose to the call or some big news, it makes more sense to get on with it as above.

As you're fostering relationships, you should know something about them. After you've done the business part, ask how they're getting on with their new car, nail extensions or whatever. Failing that, there's always some recent event or the weather. Even if they cut you short at that point, they will remember you showed an interest in them beyond "fine, thanks".

It’s…….fine 😆 They probably want you to get to the point. It’s annoying when people phone up and ask how you are without saying why they called. In fact, it’s a common tactic of marketing calls and it pisses me off. I’d probably say “Fine” too. What “Fine” means in these circumstances is “Cut the chitchat and get to the point”.

'Good morning' or even a simple 'Hello' in a genuine, interested tone of voice is a pleasant greeting.

Your clients want you to provide whatever they are paying you to provide to them in a professional and timely manner.

I'm surprised that people still go along with the 'how are you', 'fine and you' greeting because it's not very inclusive to people from other cultures or people with autism who may not know or keep forgetting that while you are saying 'how are you?, you're not actually asking how they are.

This. Get to the point. And check whether it's a good time.

It’s not a greeting, it’s a time filler and these days associated with people who want to keep you on the line long enough that you feel invested.
Also, getting you to commit to conversation or spending time before explaining why.

It’s a cold caller tactic. I’m now very terse. ‘Fine, why are you calling?’

Cut to the chase.
Good morning (polite greeting).
It’s Freda here ringing with an update on xyz. Is now a good time?

Exactly This!! I can't stand people asking me how I am, when it's a business call. They really aren't interested so I'm not interested in wasting time pretending that they care!!

Yup.

But it’s just BS though? You don’t care. What if the person answered

Now that you ask actually I am not fine I have IBS flaring up and my dw was just soooo annoying this morning and god I think I might have a bit of a cold coming on.

And then you did the same when he asked how you were.

If it's work, I'm not interested in chit chat. I'm probably focusing on something or busy. Just get on with what you want to say so I can make a decision as to what I need to do or factor in.

You’ve interrupted him.

You don’t give a fuck how he is and you both know it.

He wishes you’d get lost and stop taking his time up.

Youre probably trying to sell something and he wishes you’d fuck off.

** feel free to replace him with her / zir / it / they

I'm just amazed that someone felt the need to start a thread to ascertain if this was rude. 😂 It was a polite "get on with it" that avoided aimless chit chat dressed up as politeness.

They are the client so they aren’t rude. Customer can do wtf they like! Some customers like chit chat and some don’t. As the supplier your job involves sucking it up when it doesn’t suit you and doing what the customer prefers.

It's fine- just someone busy or having a tough time.

"How are you" is such an open question that invites small talk. They are at work but maybe they are not good?

I'd probably say -to cut the small talk dead- "fine thanks" so yes it was a bit abrupt

@Farting

head tilt - how are you? You ok hun?

Tell me you didn't read the OP without telling me you didn't read the OP!

I'm not cold calling them. I'm phoning them to update them on the project they asked me to complete for them.

But don't let that get in the way of being rude to a random on the internet!

They still didn’t want the call, were busy wanted you off the phone, and had other priorities.

I’m fine thanks for asking.

Thanks @Farting I'm fine too, thanks for asking.

By the way, someone has made an offer on your house. But I'll leave you to it, as you're so busy and important. Give me a call if and when you want to discuss. Byee!!

I hate it when, say, O2 call and they ask 'how are you'. They don't give a rats ass how I am and I'm already annoyed they've called me. Same goes with business calls - just state your business and let us get on with it.
So, you'd be getting a short 'fine' response from me too.

I’m selling 3 flats.

great news though!

Ok you lost me at your head tilt. And hun.

How rude.

It’s pointless chit chat, some people just are not in to it. Does not make them rude. Rude is if you are actively calling someone a name, swearing etc

They don’t care how you are. It’s a shallow platitude, and everyone knows it and it really pisses me off. Especially in work time. If the relationship is good enough, you’d never ask that.

It is what it looks like, a pain in the arse call to follow up on a sale that the recipient doesn’t really want.

fine!

That would sound ridiculous. They are no more interested in your state of health than you are in theirs.

Cut out the pointless waffle and just get down to business. Anything else is just completely irritating.