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?

Yep!

I don't do pointless social chit chat.

You don't really care how they are nor do they care how you are so why bother?. It's a business call. Say why you are calling and ask if it's convenient to chat.

I also absolutely hate those emails that start

Dear Salvia

I hope you are well.

I absolutely hate it when someone I don't really know asks how are you, especially over the phone, it's not like I am going to tell you if I am not okay so then you are forced into saying everything is fine when it may not be.

If it's a business call it should just stay professional, we are not friends and asking if I am okay when I may not be okay could be quite upsetting.

Asking someone how they are who you don't know may trigger feelings they are not going to share and are forced with a brave face and a short curt 'fine'.

It’s not fostering a relationship, it’s damaging it.

It's annoying and blatantly false, OP.

"Hello, Client Person, it's Turo from Estate Agency. Is now a convenient time to speak about your house sale?"

^ professional, polite, and to the point.

Exactly. The English are weirdly faffy. It drives many other cultures nuts. All the 'how are you' etc. it's just annoying. Just get to the point. Getting one point isn't rude. Its efficient. Speak nicely, state your purpose.

Perfect

You're the rude one tbh.

Oh, god, this. Just say what you want, and what you mean.

But you aren't asking because you care how they are.

Your idea of being polite may not be theirs.

It's not rude..

I hate being asked how I am by random callers who don't know me

I think you need a better way of opening the conversation.
'How are you?' is something cold call sales tend to open with.
The recipient is going to be defensive from the get go.
I would just introduce yourself and get to the point.

Doesn't mean they can't be busy and their time isn't valuable. You called them unexpectedly, they weren't rude they just gave you an answer that wasn't wasting your time like you were theirs.

This is so true!

But also try SE Asia where the number of phones calls I've had that have gone:

Me: Hello
Them: Hello
Me: Yes?
Them: Hello
Me: You called me?
Them: Yes
Me: What do you want?

I don't really like asking people how they are. It's a bit of a weird question unless you actually care professionally or personally. "Is now a good time?" is a much better way of showing that you value the client imo. If you want to build on your relationship with them then after you've done all the business stuff you could drop in a question asking how their holiday/new baby/big project (whatever they mentioned last time you spoke) is going, if you feel like they've got a minute to chat.

I think it means the client is thoroughly bored of meaningless pleasantries from random employees who don't actually GAF how the customer is feeling.

I mean, what are you going to say if I told you I'm pissed off at the interruption? Or the cat just vomited on the rug? Or I was struggling with MH issues and feeling suicidal? Or I had the raging flu? Or my mum had died yesterday and I didn't feel like talking to anyone at all?

You're still pretty much going to ignore it after a couple beats of awkward silence and continue talking about whatever your script tells you to talk about, whether that's trying to sell me shit or informing me of a delay with something ordered or cancelling an appointment or whatever, so just get straight to that part please! Too many times when companies do this whole thing of asking how you are, chatting about nonsense and trying to build up a rapport it's because they want something from you, such as your money or your time, so people get cynical and some of them might sound it.

Do you really want me to answer the question you used to open the phone call OP? No, you don’t. You expect a trite meaningless answer that makes people feel even more disconnected than if no exchange had taken place. I don’t like lying and saying I’m good or I am fine when I am not.

just respect that if you call someone without an appointment they may be busy, respect their time, and get to the point.

I never ask back! It’s so annoying when people ask you how you are when you all know they’re not genuinely interested.

Please do this. They know perfectly well you have no interest in their health whatsoever.

But are you actually asking because you care? If they said anything other than "fine" (or "good" or "okay" or whatever), would you actually follow-up in some sort of meaningful way? Otherwise, you aren't actually fostering a relationship, you're just spouting meaningless platitudes and patting yourself on the back for doing so.

This is perfect way to converse, how are you is one of the most annoying lines tp use on business.

This is so much better and.more polite than "how are you". How are you feels like a pointless annoying waste of time and certainly wouldn't foster a positive relationship for many people. Politely asking if they can talk now and getting to the point quickly shows you value their time and is much more useful for a client than a meaningless pleasantry.

This!

Ah you're an estate agent?

I can't stand it when companies phone and waste time with pointless chat.

You don't actually care how I am. We are not friends. I don't care how you are either tbh.

GET TO THE FUKING POINT AND LET ME GET ON WITH MY DAY.