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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

No I don't want to call you. I prefer to email.

121 replies

ViviPru · 09/10/2012 14:03

I appreciate that some conversations require face-to-face meeting, and on occasion, some conversations are better over the phone than via email.

BUT, if I want to engage you as a service provider or supplier, I have contacted you in the first instance via email, then that means that I would prefer a response to my initial query via email. Not a reply from you saying 'please call me.' GAH. Perhaps I have not provided enough information for you to adequately respond, but if that is the case, let me know. Via EMAIL.

Jesus wept. Urgh - totally pointless AIBU but I feel better now.

OP posts:
GockandJuice · 09/10/2012 15:18

I prefer email! I especially hate it when I email and they ask me to call them back on a premium rate number, erm, no! I usually reply with more details and say I won't call the phone number and having a 3 year old it 's sometimes impossible to have a normal phone call plus I work to! Usually that's okay and they carry on by email but your right, is SOO annoying! I like email to as you sit and remember everything you have to say, I always tend to forget on the phone, put the phone down and think feck i knew i forgot to say such and such!

Proudnscary · 09/10/2012 15:18

except not but about

Original poster
ViviPru · 09/10/2012 15:19

Proud, I agree.

OP posts:
nickeldaisical · 09/10/2012 15:39

I have a serious phone phobia too.
I hate it, really really hate it.

and i used to work in a call centre (incoming calls)
i didn't mind orders, but i dreaded the enquiry lines coming in.

but i can't make calls to anyone, even DH!

Hullygully · 09/10/2012 15:40

i love lovely email

OneMoreChap · 09/10/2012 15:49

Nope, YANB at all U.

I choose the channel I want to engage with a supplier by.
If I wanted to phone them, I would have.

PostBellumBugsy · 09/10/2012 15:49

Another email preferance to phonecall - particularly for work. I want it in writing & I want to be able to refer back to it, when you wiggle on a pin trying to get out of whatever it is you agreed to do!
In an ideal world I'd only deal with my DCs by email too. Grin genuinely joking in case anyone thinks I should be reported for neglect mistreatment etc

Proudnscary · 09/10/2012 15:53

Yep I also like to work on email at work for those reasons - as reference/documentation (also I am shit at making folders and using the ical thingy so I use email for all my filing/diarising)

ZeldaUpNorth · 09/10/2012 15:56

Ha! just today i got an email (replying to the one i sent on Friday Hmm) saying

"Dear ZeldaUpNorth

Please contact technical support on xxxx xxx xxxx. They may be able to talk you through a solution over the phone."

My cheapo ipad (Archos 101) had broken i'd detailed what was wrong with it (screen not working-but not cracked) so why make me phone? ANyhow i did and the only question he asked was had i turned it off and on? Err i'm not stupid!

I like to phone if it needs sorting asap, but otherwise i can wait for an email.

Original poster
ViviPru · 09/10/2012 16:00

"the only question he asked was had i turned it off and on" you should have asked him in reply if he was always such an IT helpdesk cliche or had you just caught him on a bad day.

OP posts:
LittleprincessinGOLDrocks · 09/10/2012 16:03

YANBU
I prefer email as I can edit and rewrite things that don't sound quite right. Can't do that in a conversation. I always say something daft and regret it!
Email is a godsend for me!

Original poster
ViviPru · 09/10/2012 16:12

That's why I like it, Littleprincess. I far prefer the written word.

OP posts:
RuleBritannia · 09/10/2012 16:14

I was impressed the other day. I had bought a gift from Amazon and when it arrived I found it wasn't what I'd ordered. They'd sent equivalent for a girl but I wanted the boys' one. The difference was so obvious that I was cross. First time for me that this has happened.

Got onto their website and found a contact link. Got into it and sent an e-mail complaining. An e-mailed reply asked me to press a button for someone to call me 'now' or 'later'. I pressed 'now' and my phone rang immediately. My problem was sorted out swiftly but I asked the chap on the other end (American accent) where he was phoning from. Answer - Philippines and I wasn't charged for the call. Still waiting for the refund but it was only a couple of days ago and I had to post back (free) the parcel. Bought a superb replacement from Entertainer this morning.

Still prefer e-mails because you can get all the facts down and not forget any.

CelticPromise · 09/10/2012 16:19

Vivi I'm with you if I need a rant but it was just a non urgent query and I didn't want to fanny about pressing button whatever for 10 mins.

I'm also with you on the fish counter! Surly fish man in Sainsbury's took 15 mins the other week to do a hack job filleting two fish. If I wanted an amateur to shred them I'd have done it myself.

Was on hols last week and bought some spanking fresh bream from the market, lovely fish lady gutted, removed gills and descaled the lot in about two minutes. Sigh.

KitCat26 · 09/10/2012 16:26

I prefer emails, but DH when gets enquiries via email he always replies asking people to call (he is a tyre fitter) as prices can vary, even from day to day for the same product, and there are different things like speed ratings to be considered.

In his case actually it is easier for the customers to call rather than to-ing and fro-ing with emails, one phone call can resolve an order much quicker.

Original poster
ViviPru · 09/10/2012 16:28

I know I should just avoid the supermarket fish counter but needs must on occasion. I was LIVID when I got home after all that fuss about doing it, cheeky cow had the cheek not to descale them. I wouldn't mind but she'd filleted them so I couldn't descale them if I wanted to. Had to skin the feckers. Bah.

I find Amazon are pretty good like that Rule.

OP posts:
Original poster
ViviPru · 09/10/2012 16:30

That's a fair point, KitCat. I shall bear that in mind. Wheels are a taboo subject in this house though after I annihilated a rim on the PruMobile the other day again . I've only just paid to have them refurbished too. At £150 a wheel

OP posts:
EmmelineGoulden · 09/10/2012 16:48

YANBU

I kept getting voicemails from my bank asking me to call them (no indication of the issue), I tried to call several times but didn't manage to get through to a human being. After a couple of weeks of this I finally wrote to them asking them to write to me about the matter instead of calling. They wrote back, again without detailing the issue asking me to call them again. I was getting concerned that it might be an important but somehow delicate matter so called again. This time I got through and the bastards they tried to sell me stuff. Angry I asked the woman to read the letter I'd sent and then asked her why I'd been asked to call without being told the nature of the enquiry. When she said "it's a bit complicated to write down" I said how can something complicated be suitable to sell over the phone? But I didn't wait for the reply.

ModernToss · 09/10/2012 17:02

I prefer e-mail over telephone every day of the week. I hate ringing people I don't know (don't like ringing people I do know). As others have said, I can write the mail in my own time, have a record of it, amend it if necessary ... and read (and keep) the reply when I'm ready.

Lueji · 09/10/2012 17:04

I hate discussing complex issues over the phone.
I prefer to look at figures, charts, etc.

So, I always tell cold callers to e-mail the data to me. :o

Lueji · 09/10/2012 17:06

Surly fish man in Sainsbury's took 15 mins the other week to do a hack job filleting two fish. If I wanted an amateur to shred them I'd have done it myself.

Don't take them and ask him to do them again. Grin

There were not paid for yet.

Phineyj · 09/10/2012 17:12

YANBU at all. I also feel like this about personal phone calls especially from my MIL! I wish she would learn to email, then I could email her back with some news but just do not have time for 45 minutes 'chat' when she always manages to pick the moment when the dinner has just gone on the table/I am standing holding the phone completely naked having just got out of the shower...I don't think most over 60s understand at all that the landline has gone the way of the dodo for a lot of us...

HearMyRoar · 09/10/2012 17:18

I hate having to phone I like to email when it is convenient for me not have to run around at work trying to find somewhere private with a mobile signal so I can be charged a blooming fortune just Yo ask a basic question.

On a side note I used to work in IT support and I would say that turning it off and on again fixed at least 80% of the problems I dealt with. So a pain if you are not stupid I know but a blooming sensible question in most situations I'm sorry to say.

CelticPromise · 09/10/2012 17:29

lueji I didn't see them before I paid- went off and shopped and came back for them all wrapped up. I'm not sure I'd be brave enough anyway- would probably end up with another hack job that had been sneezed on or something. Grin

I'm not going back to try them again!

Original poster
ViviPru · 09/10/2012 17:34

Ooh I'd have been LIVID at that, Emmeline.

Fair point on the IT support HearMyRoar Grin

OP posts: