From my house to my office, there is a "hole" in cell phone coverage. My phone will not ring, and has absolutely no signal for just a few minutes. There are quite a few of these holes throughout our region, mostly due to geography. We are at sea level and surrounded by mountains. The cell phone companies put up more and more towers every summer, but it never seems to be quite enough - especially in summer when our daily population about doubles due to all the cruise ships.
The construction of a building can also interfere with cell phones. Buildings of primarily metal or concrete can distort the signals for transmission or receiving calls.
Most days this is just a minor inconvenience.
Yesterday it cost me money in the form of a potential client!
When I got to the other side, I had a chime from my phone indicating I had a message.
Wouldn't you know it, a new buyer looking to buy a house, and he wanted to work with me!
Problem is that he left no phone number. The name didn't ring a bell, and the last name was garbled.
My recorded greeting does have a line about not trusting technology, and to please call again if no response is received by the end of the business day.
Unfortunately, "Ray" didn't call back. So, I'd like to remind everyone:
• Clearly state your name and the purpose of your call.
• Always leave a telephone number. In fact, say it twice.
• Make sure your voice has a clear pathway to the microphone so your message isn't garbled.
• Don't trust technology. Your number will not always show up on caller ID. If the cell phone you are calling is out of range, it will not record where the call came from. If you are calling from a government office or even a private phone, caller ID may be blocked.
• Don't trust technology. It isn't perfect.
• If you are calling from a cell phone or even a cordless phone, your end may be sending garbled information. All the more reason to state everything twice!
• Never assume someone already has your number.
I'd really like to return that call. I'm not about to ignore a live buyer in this market. But I don't have enough information to do so!
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Debbie, good reminder. Technology is great but not flawless!
Hi Debbie,
Great point! I think many areas of the country encounter a situation like yours from time to time.
I would write out your voice mail script and fine tune it to say what you need to say so others know that they need to provide you with their contact info.
If they live in your community, they should run into this problem too. Is this common with all the phone service companies in your area?
Gary - I'd seen similar blogs, but this latest one really bummed me out.
Dan - Good idea. And yes, both companies are about the same.
Thanks Debbie. I can't tell you how many times someone has called and not left a number, I just don't get that. They think I have the number with me at all times. Second of all, they have 2 or 3 numbers a lot of times.
The "say your number twice when leaving a message" is really great stuff too. Especially on a cell phone. That's happened a bunch where I'm trying to guess one of the numbers someone left. It's annoying.
Thanks again,
Hi Debbie, we have a few spots you can count on to drop calls or simply not get calls. I even warn people that I may have to call them back. Nice post Debbie.
Debbie, that sinks. Would it make a difference if you changed carriers? I do not know enough if that would have an effect.
True. In addition to possible cell phones not covering every location, there is also a chance that an e-mail never makes it or a fax gets lost somewhere, so it is always good to double check until you are sure you have reached the person you need to.
I'll sell your present home and get one on an approach where the cell phone works 24/7 on the way to and from the office! Seriously, you could have a antenna that your cell cradles and hooks into for extended service. The old brick phone analogs were great..bring one back to make the connection!
The more technology, the more problems....lol.
Debbie- I have had that happen many times. My home is in a hole. I've upgraded phones and it has helped, but I always have messages and my phone never rang. Good luck locating that client and I hope they return the call.
Thank you for saying this!
It happens to me a lot--I go out to some very rural areas, at times I am in places there is no electricity (yes, thee are still places like that in this country and don't knock it until you try it.), much less a cell signal.
People call and leave no message--then want to know why I did not check my caller id and call them back-they had no time to leave a message (hmmmmm did you have time to talk?) Well, if I was out of range your call never showed in my missed calls log.
Leave a message, be clear and concise in your speech and stop assuming the worst. No return call, assume they never got the message and call back,
John - Maybe I should change my recording to reflect that they should leave it twice! Don't you hate it when people think we are psychic? I have a friend who has two cell numbers but fortunately she usually lets me know which one she is using that day.
Gary - Thanks for stopping by!
David - Not really. We are pretty much stuck with what we have. This is Alaska, after all. The cell companies really are trying but many areas just don't have coverage. It's like trying to cover 20% of the "Lower 48" for only 700,000 people.
Bob & Carolyn - So true. Technology isn't perfect!
Andrew - Those boosters aren't much help here. They'd have to be like the old 102' whip antennas for CB radio and even then I doubt they would make a difference with our geography. Sorry, I barely got this house built and we won't be selling anytime soon! Besides, a home on over an acre just isn't possible closer to the office.
Christy - So true! Thanks for your comment!
Debbie, Great advice. We can never trust technology too much. I sure hope your buyer calls back!
Mark - My home isn't in a hole, but it is insulated concrete construction with a metal roof so I can relate!
Mary Ellen - I understand the no electricity. That covers MUCH of Alaska. The part I'm in doesn't even have roads from town to town, so many times I have to take a boat or float plane!
Roberta - Still no call, but hopefully someday he will know I didn't purposely ignore him!
I know the areas around Northern Virginia where my phone doesn't work. It is annoying but you are right sometimes you lose an important call. I've learned to speak slowly when I am leaving my number and don't know how many times I've had to replay and replay a message to try and catch a number spoken so fast it would make the FedEx man look slow.
Good advice! I've had more calls get pushed to me a week later by Verizon... So don't trust technology is a good one. I've started to tell folks to call me back if they have not heard from me because of this...
Good info - especially the part about saying your number twice. I always assume someone may be driving - or just does not have a pen close by - saying it twice ups the odds of them saving the number.
Debbie - I know this probably won't work for you being in the "Great Frontier" of Alaska... but, I changed carriers because Sprint/Nextel didn't get service in my office. I understand your frustration... Great post.
Wow, what a bummer for you. If it's any comfort, I live on the island of Hilton Head and this happens to me once in awhile. Guess it happens everywhere.
There's a cool device out there...check this out...
http://activerain.com/blogsview/229855/If-you-have-a
...
Excellent points. I always state my phone number twice; mostly because I talk so quickly nobody could write it down that fast. :-) I hope the buyer calls back.
Very true. Not so much a problem here but leaving the number is essential for someone(in your case a LIVE buyer) to call back.
Cindy - Maybe this guy was from your area! LOL I've played his message about 50 times.
Josette - Don't get me started on delayed messages!
Kevin - Or even hearing the number! I cannot tell you the number of times the prefix is garbled the first time they say it, and the last four the second time, etc.
Debbie Summers - It's not a matter of carriers in Alaska - it's about the towers. I do wish we had more choices because vendors here charge us so much partly due to lack of competition.
Diane - It can happen anywhere! Here in the summer, calls tend to go straight to voice mail when the cruise ships are in town. Forget trying to call out! Our population almost doubles when there are five ships in port.
Al - I'll check it out, but I know people who have installed those kinds of devices here with no luck. They haven't figured out a way to get tower signals to turn corners yet.
Gregory - At least you learn from other's mistakes. That's one of the great tricks in life.
Good advice Debbie, which I always follow. I would add to speak slowly when leaving a message.
I don't know if anyone else added this but I will...never assume someone is just not returning your phone call, if you leave a message but don't hear from them. Once in a blue moon, someone will leave me a message and I don't get it hours later or even the next day!
Wayne - That's a good one too! Especially when talking to those of us in the o.l.d...w.e.s.t..!
Pam - I think some people just don't realize technology just doesn't work sometimes!
I get that same hole near the Mississippi River and near the swamps where there are few towers. I do not have many people call me on my cell phone however. Our office phone was out for two days this weekend, it much like the Advanced Access of the past year. Have a Merry Christmas on me!
Similare to what many of us out here deal with on a regular basis.
Keep your foot on the peddle.
Oooh, Eric - We've got to find a new solution. Don't get me started on AA.
James - That's why I posted. I thought others may benefit. Plus I got a chance to gripe!
I finally found a carrier that gives me clear service inside my house - and I live 2 miles from IH35! With the others, I had to stand in one square foot of my yard (I live on 55 acres) and not lean one way or the other at all or I'd lose the signal. There are also "black holes" and "grey holes" that, when driven through, most carriers lose the signal - I've had to learn to remember NOT to make a call just before entering one of those.
Ah, technology, always interesting, always challenging!
This happens all the time to everyone. One problem that I have, and I'm sure that everyone has exsperienced this, is voice mail sometimes aren't delivered for a few hours after they were made. I like the line about technology. I'm going to put something in my greeting.
Debbie, SOoo frustrating isn't it ? I live in Southwest Florida where calls get dropped quite often. The last thing a customer wants to hear is that the call never came through ! Hope this is your best Christmas ever !
Hello Debbie, Bee here in Austin Texas, i have the same problem in my condo, as soon as i'm inside i can't get any calls, i have to leave the phone next to the door so it can get a signal, i use verizon and never had a problem untill now... i think i need the Iphone, my b-day is coming up jan,21(*wink,wink) Take care & good luck .
Although not the original intent, I have a solution. I have two businesses so I needed two outgoing voicemail messages. Since I already had a RingCentral toll-free number I just added a local number to the account for real estate. I have a web-based call log that keeps track of numbers, I get voicemail messages with caller ID emailed to me, and when I use extensions it helps me track marketing responses. So, until they get enough towers up you might to consider something like that...or just tell them to say it twice. LOL!
Your phone is as good as the service it is on check may be another company has better coverage in your area last thing you want to loose is business
Good phone service is a must-have in this profession.
I do believe in phone etiquette. You would think I was a phone operator or someone calling from the hospital to deliver a message.
Tricia - I'm sure you were happy to find a carrier that could work for you. We con't have too many choices here, but the beauty of Alaska usually makes it worthwhile.
Jim - That's part of the problem - the public doesn't realize those messages aren't instantaneous.
Bill - They don't want to hear the truth? Buyers and sellers? LOL I've never heard that before.
Bheesham - I've found that it's the service, not the phone, in most cases. If you have a friend that has the coveted phone, as them to visit one day so you can see if that is the problem.
Toni - You got my interest here. I may be sending you an email if I cannot figure that out on my own. Thank you for your comments!
Raj - That's an easy answer with a population density of over 7500 per square mile. Alaska as a whole is less than 2 people per square mile and the town I live in is under 12 people per square mile. Those of us not sandwiched on top of each other are very rural. We do not enjoy a lot of competition with our carriers in Southeast Alaska. There are many completely isolated communities with no cell phone service. However, I won't be moving to the big city anytime soon!
Latonia - A clear, consise and ariculate professional phone demeanor will take you far.
Wishing You HAPPY HOLIDAYS and Best Wishes for A GREAT YEAR 2008.
New York Certified Home Inspector Long Island NY Tommy Nassau/Suffolk/Queens Home InspectionsThis has happened to me, I can really relate to this issue.
Woah, Tommy. Thanks!
Jennifer - I got your email, and responded. Maybe we can talk tomorrow when I'm done working.