Doing Business Over The Phone

[Dana]

While Ideally it's a great way communicate. I really dislike getting details for a project over the phone. I would much rather the instructions be emailed to me? is this odd? I mean, it's a better way of remembering everything.

 

[jassilem]

I agree with you.. email with details is much better than phone calls.. I can see if you were just changing one small thing or checking on something but email would be preferred in my opinion too.

 

[Dana]

I agree with you.. email with details is much better than phone calls.. I can see if you were just changing one small thing or checking on something but email would be preferred in my opinion too.

He originally called me on the project Thursday. I wrote the basics in Notepad. He was going to call me yesterday to give me some changes, I sent him a message on Facebook. i told him my phone was charging and I really wasn't lying...

 

[Natasha]

It's your business...you should set the rules. Make it so that even if you speak by phone they have to confirm the specifications via e-mail.

 

[Alien Allen]

if it is business just remember unless it is documented it was never said

you should insist on everything in writing

 

[redliner]

Anything to do with business should have a hard copy present. Trust between a verbal agreement or hand shakes have gone to the way side.

 

[MMMMatilde]

In my job I prefer phones to really build the raport with my customer.. but when it comes to explaining the itinerary I much prefer email - but I really make it my own!.. No templates or any of the BS.

 

[Thornless]

if it is business just remember unless it is documented it was never said


you should insist on everything in writing

:homo:

 

[Zorak]

I think most would understand and be happy to comply with that.

I don't think it's odd, I'm not great at taking instructions over the phone either. It's to do with the type of learner you are I think. I imagine an audible learner would be suited to taking instructions over the phone.

 

[pjbleek]

business has to be communicated one way or another and if you have them on the phone just tell them your preferred method of contact..no need to be hypercritical of clients....

 

[Joe the meek]

While Ideally it's a great way communicate. I really dislike getting details for a project over the phone. I would much rather the instructions be emailed to me? is this odd? I mean, it's a better way of remembering everything.

In your line of work, ALWAYS use e-mail or fax where you have a hard copy on file.

ALWAYS have the final "logo" (or whatever graphic design) you're working on that you expect to be paid for have the customers signature on what they (the customer) is expecting to receive from you. Too many times over the phone what one person "describes" can be misinterpreted by the other party.

You make up 500 copies of something for someone and they say that is not what they expected, thus they don't expect to pay you (after you're time and materials have already been paid by you), you better having something in writing with their signature on it showing what you produced/created is what they wanted.

I dealt with a guy for years and he knew what I wanted. He changed graphic artists and what I was expecting was not what I got (the new guy misinterpreted what I was explaining and the owner never checked his work because if he did, he'd know it was wrong and said so himself). From now on, we always have me sign off on the final print and that's what I expect to pay for.

 

[Darrell]

if it is business just remember unless it is documented it was never said

you should insist on everything in writing

Documentation beats conversation.