Which would you consider bad manners?

[mercyme]

I work on reception in a hotel, often on my own, answering the phone is among my duties as well as checking guests in/out, If the phone rings while I'm checking someone in, would you as a guest consider it bad manners if I answered it? My boss thinks it should be answered and the person on the phone put on hold if I'm dealing with a guest...I think it's rude to break off from the guest I'm checking in...opinions please

[bushbaby_de]

Can you not get a call answering system so if you are dealing with a guest the caller gets a message saying you know they are waiting and will be with them shortly, therefore putting them on hold and stopping the phone ringing?

[mosesg]

I understand your dilemma, I hate hearing a ringing phone, but I also hate it when someone is dealing with me and answers a phone and is on it for ages and I am left waiting, perhaps you could get a phone that you can put straight to and answering machine, then the machine can take the call or the person on the line can call back knowing you are busy

[mercyme]

thanks for all your answers....would love a phone that put them on hold automatically but alas, that would mean spending money and thats something the company aren't prepared to do in the present climate...it's only a problem when we're on duty on our own, annoys me more when staff from other departments walk past and totally ignore the fact it's ringing....aargh!!! I love my job too...just my one bugbear!

[Postdog]

If I was calling, I'd find it more annoying if it just rang and rang (and so would whoever was there if it was audible). I don't see any problem with asking the person at the end to hold because at least then they know someone is there.

[R1Geezer]

if I'm the person at the desk and the phone rings and the receptionist answers it, if possible I lean over and cut it off. On one occasion I called the hotel whilts standing in front of them! I absulutely hate the way the phone always gets priority especially at work where if I go to someone in person and there phone rings they pick it up aaaaarrrrrggggghhhhh! You are correct, a phone should not mean you can push in.

[Trotbot]

The person in the hotel has already committed to paying, the caller may be about to committ, so simple economic theory says the new caller is more important, unless you get a lot of repeat business. (Same principle as magazines offering free copies to new subscribers but not renewals)

Theory aside, can you ask the guest, answer the phone and if it is not a 10 second answer, take a number and call them back?