Warning Will Robinson! E-mail Requsting Phone Call

Just when you think you’ve seen it all! On Monday I had a individual send me the following e-mail:

“Please call me immediately. I have some questions about working with you.”

Then, this person’s signature file followed with all their contact information. No “Hello” or “Hi”, no thank you in advance or additional information about what the questions pertained to. My initial reaction was “Wow, is this the epitome of lazy or what!?”

So, I called within an hour of receiving her e-mail. She was on a “smoke break.” I left my name, number and message that I was “returning her e-mail” and that she could give me a buzz back after her smoke break or at her convenience. She didn’t call that day…

The next day, I get a forwarded copy of the the very same e-mail! Yikes — talk about unprofessional (and bossy)! I guess this was her way of saying “Call me!” which I did — and again, not available.

Eventually this person did pick up the phone and call me after I did not respond to the 2nd forward of the original e-mail. At that point, I had called her twice and was not going to be bossed into a 3rd call because this person was so lazy that they could not take the time or provide the courtesy of picking up the phone and returning my calls.

E-mail is not meant to avoid picking up the phone and calling someone whose assistance you require. Nor is it to be used to reforward such terse demands without comment.

This person was someone, based on this very experience, that I chose to not do business with. That and she seemed put off by the fact that I didn’t respond fast enough to her e-mail request for a phone call. If within an hour wasn’t fast enough, especially considering she is making assumptions about my schedule and when in fact I actually received her e-mail, there most likely would be problems down the road. Can we say narcissistic? Warning Will Robinson!

This is a prime example of how e-mail should not be used in business communications. Specifically business communications with new contacts who don’t know you or who you have not yet formed a relationship with.

I have a perception and opinion of what this person would be like to work with. This experience told me this potential client would be trouble — trouble not worth getting into in the first place.