Gentlemen, I pose a question to the board.
A provider friend has recently relocated to SoCal and has been very busy with her business and settling in.  Today she had a substantial amount of voice mails from the last two days and due to a technical foul-up with her new cell service was not able to retrieve them as timely as she would have liked. Now that she has retrieved them and with the limited amount of info provided by the callers is unable to determine whether they wish to see her in the near future, yesterday or today.(only info given was a contact number) With as many threads concerning the sensitivity some of you have expressed regarding return phone calls she is concerned about returning a call at what might be an inopportune time. IE: driving in your car with wife & kiddies.  Should she not return these calls if she is uncertain when they were placed and hope they will call back or take the plunge and call them back with the number they have verbally provided???. Many of you are angered when a provider does not return your call promptly and many are more annoyed when she returns your phone call at a much later time than you had hoped.
  I was just curious to know how most of you would prefer return contact to be handled, perhaps in the message include time frames, any time OK?, 9-5 or only for the next few hours?
 
  Your input would be appreciated here.

   FR.

It depends on when I am scheduling.  If I leave a message that I want an appointment next week, it's probably OK to call me back tomorrow.  If I want an appointment today, then by tomorrow it's an unwanted, unsolicited call.

I always leave this in my message.  "Hi.  I was hoping for an appointment on x date.  Please call me back either today or tomorrow between these hours, and if you get my voice mail, it is ok to leave a message. But don't call after that."

All providers outgoing messages should include the following...

"Please leave the date and time of your call, and also times that I can call you back, and let me know if I should leave a message if I get your voice mail."

Finish it up with one of these...
"If you don't leave this info, then I'll assume it's ok to call any time and leave a message"

or

"If you don't say specifically when I can call you back, then I won't."

I don't think she should call back anyone after the amount of time described has passed.  Also, I think hobbyists should not be expected (as stated above) to leave the date and time they call--although it may be a wise to do so.  I think it is reasonable for hobbyists (1) to expect that providers check their messages at least a couple of times a day and (2) that providers use equipment modern enough that it provides a date and time stamp for incoming messages.  After all, providers are running a business--and should be expected to follow good business practices.

I always appreciate some sort of acknowledgement that my msg was received, but I always try to make it clear that should I not answer to please leave a msg.  My situation is a little more flexible than most.
Arnold

imo, if a client has restrictions on when it is appropriate for a call back, then that info needs to be supplied.

with regard to the OP's question, i think i would suggest playing it safe than sorry. i would think it would be better to lose a couple of days, than to lose clients. the clients should call back if they are really interested. ime, it can take a few attempts to get ahold of a provider. one unreturned call should not be a deal breaker.

- m

Burt ...   A provider can check her messages 24 TIMES a day and STILL hear:

"HI, This is {car horn in background} I've been {some word not in the english language} and wondering if I could see you on the 10th {today being the 12th} so please call me at {some number rattled off SO fast that she had to replay the message one time for EACH DIGIT and then ends up with ELEVEN digits}

Yes, the provider is a business person - but all too often you guys mistake her for a psychic!   So say this:

"Hi, my name is John {thay all are, dear} my number is 310 five five five one four one four. {pause} It's saturday morning and I was wondering if you might have an appointment available this afternoon {or whenever}.   I can be reached at this number until 5pm and then again any time tommorow until 5pm.  Again, the number is {repeat the number, enunciate EVERY digit and please, use the SAME number you said earlier}"

When making a hobby phone call that I am uncertain of, I identify myself first, then try to remember to quickly ask "if now is a good time and/or can you talk right now". If the answer is no, then attempt to indicate a good time to return the call. This usually works well since the couple of yes/no responses on the other end of the conversation could easily be explained to family or friends as wrong number, or telemarketer type of excuses. Hope that helps.

Also agree with letting others know in your message, when and where they are returning a call to you, this kind of communication helps build the trust between the two parties involved.

I'm sure providers will be able to return their calls more promptly as well as professionally.

  FR.

Yes theres been a great deal of discussion on phone manners on both sides.
Heres the deal - do the "half by half" reduction theory

50% Have voice mail/message service   of THOSE
   50% will get complete info from gentleman as stated above
   50% will get very little to go on if any at all as guys hate leaving personal info

50% Do not have voice mail and no way to leave message
   50% of these prefer email contact only and respond quickly
   50% are on tour not available or perhaps not interested

Broken  down there are MANY variable which can deter contact. A person who has a professional organized set up will most certainly make it easier on all accounts to provide for you.
However often life steps in especially closer to the HOLIDAYS

PLEASE consider this guys. Its a crazy time of year. Have a little more patience and alot more manners.

This happens so many times a day. I was ROTFL when I read your post. Thank you.
Laura

Thank you megapig! You hit it right on the nose, man! I couldn't have worded it any better myself.
Might I also add that sometimes when I get phone calls I may be visiting with someone.....so, calling back in an hour is a good idea as well if you are one of those that can't or won't leave a message...{winks}

Happy Holidays,

CaMille

MP:  I've done what you suggest; including repeating my phone number. I find getting a return call is a “hit or miss” affair.  That sad truth is there are providers who follow good business practices and there are providers who are extremely irresponsible and unbusinesslike in the way they respond to calls.  Unfortunately, it is hard the know who is who without first making some phone calls.