How do I politely refuse scheduling phone calls and redirect to email instead?

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP





.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;







up vote
2
down vote

favorite












At my job I regularly receive calls and emails from people who want to make certain kinds of offers to sell my team some services, which don't interest me 95% of the time, although they could be interesting sometimes. Note that it's not part of my job responsibilities to take calls, or to accept or process these offers, it's something that I could do or not (I don't want to provide too many details about my job but let's say I manage a small group and have a large degree of autonomy).



I don't want to waste time talking on the phone to these people. I'm a busy person and I find that the phone is an extremely inefficient use of my time: if a call is unscheduled it interrupts whatever I'm doing, and even if it's scheduled, I have to allocate a slot for it, probably with some slack just in case it gets long, so it creates a large disruption in my calendar for something that in the overwhelming majority of the cases I could dismiss in 2 minutes if they just emailed me with their offers. Maybe in the 5% of the cases where I'm actually interested in the offer, a call might be worth it, but definitely not in the other 95%!



My problem is that, while when they phone me directly I just say that I don't take commercial calls and hang up, as I find totally rude to just phone and interrupt someone who you don't know (yes, clearly I'm not a phone person...); sometimes I get very polite emails asking me to arrange a time for a call. I don't want to do it for the reasons stated above, but I'm a nice person and it feels bad to respond to a polite email with a blunt denial.



I would be grateful for any tips on how to handle this kind of email requests so as to not have to waste time on the phone, while not coming across as a jerk, as I'm not good at this kind of diplomacy.







share|improve this question







New contributor




Al-Khwarizmi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
























    up vote
    2
    down vote

    favorite












    At my job I regularly receive calls and emails from people who want to make certain kinds of offers to sell my team some services, which don't interest me 95% of the time, although they could be interesting sometimes. Note that it's not part of my job responsibilities to take calls, or to accept or process these offers, it's something that I could do or not (I don't want to provide too many details about my job but let's say I manage a small group and have a large degree of autonomy).



    I don't want to waste time talking on the phone to these people. I'm a busy person and I find that the phone is an extremely inefficient use of my time: if a call is unscheduled it interrupts whatever I'm doing, and even if it's scheduled, I have to allocate a slot for it, probably with some slack just in case it gets long, so it creates a large disruption in my calendar for something that in the overwhelming majority of the cases I could dismiss in 2 minutes if they just emailed me with their offers. Maybe in the 5% of the cases where I'm actually interested in the offer, a call might be worth it, but definitely not in the other 95%!



    My problem is that, while when they phone me directly I just say that I don't take commercial calls and hang up, as I find totally rude to just phone and interrupt someone who you don't know (yes, clearly I'm not a phone person...); sometimes I get very polite emails asking me to arrange a time for a call. I don't want to do it for the reasons stated above, but I'm a nice person and it feels bad to respond to a polite email with a blunt denial.



    I would be grateful for any tips on how to handle this kind of email requests so as to not have to waste time on the phone, while not coming across as a jerk, as I'm not good at this kind of diplomacy.







    share|improve this question







    New contributor




    Al-Khwarizmi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.




















      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite











      At my job I regularly receive calls and emails from people who want to make certain kinds of offers to sell my team some services, which don't interest me 95% of the time, although they could be interesting sometimes. Note that it's not part of my job responsibilities to take calls, or to accept or process these offers, it's something that I could do or not (I don't want to provide too many details about my job but let's say I manage a small group and have a large degree of autonomy).



      I don't want to waste time talking on the phone to these people. I'm a busy person and I find that the phone is an extremely inefficient use of my time: if a call is unscheduled it interrupts whatever I'm doing, and even if it's scheduled, I have to allocate a slot for it, probably with some slack just in case it gets long, so it creates a large disruption in my calendar for something that in the overwhelming majority of the cases I could dismiss in 2 minutes if they just emailed me with their offers. Maybe in the 5% of the cases where I'm actually interested in the offer, a call might be worth it, but definitely not in the other 95%!



      My problem is that, while when they phone me directly I just say that I don't take commercial calls and hang up, as I find totally rude to just phone and interrupt someone who you don't know (yes, clearly I'm not a phone person...); sometimes I get very polite emails asking me to arrange a time for a call. I don't want to do it for the reasons stated above, but I'm a nice person and it feels bad to respond to a polite email with a blunt denial.



      I would be grateful for any tips on how to handle this kind of email requests so as to not have to waste time on the phone, while not coming across as a jerk, as I'm not good at this kind of diplomacy.







      share|improve this question







      New contributor




      Al-Khwarizmi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.










      At my job I regularly receive calls and emails from people who want to make certain kinds of offers to sell my team some services, which don't interest me 95% of the time, although they could be interesting sometimes. Note that it's not part of my job responsibilities to take calls, or to accept or process these offers, it's something that I could do or not (I don't want to provide too many details about my job but let's say I manage a small group and have a large degree of autonomy).



      I don't want to waste time talking on the phone to these people. I'm a busy person and I find that the phone is an extremely inefficient use of my time: if a call is unscheduled it interrupts whatever I'm doing, and even if it's scheduled, I have to allocate a slot for it, probably with some slack just in case it gets long, so it creates a large disruption in my calendar for something that in the overwhelming majority of the cases I could dismiss in 2 minutes if they just emailed me with their offers. Maybe in the 5% of the cases where I'm actually interested in the offer, a call might be worth it, but definitely not in the other 95%!



      My problem is that, while when they phone me directly I just say that I don't take commercial calls and hang up, as I find totally rude to just phone and interrupt someone who you don't know (yes, clearly I'm not a phone person...); sometimes I get very polite emails asking me to arrange a time for a call. I don't want to do it for the reasons stated above, but I'm a nice person and it feels bad to respond to a polite email with a blunt denial.



      I would be grateful for any tips on how to handle this kind of email requests so as to not have to waste time on the phone, while not coming across as a jerk, as I'm not good at this kind of diplomacy.









      share|improve this question







      New contributor




      Al-Khwarizmi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.









      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question






      New contributor




      Al-Khwarizmi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.









      asked Sep 6 at 9:41









      Al-Khwarizmi

      1193




      1193




      New contributor




      Al-Khwarizmi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.





      New contributor





      Al-Khwarizmi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.






      Al-Khwarizmi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.




















          3 Answers
          3






          active

          oldest

          votes

















          up vote
          6
          down vote



          accepted











          How do I politely refuse scheduling phone calls and redirect to email
          instead?




          You have a couple of choices. First you can ignore them. People who do this for a living are used to not getting a response.



          The other, perhaps more polite way is to respond back via email with something along the lines of: "Thanks for reaching out, but at the moment I cannot take your call. Please email me the details and if I am interested, I will get back to you at my earliest convenience."



          Short and sweet.






          share|improve this answer





























            up vote
            4
            down vote













            To redirect to emails instead, simply say:




            I'm not interested in a phone call however if you have anything that you believe may be of use send it through in email and i'll take a look - If I'm interested I'll contact you.




            This way if they send the product you can either ignore or read and they will just assume you're not interested and move on. Of course you'll often get follow ups which you can also ignore. As Mister Positive has mentioned these people are used to being ignored, they'll get the point (although annoying).






            share|improve this answer





























              up vote
              0
              down vote














              I would be grateful for any tips on how to handle this kind of email
              requests so as to not have to waste time on the phone, while not
              coming across as a jerk, as I'm not good at this kind of diplomacy.




              Just say something like:



              "Sorry, I can't talk now. Please send me an email instead. I'll read it and if interested I'll get back to you."






              share|improve this answer
















              • 2




                ??? The OP asks what to do about people asking by email to schedule a phone call. They're already sending an email, he just want a graceful way of saying them "no"
                – Laurent S.
                Sep 6 at 10:44










              Your Answer







              StackExchange.ready(function()
              var channelOptions =
              tags: "".split(" "),
              id: "423"
              ;
              initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

              StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
              // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
              if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
              StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
              createEditor();
              );

              else
              createEditor();

              );

              function createEditor()
              StackExchange.prepareEditor(
              heartbeatType: 'answer',
              convertImagesToLinks: false,
              noModals: false,
              showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
              reputationToPostImages: null,
              bindNavPrevention: true,
              postfix: "",
              noCode: true, onDemand: false,
              discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
              ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
              );



              );






              Al-Khwarizmi is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.









               

              draft saved


              draft discarded


















              StackExchange.ready(
              function ()
              StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworkplace.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f118807%2fhow-do-i-politely-refuse-scheduling-phone-calls-and-redirect-to-email-instead%23new-answer', 'question_page');

              );

              Post as a guest

























              StackExchange.ready(function ()
              $("#show-editor-button input, #show-editor-button button").click(function ()
              var showEditor = function()
              $("#show-editor-button").hide();
              $("#post-form").removeClass("dno");
              StackExchange.editor.finallyInit();
              ;

              var useFancy = $(this).data('confirm-use-fancy');
              if(useFancy == 'True')
              var popupTitle = $(this).data('confirm-fancy-title');
              var popupBody = $(this).data('confirm-fancy-body');
              var popupAccept = $(this).data('confirm-fancy-accept-button');

              $(this).loadPopup(
              url: '/post/self-answer-popup',
              loaded: function(popup)
              var pTitle = $(popup).find('h2');
              var pBody = $(popup).find('.popup-body');
              var pSubmit = $(popup).find('.popup-submit');

              pTitle.text(popupTitle);
              pBody.html(popupBody);
              pSubmit.val(popupAccept).click(showEditor);

              )
              else
              var confirmText = $(this).data('confirm-text');
              if (confirmText ? confirm(confirmText) : true)
              showEditor();


              );
              );






              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes








              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes








              up vote
              6
              down vote



              accepted











              How do I politely refuse scheduling phone calls and redirect to email
              instead?




              You have a couple of choices. First you can ignore them. People who do this for a living are used to not getting a response.



              The other, perhaps more polite way is to respond back via email with something along the lines of: "Thanks for reaching out, but at the moment I cannot take your call. Please email me the details and if I am interested, I will get back to you at my earliest convenience."



              Short and sweet.






              share|improve this answer


























                up vote
                6
                down vote



                accepted











                How do I politely refuse scheduling phone calls and redirect to email
                instead?




                You have a couple of choices. First you can ignore them. People who do this for a living are used to not getting a response.



                The other, perhaps more polite way is to respond back via email with something along the lines of: "Thanks for reaching out, but at the moment I cannot take your call. Please email me the details and if I am interested, I will get back to you at my earliest convenience."



                Short and sweet.






                share|improve this answer
























                  up vote
                  6
                  down vote



                  accepted







                  up vote
                  6
                  down vote



                  accepted







                  How do I politely refuse scheduling phone calls and redirect to email
                  instead?




                  You have a couple of choices. First you can ignore them. People who do this for a living are used to not getting a response.



                  The other, perhaps more polite way is to respond back via email with something along the lines of: "Thanks for reaching out, but at the moment I cannot take your call. Please email me the details and if I am interested, I will get back to you at my earliest convenience."



                  Short and sweet.






                  share|improve this answer















                  How do I politely refuse scheduling phone calls and redirect to email
                  instead?




                  You have a couple of choices. First you can ignore them. People who do this for a living are used to not getting a response.



                  The other, perhaps more polite way is to respond back via email with something along the lines of: "Thanks for reaching out, but at the moment I cannot take your call. Please email me the details and if I am interested, I will get back to you at my earliest convenience."



                  Short and sweet.







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited Sep 6 at 11:28

























                  answered Sep 6 at 11:16









                  Mister Positive

                  54.8k27177226




                  54.8k27177226






















                      up vote
                      4
                      down vote













                      To redirect to emails instead, simply say:




                      I'm not interested in a phone call however if you have anything that you believe may be of use send it through in email and i'll take a look - If I'm interested I'll contact you.




                      This way if they send the product you can either ignore or read and they will just assume you're not interested and move on. Of course you'll often get follow ups which you can also ignore. As Mister Positive has mentioned these people are used to being ignored, they'll get the point (although annoying).






                      share|improve this answer


























                        up vote
                        4
                        down vote













                        To redirect to emails instead, simply say:




                        I'm not interested in a phone call however if you have anything that you believe may be of use send it through in email and i'll take a look - If I'm interested I'll contact you.




                        This way if they send the product you can either ignore or read and they will just assume you're not interested and move on. Of course you'll often get follow ups which you can also ignore. As Mister Positive has mentioned these people are used to being ignored, they'll get the point (although annoying).






                        share|improve this answer
























                          up vote
                          4
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          4
                          down vote









                          To redirect to emails instead, simply say:




                          I'm not interested in a phone call however if you have anything that you believe may be of use send it through in email and i'll take a look - If I'm interested I'll contact you.




                          This way if they send the product you can either ignore or read and they will just assume you're not interested and move on. Of course you'll often get follow ups which you can also ignore. As Mister Positive has mentioned these people are used to being ignored, they'll get the point (although annoying).






                          share|improve this answer














                          To redirect to emails instead, simply say:




                          I'm not interested in a phone call however if you have anything that you believe may be of use send it through in email and i'll take a look - If I'm interested I'll contact you.




                          This way if they send the product you can either ignore or read and they will just assume you're not interested and move on. Of course you'll often get follow ups which you can also ignore. As Mister Positive has mentioned these people are used to being ignored, they'll get the point (although annoying).







                          share|improve this answer














                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer








                          edited Sep 6 at 12:12

























                          answered Sep 6 at 11:23









                          Twyxz

                          3,60131645




                          3,60131645




















                              up vote
                              0
                              down vote














                              I would be grateful for any tips on how to handle this kind of email
                              requests so as to not have to waste time on the phone, while not
                              coming across as a jerk, as I'm not good at this kind of diplomacy.




                              Just say something like:



                              "Sorry, I can't talk now. Please send me an email instead. I'll read it and if interested I'll get back to you."






                              share|improve this answer
















                              • 2




                                ??? The OP asks what to do about people asking by email to schedule a phone call. They're already sending an email, he just want a graceful way of saying them "no"
                                – Laurent S.
                                Sep 6 at 10:44














                              up vote
                              0
                              down vote














                              I would be grateful for any tips on how to handle this kind of email
                              requests so as to not have to waste time on the phone, while not
                              coming across as a jerk, as I'm not good at this kind of diplomacy.




                              Just say something like:



                              "Sorry, I can't talk now. Please send me an email instead. I'll read it and if interested I'll get back to you."






                              share|improve this answer
















                              • 2




                                ??? The OP asks what to do about people asking by email to schedule a phone call. They're already sending an email, he just want a graceful way of saying them "no"
                                – Laurent S.
                                Sep 6 at 10:44












                              up vote
                              0
                              down vote










                              up vote
                              0
                              down vote










                              I would be grateful for any tips on how to handle this kind of email
                              requests so as to not have to waste time on the phone, while not
                              coming across as a jerk, as I'm not good at this kind of diplomacy.




                              Just say something like:



                              "Sorry, I can't talk now. Please send me an email instead. I'll read it and if interested I'll get back to you."






                              share|improve this answer













                              I would be grateful for any tips on how to handle this kind of email
                              requests so as to not have to waste time on the phone, while not
                              coming across as a jerk, as I'm not good at this kind of diplomacy.




                              Just say something like:



                              "Sorry, I can't talk now. Please send me an email instead. I'll read it and if interested I'll get back to you."







                              share|improve this answer












                              share|improve this answer



                              share|improve this answer










                              answered Sep 6 at 10:28









                              Joe Strazzere

                              225k107663937




                              225k107663937







                              • 2




                                ??? The OP asks what to do about people asking by email to schedule a phone call. They're already sending an email, he just want a graceful way of saying them "no"
                                – Laurent S.
                                Sep 6 at 10:44












                              • 2




                                ??? The OP asks what to do about people asking by email to schedule a phone call. They're already sending an email, he just want a graceful way of saying them "no"
                                – Laurent S.
                                Sep 6 at 10:44







                              2




                              2




                              ??? The OP asks what to do about people asking by email to schedule a phone call. They're already sending an email, he just want a graceful way of saying them "no"
                              – Laurent S.
                              Sep 6 at 10:44




                              ??? The OP asks what to do about people asking by email to schedule a phone call. They're already sending an email, he just want a graceful way of saying them "no"
                              – Laurent S.
                              Sep 6 at 10:44










                              Al-Khwarizmi is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.









                               

                              draft saved


                              draft discarded


















                              Al-Khwarizmi is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.












                              Al-Khwarizmi is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.











                              Al-Khwarizmi is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.













                               


                              draft saved


                              draft discarded














                              StackExchange.ready(
                              function ()
                              StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworkplace.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f118807%2fhow-do-i-politely-refuse-scheduling-phone-calls-and-redirect-to-email-instead%23new-answer', 'question_page');

                              );

                              Post as a guest

















































































                              Comments

                              Popular posts from this blog

                              What does second last employer means? [closed]

                              Installing NextGIS Connect into QGIS 3?

                              One-line joke