(no subject)

[chhotii]

If someone's outgoing message states "I will get back to you very soon", what length of time might "very soon" mean? Might the statement "I will get back to you very soon" just be a lie? But what purpose would that lie serve? How long after the expiration of whatever period of time implied by "very soon" without hearing back from someone should you start to assume that they are blowing you off? (Assuming that you checked with the receptionist that they are not in fact on vacation.)

How many times does one need to leave a voice mail to convey the message "I am seriously trying to get in touch with you and will not just disappear without us doing the business we need to do"?

Is there some intermediate thing that can be said in a voice mail message that is somewhere between "please call me back" and "do I need to have my lawyer send you a letter explaining why you need to talk to me"?

Are there people who both never pick up the phone when it rings and never return voice mail messages? Is there a way to deal with such people that is cheaper than having your lawyer send them a letter?

Comments

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

I'd say that in business it means "one business day".

But what is the context? Is it a situation where the target is, at least theoretically, obliged to call you back? Or is it a situation, like when you're a salesman, where it's understood that the target probably doesn't want to waste 10 seconds telling you to F off?

OTOH, if you could say "do I need to have my lawyer send you a letter explaining why you need to talk to me", I'd say that a good message to leave is "[whatever the issue is] If I do not hear back from you by [1 week from now], I will instruct my lawyer to contact your lawyer." That will probably cause faster action.