If answering a call that has been transferred to you, answer with your name. Ensure that no more than four rings elapse before the call is directed to voice mail. If the phone is to be answered in person, try to answer in two rings. Avoid leaving a phone ringing indefinitely without answering. If switchboard operators leave their post for even a short time, ensure that incoming calls are switched to voice mail.
Customers arriving in person have priority over telephone customers.
When talking to a customer in person, allow voice mail to pick up the phone call, or ask someone else to answer. When a customer arrives while you are talking on the phone, ask to place the caller on hold, then address the walk-in customer. If you are using an 800 number, find out precisely what areas or countries can reach you by using that number. Post that information on your web site or wherever the number is advertised. Ensure that your representatives don't respond to email messages with an invitation to call an 800 number that the customer cannot use.