Answer Machine

As a small business, sometimes the phone may ring and we are unable to answer it because all the members of staff are serving customers. We therefore have an answer-phone message that informs the caller of our opening times (in case they are ringing when we are closed), and then lets them leave us a message if they want.

However, some people don't appear to understand how such things work and just chat away to themselves, not realising that it is being recorded.

 - *beeeeep*

 "...open to five? What are they on about? It's not even four yet..."

He calls back immediately

 - *beeeeep*

 "What on earth?! It says they close at five. Well, it's not five. So they should be open..."

And he calls again

 - *beeeeep*

 "What day is it? It's Saturday isn't it? This is ridiculous."

And again...

 - *beeeeep*

 "Well if they are open, why aren't they answering the bloody phone?!"

I don't know whether this particular caller eventually got through to somebody else, or whether they came into the shop and was served. It's regrettable when we are unable to answer a call, but sometimes we have no choice but to let it ring as we may be otherwise occupied within the shop.

Sometimes we are left a message which seems intentional, but makes no sense at all. My personal favourite featured a guy singing what sounded like Bhangra-music down the phone for about five minutes. The song reached the end, and he hung up. No explanation at all.

Raised a smile though.