Phone-call Etiquette

Calling friends before 9:30 a.m. is not regular practice as it is thought to be inconsiderate. Ditto for calling a bed & breakfast prior to 9:30 a.m. From now on, people who call before 8:30 a.m. will simply get the cold shoulder. I have also decided not to respond to early-morning messages. If callers want lodging that badly, they will phone again later. Morning is a very busy time for innkeepers, who do not offer a buffet. When I am making and serving breakfast, it is not an ideal moment to give a description of our location in Wellfleet or explain the benefits of a green b & b. After breakfast, I frequently go into the garden and deadhead flowers in summer, returning inside once the heat of the day intensifies.

Calling friends after 10 p.m. is a no-no. Calling a bed & breakfast late at night should be, too. Innkeepers often get up very early and need a good night’s sleep, especially innkeepers at establishments that allow children. Here at Chez Sven, this week we have guests from Sweden with a three-year-old and a two-year-old. The house was perfectly quiet by 8 p.m. I turned in myself at 9, knowing we would all be rising at dawn, and we did! You can bet we will go to bed early again tonight.

Conclusion, call after 10 a.m, and before 10 p.m. Show consideration when you call an innkeeper. It is usually possible to tell from a Web site whether he/she prefers to be contacted over the Internet. Here at Chez Sven email is our preferred initial method of contact. I answer all email as soon as possible. I will be glad to answer questions over the phone, but prefer to be called at a decent time ...