[gregdavidson]

This is kind of a stupid question but I thought I might ask. I always feel a little more comfortable when I'm laid back in my chair talking to somebody over the speaker phone. The question here is whether or not my customers will like the fact that I'm not holding the phone close to my ear.

[Skipper]

When I know I'm on speaker phone it sorta irks me. Usually the issue is the sound quality: the guy on the other end sounds like he's either shouting at you or background noise can make it hard to hear. If you've got a super quiet office and a good quality phone maybe it's no big deal. Don't like it, personally.

[sep]

Hate it, Hate it, Hate it. I think it tells the customer that you have more important things you're trying to do instead of concentrating 100% on them. If you must use speaker phone, ask the customer if he would mind if you put them on speaker so you may take notes of any important issues that he needs to discuss.
If they say OK, go for it.

[BusinessAdviser]

Additionally, if you have co-workers, employees, or anyone else within earshot, you're going to piss them off too.

[Neustance]

Originally Posted by sep

Hate it, Hate it, Hate it. I think it tells the customer that you have more important things you're trying to do instead of concentrating 100% on them. If you must use speaker phone, ask the customer if he would mind if you put them on speaker so you may take notes of any important issues that he needs to discuss.
If they say OK, go for it.

I second that. Just get a headset really, but even then I still believe your mood and state of mind passes to the listener in the other side. Its almost like we can perceive if a person is not paying 100% attention so I still recommend taking your time and answering a phone call, fully engaged.

[fitchtank]

Yep....I can tell right away if I'm on speaker phone. I don't do it to others and don't like when it is done to me. I just keep saying "what...I'm sorry...what was that again....we must have a bad connection". Works like magic...they pick up the headset every time.

[louis7377]

yes, it is unprofessional. get an earpiece.

[rpermana]

if you put them on speaker phone, you have to inform them. That's what our company wants the employees to do. Maybe it's the business etiquette ?

Why not get yourself a bluetooth headset ? I mean get a good quality piece with a noise reduction.

[ChrisBenjamin]

Not just customers, anyone. It's annoying to me when the other person is on a speaker, especially the cheaper ones that constantly cut out also.

[jonathanfigaro]

I think it unprofessional if you think it is. You can do whatever you want and still have the best customer service. Its your reality homie!

Best wishes

[tom-knox]

You can get the same comfort via a wireless headset. Plus you'll still sound great.
I will add that the more comfortable you are on the phone the better you'll be talking

[Renata]

No, unless you have a bad quality phone with echo

[loanboy0]

Yeah!! it is very unprofessional, buy a headset.. more pleasant to use..

[Mikeyj47]

Absolutely unprofessional. I remember ringing a client one day and the receptionist was using the speaker phone and i could hear everything in the back ground, to make everything worse instead of going to get the person i wanted she shouted out "hey Craig there's some dude on the phone for you" lucky they were my client and i wasn't one of theirs!!

[Vision4Future]

Unless you have others in your office that need to hear the conversation and your office door is shut (so it doesn't interrupt others)... YES!