What's the best way of saying "no" to phone calls?

[paul]

I handle a lot of emails in a day, across multiple different accounts.

Every so often people will email and say they want to speak to me on the phone. For example, the latest one is:

"Still keen to chat blogging, what's the best number to get you on?"

In short, call me grumpy but I don't want to "chat" to people. In all probability, it'd probably be a waste of my time anyway because they want to put a widget on my blog for $10 or something (no, thanks). I find it far more efficient to handle everything by email. It's then on my terms and I can reply/ignore as I please. I can say a simple "no, thank you" to people if it's not something I like, and not have to listen to them try to convince me otherwise. I can also take time to reflect on the best response if I so wish.

What's the best way of saying to these people "sorry, I don't do the phone"...?
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[DeniseTaylor]

When I read your post, it really resonated with me. Email is so much more flexible than phones. I actually know people who don't even use email yet. They act like I'm from outer space or something because I don't depend upon the phone or use it much.

What I would do is just say, "My preference is email, actually," or "Email works much better for me," or "Telephone! Who uses telephones anymore?" (kidding.)

[paul]

Hi Denise and welcome to the forums (if I haven't already said as much!)

Think I'll give the first two a shot, and see what response they get. Not sure about the third - sometimes humour doesn't always translate over the internet as it's intended.

Paul
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[Azolla]

Yes email is definitely best for a lot of purposes. There's no point wasting time every day being on the phone to people that you don't need to be or want to be.
I do prefer being on the phone though if you want to have a proper dialogue with somebody that you are already doing business with, working with, etc. It's sometimes better and clearer communication since some people aren't clear with exactly what they mean with their emails.

[smokdarecki]

Hi, Once friend of mine got girl-friend. She loved to talk by mobile phone by hours.
Once, my friend got the call from her. She was talking and talking and my friend was afraid to say that, he wants to close this "one-way" conversation.
He got angry and put his mobile phone into the trouser's pocket. (she was still talking !!)
It was so funny, we were walking on the busy street in the centre of our city, with "talking" pocket !
And people on the street noticed, there is something wrong with this trousers !!

[Mat34]

"I'm abroad on a different time zone and have a really bad reception on my cheap mobile phone". It works because it is true most of the time

[Epiphany]

I've used that my business line was done and can't provide my private line. It usually works.