Several things get on my nerves wordwise...
People who phone my shop and when I answer with "Good morning *name of shop*, *name of town*, how can I help you" they reply with...

"oh is that *same name of shop* in *name of town*". Makes my teeth grind rather too much.

Oh and management anus types who use the word 'action' instead of 'do'. That one always makes me want to rip my own face off.
(elfinpunk Touching Cloth Since, Mon 12 Apr 2010, 18:11, 2 replies)

I hate people who answer the phone with some garbled arse "Hello fhmb shlb, brghtinghm". Fuck, so now I have to actually ASK this witless wonder whether I have the right number, so I don't make an arse of myself by asking a McDonalds restaurant whether they have any 1/2 inch galvanised whip-lock splinter cores.

*edit* 'spose I could just make sure I dial the right number in the first place though!
( emergency_pants Today I smell of... tea tree, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 10:36, closed)

Phones aren't natural
The opening speil when answering the phone is only really there to give the phoner and phonee time to acclimitise to a conversation without visual cues.

It's useful to have it, because it means people who are paying attention will be able to tell early on if they have the right number. But a lot of people simply blank it out.

You're doing the right thing; far worse are the responses that are some varient of "Hello?", "What?" or - worst of all - just silence.
( shinyshinyscalp less a man, more a way of life, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 12:44, closed)