Tuesday was a busy day. I had appointments in the morning, and was showing houses in the afternoon. The day flew. At 6:00 PM I settled into my home office to catch up on paperwork. I realized I hadn't gotten any phone calls that afternoon. That's unusual.
I pulled out my cell phone and nothing! It was turned off! What? I never turn off my phone!
Uh-oh, not good, I pushed the on switch. Nothing! I wondered how long it had been off. Uh-oh.
What time did my last call come in? I thought. Hmmm. I turned it off, and tried to turn it on, again and again and again. Still nothing! Uh - oh. This is really not good!
Did I have messages? People that called today? People expecting a call back right away?
What if there was an emergency? What if an agent was calling for a showing on one of my listings?
What if one of my tenants was calling with an emergency?
THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS REQUIRES US TO BE JOHNNY ON THE SPOT...
I spent 30 minutes trying everything to get my phone to work. This thing finally died, I thought.
I called my cell phone company. The representative was very nice. "Did you drop your phone? Did it fall into water?" she asked. No I didn't and it hadn't. She spent 30 minutes with me, testing and retesting...and then the dreaded words, "Yes, it is the phone. Your phone is dysfuntional. I can ship you out a new one, but it will take 2-3 days!"
"What did you say? I can't be without my phone for 2 to 3 days! This is my direct line! Buyers won't be able to reach me! Sellers won't be able to reach me! What if there's an emergency? What am I going to do without my phone for 2-3 days?"
The representative probably thought I was coming unglued. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Mrs. Shores." I'm sure she was on the other line, calling the men with the straight jackets to come and take me away to lock me up in a rubber room.
Go ahead and order the new phone. What was I going to do? What choice did I have?
Being without my cell phone would be like being without my right arm! How many people were waiting to hear back from me that I didn't know about?
I had to have a plan. I headed out the front door with my dog, Bailey to get some fresh air and figure it out. I had to make some calls.
I was dreading the next couple of days, being out of touch with others. When I walked back into the house I reached for my phone one last time. It was still dead. I slammed it on the counter three times. My husband looked at me like I was nuts. "What are you doing?" "It's already broken so I can't hurt it." I slammed it on the counter 3 more times. The welcome tone on the phone started up. I couldn't believe it! The introduction music played and finished. I looked at the phone in disbelief! I opened it, dialed it and put it to my ear. My daughters phone, ( the number I dialed) began ringing. "Hello?" she answered. Then the voicemail notification tone rang. I had 4 voicemails. I listened to them and immediately called all 4 people back, apologizing profusely for my delay in returning their calls.
My phone has been working fine since I slammed it on the counter.
My new phone arrived, by overnight mail, in less than 36 hours! I will have one of my teenage daughters set it up for me.
So what do you do, if you're unable to return any of your phone calls?
that for you
That is so funny! You have proven what I am always jokingly telling my wife. If it is broken... throw it against the wall. That will fix it. Apparently, it's true!
Thanks for sharing that.
Rick
Hi Rick, It's still working today! Very strange! If slamming it on the counter doesn't bring it back up next time it dies, I may have to try your method (of course I'll have to tell my husband that it was YOUR idea -LOL). Have a great day!
Sandy, that's the same way we used to fix the old t.v. sets with vacuum tubes... or repair the washing machine... give it a good "Whack"!
although today's electronics don't respond as well to "whacking"!
Hi Alan, I remember when we used to give a good hit to the top of the TV to get the picture to stop rolling. It worked everytime! I figured it was already dead, so I couldn't do any damage to it! Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Sandy - I once had a TV that worked after I banged on it a few times; not a technical solution but it did work.
You may want to check with your phone company to see if they have a "direct dial" number that you can use to access your phone messages. This is helpful when our cell phones don't work; we can still get our messages until we solve our technical difficulties. (You will need a pin number to access your account. It's probably the same one you use to access your VM with your cell phone.)
If it doesn't work, just get a bigger hammer. Fun story Sandy, I like your repair method.
Hi Sandy
Great tip the next time my cell phone stops working I will take your advise and slam it.
Good luck and success
Lou Ludwig
Hi Jon, You know I'm going to do that - call my cellular company and ask if for the direct access number to access my voicemail box. I'm sure there probably is. I have never had to use it, so I suppose I never really thought about it. Thanks for the suggestion!
Hi Fred, When the cell phone rep asked me if the phone had been dropped in water I told her no, But that I sure wanted to throw it in the toilet! I was about to! Thanks for always stopping by. (I like your hammer idea, alot!)
Hi Lou, Hey, anytime you need any kind of electronics advice, you just let me know...I'm more than happy to help, anyway I can. -LOL
My dad has a master's degree in Electrical Engineering, and we used to laugh at him fixing the TV by pounding on it. It doesn't work on TVS any more, but I'm glad it worked on your cell phone.
Hey Sandy,
I dropped mine in water...after it dried out, it was fine. You can access your voicemail via a land line. Usually all you have to do is call your number and enter your code.
I forgot my charger and went to the lake for state meetings thinking I had it. I was careful not to make any unnecessary calls for 3 days! It was not funny.
Glad you got it working. Sometime the Fonzi approach works best.
Ann
Hi Laurie, That's good to know that pounding doesn't work on TV's anymore. I didn't know that (but I hadn't tried it either). I don't know why it worked on my cell phone, but it's still working. But my 13 year showed me how to use my new one. So I'm up and running on that one. Take care and have a great weekend!
Hi Ann, Oh boy, you dropped your phone in water. That's the first question they ask you when you call them. I'm surprised that yours worked! Uh - oh - limited phone access for 3 days - I suppose that's okay as long as you can check your messages. But, you indicated that I could access my phone messages from a landline, and so did Jon. I'm going to call to confirm and get the number. Thanks! Gosh you mentioned the Fonz - I used to love that show! I think I saw every single episode! Take care!
Sandy,
I drowned the phone twice. It was not funny but it did end up working fine for another year.
You should be able to call your cellphone, when it goes to voicemail put in your password code and "shazam" you will be able to hear your messages.
I loved that show too. Clean, funny and even a lesson or two learned.
Ann
I got a quick replacement on my Palm last year after part of the case cracked, but the phone was still functional. I am not sure how I would function if it stopped working all together.
Hi Ann, I will follow up to see how to call him for my messages, Maybe I just need to set up the code. I'll see. Thanks again. I loved Happy Days too!
Hi Rich, I thnk we are all spoiled. So used to technology today. When it goes down we're lost without it!
My son took my (nearly brand-new) phone for a swim, and I thought it was history. I brought it into the store to replace it and found out that it was only the battery that was ruined. The phone itself is as right as rain. Yay! Those days without it were rough!
Oh boy, Laurie, I would not have been happy if my phone went swimming! I am so surprised that it was fine afterwards! Incredible! I'm sure that the days without it were very tough!
Sandy,
I hope you get the code so you are able to access your voicemail from a land line.
Ann
Thanks Ann, I will take time to do that!