(EMAILWIRE.COM, October 15, 2009 ) Meridian, GA – Press 1, Press 2, To Return To The Main Menu, Press 7… “It’s madness,” fumes business owner Drue Linton, who heard so much frustration about voice-mail run-around that he decided to do something about it. Linton launched an online association of voice-mail opponents, IHateVoiceMail.Biz, with the audacious goal of stamping out voice mail in the USA (www.IHateVoiceMail.Biz ).

“Having enough people to answer the phones signals that a company cares about its customers – putting them first,” states Linton, whose label business in Southeast Georgia personally speaks with 80 to 100 customers a day, in addition to accepting orders online. “Why should customers have to jump through hoops before giving up their money? It’s bad business.” At Linton’s business, there is no automated answering system, and no plan to install one.

“The association is a start,” says Linton. “It gives members a way to vent, and by joining forces, they get some clout with corporations.” Members can not only share stories with other voice-mail haters but also learn little-known ways of bypassing voice-mail menus and be able to nominate offenders for spending time in the organization’s “Voice Mail Jail.” “What organization wants the stigma of having earned jail time?” asks Linton. Organizations that demonstrate voice-mail free customer friendliness can earn recognition on the list the association plans to publish of “friendliest businesses in the USA.”

The official site for the IHateVoiceMail.Biz Association is
www.IHateVoiceMail.Biz. People can choose the Steaming membership package for $16.80, the Bristling package for $29.95 or the Seething package for $49.95. Members receive a collection of imprinted items, from coffee mugs and bumper stickers to beach towels and coolers, that help them spread the message that voice mail stinks.

Contact Information:
IHVM Association
John Owens
Tel: 912-258-5977
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