Why do some companies insist on using ALPHA NUMERIC phone numbers?

You remembered ASK-USPS. You would be more unlikely to remember 175-8777 if you saw it flashed on a screen for 5-10 seconds. Human brains can only remember 3-4 chunks of information within the short-term, so instead of having to remember 7 numbers (or even 4-5 chunks of numbers if you could process and appropriately group them in the time they are on the screen) you only have to remember 2 words, which are almost always directly related to the company, making them even easier to remember.

Thanks for asking!

Call 1-800-Eat-S44t and find out

It's not about you.

It's about them. They want people to have their phone number in their memory, so they get business their competitors might otherwise get.

So, in that light, yes, "they really believe that alpha-numbers are helpful."

I do believe that much of what frustrates people in life is grounded in their lack of appreciation for looking at things in a way differently that what is best for them.

This isn't complicated unless you complicate it by assuming that the world should be organized for your comfort and profit and for the relative discomfort and expense of others. This world is a balance and is never imbalanced by anyone as much as those who expect everything should be their favorite way.

Give a little. We certainly gave into you over the years, including just yesterday.

Thanks,

Everybody Else

I still remember 1-800-CALL-ATT even though I haven't placed a collect call since the Hussein administration.

All of you idiots listen. The 800-ASK-USPS phone number is what's listed on their customer service page of their website. There is no logical reason for them to do that when you are trying to track down a package and need to call them. They should just give the number.

To the guy who says that "it's not about you, it's about them". You're right. That's why the USPS doesn't work and exists only as a monopoly.

This is great, I always waste time finding the tracking service on the website. Now I know the number by heart and don't even need a computer. Thanks dude!

I have to admit that in the cell phone age, it isn't always easy to translate because the letters are no longer on the phone.

Girly Rough Blondie wrote:

I have to admit that in the cell phone age, it isn't always easy to translate because the letters are no longer on the phone.

I just replaced my cell phone yesterday, a basic one as my over five year formerly perfect one just gave out. It had numbers and letters on it, so does the new one I got yesterday.

Maybe some cell phones don't have the letters on them, but I think you have to prefer and select them. It's certainly not all cell phones.

All the cell phones I've had, including the iPhone 4, have the letters still on the numbers. Not that hard to translate.

Girly Rough Blondie wrote:

I have to admit that in the cell phone age, it isn't always easy to translate because the letters are no longer on the phone.

Usually if you dial the letters on your Qwerty keyboard, the corresponding number is registered on your phone.

If you are from Cleveland (and are old enough to remember TV in the early 90's) there was a jingle for a phone number...i have no clue what the company was for... that went Garfield 1-2-3-2-3. They wanted to dial 421-2323 (the GA in Garfield being the 42). That is the worst Alpha-numeric phone number ever...but apparently works because i remember the number and haven't heard the commercial in about 15 years.

800-ASK-USPS wrote:

All of you idiots listen. The 800-ASK-USPS phone number is what's listed on their customer service page of their website. There is no logical reason for them to do that when you are trying to track down a package and need to call them. They should just give the number.

They do it for people to remember and because it is a marketing tool. They list it on their website because the assume most people can dial the number from the alphanumeric without being too confused. If that's too complicated for you, then you won't understand the irony of you calling other people idiots.

Way easier to remember? I even made up words for phone numbers to remember. It is a pain when someone has a 1 in a phone number.

Of course now with cell phones, I know so few numbers--in fact, only family land lines. I know no one's cell phone number by heart except my wife's.